Peru enacts HIV/AIDS law. Is it replicable in India?.

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Peru recently amended its Law on HIV/AIDS, summarized below. On this forum

people have discussed such a law in India and I wonder if Peru's amendment is

replicable. I also wonder if such a law can be enforced, and how.

Peru Amends Law on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections. On 31 May 2004,

Peru enacted Law No. 28243, which amends Law No. 26626, the law on HIV/AIDS and

sexually transmitted infections. The amendments do the following:

a) require the testing of pregnant woman for HIV after mandatory counseling;

provide for penalties for health workers who violate the right to health of

persons living with HIV/AIDS; and

c) require the Ministries of Health and Education to undertake information and

educational activities with an emphasis on healthy behavior and sexual

responsibility, including postponement of the initiation of sexual activity and

reduction of risky sexual behavior.

The law also describes in detail the sort of health care the HIV infected

persons are entitled to:

1) continued and permanent care;

2) prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, counseling, rehabilitation and

social reintegration;

3) hospital, ambulatory, domiciliary and community care; and

4) medications, including progressive and free treatment with anti-retrovirals.

http://www.congreso.gob.pe/ntley/Imagenes/Leyes/28243.pdf

From UNFPA GLOBAL POPULATION POLICY UPDATE, Issue # 47, 14 January 2005

.................................

Joya Banerjee

Consultant, Adolescent & Youth Cluster-

Reproductive Health Branch, HIV/AIDS Branch, UNFPA

E-mail: <banerjee@...>