AIDS Alert: Gulf states to screen Indian immigrants

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AIDS Alert: Gulf states to screen Indian immigrants

Pakistan Times Foreign Desk Report

ISLAMABAD: Deeply concerned about the fast spreading of AIDS virus

amongst their vulnerable populations through contact with a large

Indian Diaspora, the Gulf States are making screening for AIDS

mandatory for the Indian visitors and the non resident Indians.

The urgency for action is underscored by the fact that most of Indian

immigrant workers in the Gulf States belong to the AIDS affected

Indian States of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra,

Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

'Alarm Bells Ringing'

The increasing incidents of AIDS in the health concerned Gulf States

have sent the alarm bells ringing and the pressure for a positive

action to arrest the rise in disease victims is mounting.

According to Middle Eastern diplomatic sources, the most worrying

part of the problem is that Indian Government instead of accepting

the stark reality chooses to bury its head in the sand by going into

the denial mode.

Experts seriously contest the figure of 5.1 million projected by

India regarding AIDS struck victims in the country and say that

negligence on part of a lethargic health establishment has

contributed in turning aid into a full blown epidemic.

Indian Officials Admit

Even Indian officials admit that the full impact of the disease will

become apparent within five years when the deteriorated conditions

force the victims to seek hospital admissions.

Pressed by the international agencies who challenge the Indian

statistics on AIDS, the Indian Health Minister has announced that the

Center would soon appoint a private consultant to determine the exact

number of AIDS patient in the country.

The Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore and Tata Consultancy

Services have been short listed to act as consultants on gathering

AIDS data.

Indians Ill-Equipped: Experts

According to experts, Indians are ill equipped to arrest the

incidence of the deadly disease. The fact that 3.1 million AIDS

victims live in rural areas exacerbates the already mammoth problem.

There is not health structure below district level to detect the

disease as even at the district level the screening and treatment

facilities are rudimentary, leaving much of the population to fend

for itself.

To safeguard its citizens the Gulf States will have to tread with

caution while looking for work force from India, comment the

observers. & #9679;

http://pakistantimes.net/2004/09/28/top8.htm