I arrived in Mumbai without a yellow fever card but...

[Guest guest]

Hello to the lists,

When we first read this report in Kampala Uganda it was assumed that the

detention was in Uganda. Now we are aware that the detention was in Mumbai so it

just makes the case that discrimination and associated stigma is still alive and

well in India. Of course to discover that, you need to periodically check the

system and it's operation. The six activists have become like the astronauts,

charting new territory.

I am also someone who is forbidden on medical grounds to take the Yellow Fever

vaccination because it is a live vaccine and it will totally destroy my immune

system.

Surely any doctor in his right mind should be aware of such a distinction and if

he doesn't then by being alerted to the facts it is encumbent on him or her to

find out before taking the law and its regulations into his own hands and

wallet.

I arrived in Mumbai today from Kampala and Nairobi without a yellow fever card,

having attended the self same conference. The immigration officer referred me to

the office which is the requirement. I agreed to discuss the issue with the

Health Department Medical Supervisor in Mumbai. I was asked to wait for some

little time where I was observed by about 6 different officers of the

immigration office who, with a particular innate skill, determined that I was

not suffering from Yellow Fever and I was taken back to the same immigration

officer where a brief verbal instruction was given in Hindi which I interpreted

from the reaction to mean, 'stamp his card for entry'.

I proceeded to the baggage department where my bags were conveniently waiting

for me without the need to struggle to pull them off the baggage conveyor and I

proceeded out of the terminal to the next available auto rickshaw, ariving in

Bandra at about 02:00 hrs

Today I rang Vijay's phone and discovered that they were still in the Yellow

Fever Hospital in Andheri but would be released tomorrow having satisfied the

authorities that they do not pose a health risk to India. He informed me that

some heads were rolling about within the Quarantine department so anyone looking

for a spare head there are some in Sahara Air and Andheri. Vijay sounded in good

spirits and whilst there was some efforts being made by his partner Deepak to

get him released, he decided to stay in solidarity with the other five.

I now have another story to add to the many stories I write and speak on the

subject of discrimination and stigma in India. I am constantly amazed at how

much the public service has to learn before India can make some headway in care,

support, treatment and prevention in this pandemic that will be taking about 4

million plus Indians off this planet each year.

Geoffrey

E-mail: <gheaviside@...>