Re: Expert Group to Assess AIDS situation in India

[Guest guest]

The article in The Hindu dated 6th October 2004 it was stated that " The Union

Health Ministry has decided to set up an expert group to assess the state of

HIV/AIDS in the country in the wake of the controversies over the numbers

infected. It will include national and international experts.

The Union Health Secretary, J.V.R. Prasada Rao, said the group was being set up

to clear the doubts that had arisen due to misleading statements of the

different stakeholders on the numbers. This had not only triggered panic but was

also affecting the national programme.

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Comment:

Statistics can be misleading, unless understood in perspective. If official

releases of numbers infected could also include information on number of people

tested, the background of the data as well as percentage of infection would be

well established.

For instance if one says Maharashtra is no. 1 in HIV infected persons, Andhra

Pradesh no. 2 and so on, it may only reflect on HIV awareness in these States

leading to more coming forward to VCTCs for screening. What about States where

people never come forward in as many numbers for testing? Does it mean we assume

HIV is not prevalent in these States? So, if statistics of such numbers are not

reported and understood in perspective, panic buttons are bound to be pressed,

instead of planning strategies to combat the transmission rates.

These numbers must be used as a guiding factor or trend, instead of arguing

about its validity and accuracy or bickering on who issued these numbers to the

public and on what authority.

Sreeram

E-mail: <setlurs01@...>