BMCC revoked the order to evict PLWHA: Update on Samraksha HIV community care centre

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Latest Developments: Samraksha Community Care Centre in Bangalore

Thanks to the proactive role of the press and civil society as well as

several sensitive officials from the public sector in raising the issue of

the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS to live in the community, the

immediate threat of eviction to those living in the Care Centre has been

averted.

The Bangalore Mahangara Palike has revoked the order to evict people living

with HIV/AIDS from the Care Centre. The Commissioner, Bangalore Mahanagara

Palike has assured the Director, Samraksha that people living with HIV,

currently accessing care and support services at the centre will not be

forced to shift to the Isolation Hospital.

Samraksha has been told that it could directly resolve this issue with the local

community

The local community, however, is unrelenting. The local police summoned the

staff at the centre based on a complaint by the community and asked when we

would be vacating and moving people living with HIV/AIDS into the Isolation

hospital or an asylum. I quote from the complaint from the President of the

residents' Welfare Association. " It is a residential locality. You are

requested to take very urgent action to evacuate the premises to any

hospital, asylum or isolation wards in the interest of health, hygiene and

welfare of residents. If they are allowed to stay here further, there will

be unrest among the residents and may cause law and order problem also.

Please act at once. Note: Please arrange to shift them at once without any

further delay. "

The key issues being raised by the community are of HIV infection spreading

to others and that no death should take place in the centre as this disturbs

the mental health of the teenagers in the area. Their recommendation is that

the centre should be outside city limits as they are unable to think of pain

and suffering in their midst. One of the residents in fact, suggested that

it should be shifted to a slum. The roots of the discrimination go beyond

lack of awareness to those of an intolerant urban sensibility, which is

exclusive and uncaring.

While Samraksha will continue to resist this discrimination and ostracism,

the need of the hour is to promote deeper understanding of the needs and

lives of people with HIV and build acceptance and concern in the community.

Awareness of transmission routes alone is not enough. Perception of the

community regarding people living with HIV and their families has to change.

The community needs to recognise that they will live and die as others in

the community and do not need to be isolated or segregated or housed in

asylums.

This incident has drawn an overwhelming response from people all over India

expressing shock over the discriminatory attitudes still prevalent among

sections of our society and offering solidarity and support for people with

HIV/AIDS and their right to live, receive care and support and to die with

dignity in the community.

We thank you all for your emails and phone calls expressing solidarity and

support. Now, we would now very much appreciate your thoughts and

suggestions for a media strategy that goes beyond this incident to look at

changing attitudes and perceptions of the urban communities, particularly

the educated and affluent.

Sanghamitra Iyengar

Director, Samraksha

E-mail: <si@...>