Nepalese workers contacting HIV in India: report

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***Hindustan Times.com, April 19, 2003***

Nepalese workers contacting HIV in India: report

Sudeshna Sarkar, Indo-Asian News Service

Kathmandu, April 19

At least 10 per cent of Nepalese workers from the far western region,

who go to India in search of employment, become HIV positive after

having unsafe sex in the neighbouring country, says a Red Cross

survey.

Umesh Prasad Dhakal, director of Nepal Red Cross' health service

department, said a survey was commissioned to know the sexual

behaviour of migrant workers and to assess their vulnerability to HIV

and sexually transmitted infection.

The survey was conducted in two far-western districts, Dhoti and

Achham. The region was chosen because it lags behind the human

development index, forcing able-bodied men to migrate to Indian

cities in search of work opportunities.

The migrants, who work mostly as guards, helping hands in restaurants

and domestic help, belong to the sexually active age (14-45).

Although the majority is married, they do not take their wives with

them because of economic hardships, thereby putting themselves at an

increased risk of unsafe sexual contact.

The survey conducted late last year found each border village had at

least one male member of the family working in India.

In most villages, the number was as high as 80-90 per cent. The

preferred destinations were Mumbai and Sholapur in Maharashtra,

Punjab, Gujarat, Delhi, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan and parts of

Uttaranchal.

It estimated that 80-90 per cent of the migrants spent their free

time watching movies, playing cards, meeting friends and having sex,

mostly with commercial sex workers.

They knew where the brothels were, and most said they were taken

there the first time by a friend. Only 6.25 per cent said they used

condoms during sex.

Although most were aware sex with multiple partners increased the

likelihood of HIV and other sex related disease, they still preferred

not to use them on the ground that " condoms curtailed pleasure " .

In recent years, the survey says people from each village development

committee area reported 10-12 deaths annually due to AIDS.

An earlier survey in Doti in 2001 showed all men who tested positive

for HIV - nearly 10 per cent - had migrated to Mumbai. It also found

that 50 percent of the respondents had sexually transmitted infection.

The surveys show that though the men go to India to earn money to

support their families, ironically they spend large sums on alcohol

and women in India.

A respondent told the interviewers the first time he went to a

brothel, he spent two hours and paid Rs 125 for sex as well as drinks.

" This became a habit, " the man from Doti district said. " Whenever I

had money, I would spend the whole night in a brothel. I visited

three to four women regularly but never used condoms because it

complicates the whole process. After a few months, I had an

infection. "

The survey found that when infected migrants returned home, they

continued not to use condoms, spreading the infection further.

A woman from Doti said after her husband returned home, she developed

the symptoms of syphilis. An older woman took her to a doctor who

diagnosed her illness and asked her to persuade her husband to get

himself treated.

" When I told my husband, he became angry and blamed me, " she told the

interviewers. " For the last two years he has not come home or

written. I support myself by working in the village. "

Though the survey was conducted in just two districts, Dhakal says

they are representative of other districts in the region.

" We are everywhere in Nepal, " he says. " The Nepal Red Cross has

networks in all 75 districts and more than 500,000 volunteers. We

know what the situation is like. "

The incidence of HIV/AIDS increased during the Maoist

insurgency. " Earlier, people migrated for economic reasons, " says

Dhakal. " Then they started doing so to avoid violence and escape from

threats. "

To encounter the situation, Nepal Red Cross is trying to create

awareness by counselling the men before they leave for work, when

they come home on leave and also while at work.

" The migrants live in groups in India, " he says. " We are acquiring

the addresses to send leaflets and posters there. "

One of Nepal Red Cross' most effective measures has been to form

women's groups in the villages.

Each group has 15 to 20 members and a leader. The leaders are trained

to communicate on reproductive health and educate their peers. Once

the preventive measures start paying dividends, Nepal Red Cross wants

to extend its HIV/AIDS-related work.

" Our activities shouldn't be related to prevention only, " says

Dhakal. " It should also extend to care and support. "

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http://www.hindustantimes.com/news/181_237036,00050002.htm ]