Meeting in Lucknow demands urgent action

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

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

of Lucknow had a meeting today 3rd 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. We are attaching the

copies of letters from Kerala State AIDS Control Society and Health Services

Manipur along with this note. 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 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 Mumbai

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) 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. to sensitize all its ministries 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

1.. Tulika Srivastava, Aali

2.. Huma Khan, Vanagana

3.. Abhijeet Das, Kriti Resource Centre

4.. Shaista Amber, National President, Rashtrawadi Communist Party

5.. Imran Khan, Bharosa

6.. Arundhati Dhuru

7.. Sandeep Pandey

8.. Arif Jafar, Naz Foundation International

9.. Shafi Ahmed

10.. Vineet Awasthi

Arif Jafar

Director, Regional Liaison Office

Email: arif@...

Naz Foundation International

9 Gulzar Colony, New Berry Lane,

Behind Times Of India, Lucknow - 226 001

Tel: +91 (0)522 2205781/2 , Fax +91 (0)522 2205783

Email: lucknow@..., Website: www.nfi.net