Review of the Book HIV/AIDS and YOU by Dr.Khomdon Singh m

[Guest guest]

Dear Moderator and Forum,

Referring to the Answers to the question numbers 474 and 475 in the book titled

“HIV/AIDS and you” published by the Indian AIDS Consortium written by Dr.Khomdon

Singh Lisham it makes me feel utmost pity by the unprofessionalism and the

utterly misconception towards the deliberate and indispensable response towards

injecting drug users in Imphal.

The reality that we could share to everyone could be substantiate as follows:

SASO undertook Buprenorphine Substitution Program as a part of the 5 cities

project implemented in India funded by the European Commission through a Delhi

based NGO called SHARAN. It was a pilot project and we don’t feel the necessity

to inform state authority even then there was a point of time when we had

informal talks with health authorities as we are way in process to undertake the

said program.Infact the authority visit our DICs and observe the activities and

call our team to present papers etc.

The program was operated under the supervision of a Psychiatrist who was a

registered medical practitioner.

No legal problems were ever faced by SASO as a reason of this program.

Buprenorphine dispensed from SASO has never reported to be appearing in streets

as a drug of abuse.

My humble appeal at this juncture is that the writer is referring to an

unreliable source of information or for some other reasons which is not known

and perhaps a composed masterpiece in a discordant tune.

It is time that drug dependency is realized and acknowledged as an illness so

every programmatic positive response towards drug use and the resultant effects

of it should be considered as COMPLIMENTARY RATHER THAN CONTRADICTORY.

Lastly I hope and pray that such incompetence should never be a thorn in the

path towards the response to Public Health and should I be prompt enough to

represent and speak about the influx and the never ending queries of such

program which was overwhelmingly preferred by the drug users.

*The book was sold at Rs.400.00/- to my organisation.

Thanks

Warm regards,

Lamabam Birendrajit Singh

General Secretary

SASO-Social Awareness Service Organisation.

E-mail: <lbirendrajit@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Mr Lamabam (Wa-Wa) and friends

This is the first time that I am actually writing in substantively to this very

well moderated e-forum group. Of course, I take this opportunity to warmly greet

Joe and each one of you for this coming year ahead of us...with so many

increasing challenges and little incremental advances in our advocacy work, our

service and resposes to those who need the solidarity, affirmation, and

friendship most.

The response that my brother from SASO has submitted to this group is of some

concern to us all. As we are all aware, the situation in Manipur is still very

critical and the respose from civil society, the public, the youth and our

health professional fraternity has been remarkable. There is much ahead on our

road to complete still and this is not a time for either complacency or

fragmentation of our collective resolve or efforts.

I admit, I have not been closely following the recent laudable advances on the

ground in Manipur, nor have I seen the publication mentioned. However, I would

like to appeal to all parties to see that information that could play a vital

role in assessments of our work and impact should be very thoroughly considered,

of the highest professional rigour, and peer reviewed objectively before it

becomes print to be cited, disseminated, etc. This is very critical in such

situations as responding to the needs of drug users, disaster and torture

suvivors, detainees, etc., because of the large vulnerabilities in the

psycho-social and legal aspects of this kind of work.

If the information can be proven to be incorrect, it become incumbent upon the

author and publishers to make a corrigendum available. This is essentially to

preserve the security of the programme and work on the ground, to preserve the

safety of the beneficiaries, and to make the appropriate reassurances to the

authorities concerned that professionalism and ethical norms are being applied.

Best

Dr D Roy Laifungbam

CORE, Manipur

E-mail: <laifungbam@...>