Jammu & Kashmir: Legislation to test tourists for AIDS

[Guest guest]

Legislation soon to check tourists for AIDS virus: Lal Singh

KT NEWS SERVICE SRINAGAR, June 12: Alarmed by the increase in HIV positive

(24,000) cases in Jammu and Kashmir, the government is intending to bring a

legislation in the assembly for conducting HIV tests of the tourists arriving in

the state.

'We have to take necessary steps to prevent the increase of AIDS cases in

the state " , he said. The health minister stated that due care would be taken to

adress the disease at grass root level.

He said that merely holding of stage shows for creating awareness against AIDS

would not do. The awareness campaign will have to be run very rigrously among

the people.

Lal Singh was happy over Jammu and Kashmir rated as the third best state in the

country in the health care sector through a survey. " I tell you honestly while I

am happy I am not satisfied as we need to do a lot for improving the health

care " , he said.

The minister revealed that the rural areas were worst affected as far as the

medicare is concerned. He regretted that doctors from rural areas are not

willing to serve in their areas.

He announced setting up of a dental college in Jammu and post graduation courses

for 50 candidates in psychiatry.

Lal Singh hinted that the trusts set up for looking after the various hospitals

and medical institutions would go. He announced that a super specialist would be

visiting district hospitals regularly. The health minister announced to link up

Soura medical institute and Kathua hospital with AIIMS and other important

hospitals of the country through ISRO.

Referring to the canteens, fair price chemist shops in various hospital, he said

the constract would be alloted for those on auction. He said the canteens and

chemist shops would function round the clock. Lal Singh stated setting up of

" sarias " for the attendents in every hospital.

He also announced that the diet to the patients in all hospitals would be

provided on SKIMS pattern.

http://www.kashmirtimes.com/

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

So what is the definition of Tourist in Kashmir & Jammu. Are transient migrant

workers included or just foreigners? How about the peace keepers, are they also

going to be tested?

It is a well know fact that where ignorance is bliss tis folly to be wise but

where HIV/AIDS is concerned ignorance is not bliss and the best protection is

not screening foreigners but educating citizens and the best people to be doing

that are those that are already Positive returning to their place of abode armed

with confidence, treatment access and skills for warning their compatriots.

Anything less will be window dressing. Window periods make routine testing

uncertain and if this action is seen to be the only protective measure and only

foreigners as a class are tested then the vectors will not be discovered and the

virus will still spread. Knowledge and behaviour change works. Safe testing

coupled with affordable treatment access also works to gather the vectors and

help them stay safe and survive, and educated behaviour change for all sexually

active and IDU's whether they are in relationships or not will be the best

prospect for J & K and India generally to beat this pandemic

Geoffrey

E-mail: gheaviside@...

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

I agree with Geoff's comments. Testing tourists alone is not a proper

analysis of the problem, since it leaves out many other possible variables

and vectors. The ground reality of an ongoing low intensity conflict in

Kashmir is that there may be various modes of transmission that go

unchecked and may include the armed forces, militants, etc. The Office of the

Health Minister must undertake rigorous analysis and research the problem before

supporting any such legislation, or targeting any one specific category of

people.

Sushil Raj

e-MAIL: s.raj@...

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

First and foemost the idea of HIV testing that is mandatory and without the

stated concent of the person involved is against the National AIDS Control

Policy that has been formulated by National AIDS Control Organisation.

It is sad that at this late stage in the epidemic,policy makers are more

interested in populist knee jerk reactions that seem to be doing a lot but that

actually harms the cause of prevention and control of HIV and AIDS.

It is now established well that the process of coercive testing only helps to

push the disease underground and therefore prevention efforts suffer. Most

places which have followed coercive methods have failed to control the epidemic.

The national AIDS Control policy related to testing is pasted below:

(i). No individual should be made to undergo a mandatory testing for HIV.

(ii) No mandatory HIV testing should be imposed as a precondition for

employment or for providing health care facilities during employment. However,

in the case of Armed Forces, before employment, HIV screening may be carried out

voluntarily with pre-test and post-test counselling and the results may be kept

confidential.

(iii) Adequate voluntary testing facilities with pre-test and post-test

coulselling should be made available throughout the country in a phased manner.

There should be at least one HIV testing center in each district in the country

with proper counselling facilities.

(iv) In case a person likes to get the HIV status verified through testing, all

necessary facilities should be given to that person and results should be kept

strictly confidential. Such results should be given out to the person and with

his consent to the members of his family. Disclosure of the HIV status to the

spouse or sexual partner of the person should invariably be done by the

attending physician with proper counselling. However also be encouraged to

share this information with the family for getting proper home-based care and

emotional support from the family members.

(v) In case of marriage, if one of the partners insists on a test to check the

HIV status of the other partner, such tests should be carried out by the

contracting party to the satisfaction of the person concerned.

Regards and best

Aditya Bondyopadhyay

E-mail: <adit_bond_2@...>