'AIDS victim died due to terminal illness' NACO

July 21, 2003

Subject: AIDS Widow's Death: NEWSPAPER-THE HINDU-JULY 19,2003 Report

'AIDS victim died due to terminal illness'

(Source:THE HINDU, Friday,July 19,2003,Page No.12,Madurai Edition)

The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) under the Union Health Ministry

today refuted reports that a 32-years-old woman suffering from AIDS in Andra

Pradesh had been stoned to death and said that the NGO which had made the

allegation had done so without verifying the facts.

Speaking to reporters, members of a three-member committee sent by NACO to probe

the incident said all evidences indicated that the woman had died due to

terminal illness arising out of the advanced stage of AIDS.

They said detailed enquiries with family members, neighbours and other members

of the community in the small town clearly showed that only her close relatives

were aware that she was suffering from AIDS and there was no question of her

being a victim of social stigma.

Meenakshi Dutta Gosh, Project Director of NACO, said a major lesson learnt from

the incident was that there was a need to focus more on enlarging the facilities

for providing palliative care in collaboration with the private sector and the

community for AIDS victims who were at terminal stages of illness and for whom

no treatment was possible.

The Centre has already taken steps in this regard and has so far established

about 160 community care centres in different parts of the country. But, as this

case proved, the numbers were hardly aqdequate to meet the burgeoning need.

The victim had to spend her last days in her house in great pain, as the nearest

care centre was about 100 km away. Ms. Ghosh also emphasised the neede for NGOs

to be circumspect whiloe dealing with AIDS cases. He said that considering the

social stigma attached to the disease, all endeavour must be taken to avoid

sensationalism.

______________________

Yours in Global Concern

A.SANKAR

Executive Director

EMPOWER

107 J / 133 E, MILLERPURAM

TUTICORIN - 628 008

INDIA

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