Calcutta: Protest against detaintion of PLWHA at Mumbai

[Guest guest]

Dear Moderator of the Forum,

Members of several HIV/AIDS NGOs and Human Rights Organisations and individuals

of Calcutta had a meeting today on 4th November 2003 on the conditions of

detained People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) at Mumbai and issued a joint Press

Release

Press Release

The authorities at the Sahar International Airport (Mumbai) have detained 6 out

of 15 HIV+ people (who are HIV/AIDS activists) and quarantined them for not

possessing yellow fever vaccination certificates on 1st November 2003 at 02:00

hours. They were returning after attending the '11th International Conference

for People Living with HIV/AIDS' held in Kampala, Uganda from 26th to 30th

October, 2003. The activists belong to Kerala, Maharashtra, West Bengal and

Manipur including Mr. Vijay Nair (Udaan+, Mumbai) and Mrs. S. C. D'Costa (ICWA,

Pune).

The activists, before leaving for Uganda were advised by Govt. health

authorities not to take 'Yellow Fever Vaccine' as they have suppressed immunity,

same thing was given in writing to some of the activists. World Health

Organization (WHO) clearly states that people living with HIV/AIDS should not

receive Yellow Fever vaccine. (www.who.int/vaccines/en/yellowfever.shtml)

Dr. Prakash Gaekwad, medical officer of the immigration department at Sahar

Airport refused to recognize these documents. Dr. Prakash Gaekwad also demanded

a bribe of US$100 from each activist, if they wish to avoid being quarantined.

The same thing was experienced by the Secretary General of the AIAVA while

returning from Kenya in last May, 2003. The activists have refused to pay the

bribe.

The quarantine hospital has no facilities: no food, no doctor, no proper

toilets, no proper drinking water facilities. Activists are forced to consume

water and food provided by the attendant by paying money. Activists do not know

where the water/food comes from and its quality. People living with HIV/AIDS

need to take proper nutritious food and good quality drinking water at regular

intervals. Bad quality food/water and bad sanitation conditions can cause

opportunistic infections to them. Quarantine without proper sanitation,

food/water and medical care is not the right place for the People living with

HIV/AIDS.

Officials from MDACS (Mumbai District AIDS Control Society), MSACS (Maharashtra

State AIDS Control Society), NACO (National AIDS Control Organization), UNAIDS

and Mr. Fernandez (M.P. and Chair Person of Parliamentary Committee on

HIV/AIDS) have assured that the activists will be moved to a hospital with good

health care facilities soon.

We demand to:

1. Immediately move the 6 detained activists to a hospital with good health

care/nutrition facilities in their respective home states;

2. Immediate suspension of Dr. Prakash Gaekwad for demanding bribe and for

treating People living with HIV/AIDS unfairly, followed by a Judicial enquiry

into the issue;

3. Union Govt. to constitute a committee (with members from Health Ministry,

Civil Aviation Ministry, NACO, WHO, UNAIDS and representatives of two PLWHA

organisations ) to frame the procedures to be followed travel regulation vis-à-

vis People living with HIV/AIDS and implement their recommendations in the next

30 days time;

4. All state governments and Union Govt. are requested to sensitize all its

officials on HIV/AIDS issues, to address the stigma and discrimination against

people living with HIV/AIDS and to frame uniform norms and policies that are

friendly to people living with HIV/AIDS;

In Solidarity with the PLWHA

Malay Dewanji

Hony. Secretary General, All India Association of Voluntary Agencies(AIAVA),

C-19, Ganesh Nagar Pandav Nagar Complex, Delhi-110092

and 66, Surya Sen Street, Kolkata-700009

Tel: +91 (0)11-2250-2190//(0)33-2241-8496,

Fax +91 (0)33-2241-6983

Email: aiava_org@...// malaydewanji@...//dishari@...