Dr Piot visiting India: But, sex workers pay for the tune

[Guest guest]

A Grand Welcome to UNAIDS Chief Dr. Piot to India by the Andhra

Pradesh Government!

On the eve of the much-hyped visit to India by Dr. Piot, the

Congress Government under Dr. YSR has taken a leaf out of the past TDP

Government's book on how to manage HIV/AIDS in their state!

According to the Special Correspondent of The Hindu (2 Nov, 2004) – " The

Gopalpuram police have allegedly forced 59 sex workers to undergo tests

for HIV in violation of human rights. B. Jayamma and T. Padmaja,

representatives of the Chaitanya Mahila Mandali, alleged that 35 women were

arrested in Secunderabad area and their blood drawn for testing on October 29.

Again, on November 1, another batch of 24 women were arrested and subjected to

the test, they alleged.

They said the test not only violated human rights but also went against

the Centre's policy and guidelines. Under these, no individual is supposed

to be screened for HIV test without his willingness. The HIV status should

not be made public and identity kept confidential. "

No doubt Dr. Piot would be much cheered with the wonderfully epidemiologically

sound and evidence-based methods the AP Govt. uses to handle the epidemic

particularly among the most vulnerable population exposed to the virus! Don't we

all agree then, State violence and coercion works best to tackle a disease?

Trample on people's rights, force testing on them, stigmatise and traumatise

them further and push them underground –

beyond reach of care and support and Viola! The epidemic vanishes and AP

Govt. can say HIV epidemic? What Epidemic?

When o when will we ever learn?

In much anger and indignation,

Amitrajit Saha

Kolkata 6 Nov 2004

E-mail: <amitrajitsaha@...>

________________________

Sex workers subjected to HIV test'

By Our Special Correspondent

HYDERABAD, NOV. 2. The Gopalpuram police have allegedly forced 59 sex workers to

undergo tests for HIV in violation of human rights.

B. Jayamma and T. Padmaja, representatives of the Chaitanya Mahila Mandali,

alleged that 35 women were arrested in Secunderabad area and their blood drawn

for testing on October 29. Again, on November 1, another batch of 24 women were

arrested and subjected to the test, they alleged.

They said the test not only violated human rights but also went against the

Centre's policy and guidelines. Under these, no individual is supposed to be

screened for HIV test without his willingness. The HIV status should not be made

public and identity kept confidential

http://www.hindu.com/2004/11/03/stories/2004110317870500.htm