Re: India to Bar Foreigners: Will NACO confirm this?

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum members,

Is a barrier to entry of people living with HIV a human right violation?

With out doubt, YES.

Is this a significant step in HIV control?

It is not. It is a primitive and punitive measure. It will cause untold

miseries to those living with HIV and their friends and families, will

accentuate stigma and discrimination domestically as well and make a

mockery of our grasp and understanding of the epidemic.

What it will it yield?

NEWS! Nothing else.

Other things considered, are such barriers an effective prevention strategy?

NO. The false negative test results that occurs during the window period is

a classic example.

Will this policy have implications for India's resource planning?

AIDS: The global fund to which India has applied for is likely to view this

development unfavourably.

FDI: World Industries will treat India warily as they support executives

and board members living with HIV. Also applies to top world aid for

development.

Tourism: Tourism Dollars could be affected.

What could have been the possible motivation for this policy?

Apprehension over the rise of sex tourism, India described as a low to

moderate prevalence country (and an anxiety to keep it that way),

assignment of blame to the foreigners for current infections.

What happened to the multi-sectoral collaboration?

Surely this announcement was not discussed in the cabinet.

Will there be exemptions to this new policy?

I am tempted to think they would treat dollar bearing NRIs living with HIV

differently! They are, after all, of Indian origin!!

One last comment!

Sad. Will some M.P. take note and address the parliament and enlist their

support, challenge what the Minister has said about autonomous policy

making with such tremendous ramifications?

A K Ganesh

Project Manager, YRGCARE

E-mail:<yrg4@...>

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