Increase in HIV rates in Pondicherry

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

The recent news rendered by The Sunday Express, August 29th 2004 expressing that

low prevalence states & UTs like Goa, Gujarat and Pondicherry has turned to

become high prevalence states looks like it holds good.

SFDRT who has been working in Pondicherry over 10 years and a trend setter to

have initiated prevention with care and support of HIV/AIDS over the years, has

been contacted and traced with over 36 identified cases of HIV within two to

three villages extending to a space of 40 kms radius which seems to be

extensively high. We are now in the process of identifying the existing cases of

HIV and AIDS in Podicherry complete, to asses the current rate of increase and

also to ensure the immediate need of care and support to the identified

individuals and their families to take in special care of the children infected

and affected.

As a part of GIPA we are in the process of arranging a " high tech " closed door

meeting of all infected individuals and their family members with the honorable

Governor of Pondicherry, who will then gear up and activate the necessasary aids

to meet their immediate needs having to be HIV positive. This initiative is one

to limit the enormous time that we have to spend and advocate with all officials

and politicians and the other keeping in mind the increased rate of HIV

prevalence in Pondicherry a " quick start " needs to be laid.

One has to remember that it is hard to bifurcate Tamilnadu and Pondicherry to be

independent of each other. The impact of one lies over the other. These days it

is literally seen and felt, also supported with statistics that the road traffic

over the scintillating east coastal beach road to Pondicherry is on an

tremendous increase, especially after declaring that Pondicherry is to be

promoted as a tourist destination. Since we also work with sex workers we

witness the current increase in the migration of sex workers into Pondicherry

who are coming to serve the clients of the liquor bars in particular.

SFDRT is also pursuing a study with the problem of alcoholism as a major with

holder in prevention and care of support services to HIV/AIDS, in Pondicherry.

We will have to face the turmoil of alcoholism as a major obstacle to the

existent preventive services in Pondicherry.

As a grass root level organization working with HIV/AIDS prevention and care, we

have witnessed the trends in the prevalence of HIV in Pondicherry over the 10

years and now we would not be surprised if Pondicherry would become yet another

" Thailand " . Since Pondicherry is relatively a small place the impact on HIV/AIDS

prevalence can be felt quicker with more density.

SFDRT would continue to fight the battle and would hope to link up with the

Government and State Tourism Department to ensure that tourism in Pondicherry

will not be the major cause for the increase in HIV prevalence, be it in

Pondicherry or the suburbs.

Regards

shyamala ashok

SFDRT - Pondicheryy, Chennai, Vellore & Port Blair

E-mail: <aabinand@...>