Dr Radium Bhattacharya on Lucknow National AIDS meet

February 23, 2004

Straight Answers: TIMES NEWS NETWORK [MONDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2004

02:48:23 AM]

Dr Radium Bhattacharya , President, Indian Network of ngos working on

HIV/AIDS on the reasons for holding a national meet in Lucknow .

Since UP is a low prevalence state in terms of HIV/AIDS, why is the

INN holding a convention here in Lucknow ?

Even though Uttar Pradesh is a low prevalence state we have realised

that tackling the problem at the very outset will help us nipping it

in the bud. One per cent of the adult population which roughly

amounts to 5 million cases in India have been recorded as AIDS

patients so we now have to disseminate information throughout the

country to create awareness about AIDS. Despite the fact that UP has

registered very few cases, we must also remember that testing is only

optional and not compulsory. So for every case reported there must be

ten others that go unreported. Besides UP has very little awareness

and even after a person is tested positive there is not much

counselling available. Counselling is the most important aspect of

treatment as it is both affordable and effective.

What is the theme of this year's convention?

It is vulnerability, stigma and discrimination which PLWHA (People

Living With HIV/AIDS) face and how much has changed since 1994 when

INN was constituted. Today we have a network of around 400 NGOs

working together. Problem sharing between various regions and sorting

it out together goes a long way in finding solutions.

What are the talking points of your campaign?

There are five important points when we talk of HIV/AIDS. The first

is denial. People don't want to accept that something like AIDS can

happen to them. Vulnerability is the next point. Lack of information

leads to vulnerability. Access to information and protection is the

third point. Care is another issue that needs to be dealt with. And

the final point is women empowerment.

Why women empowerment?

Because gender issues invariably come into play when talking of

HIV/AIDS. Moreover women don't have any control in sexual matters.

That is why work is currently on on the female condom, which should

be available soon.

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