Re: Spread of AIDS alarming in Indian army

[Guest guest]

Dear Readers,

Why has it taken so long and become so entrenched. The earliest cases of HIV

and AIDS came from the Military and many of these ex Military personnel became

the Activists who started Networks of Support, Care and Treatment informerly

from the communities into with they were invalidated.

How is it that it has taken 20 years for the peace keepers to start working of

what was an obvious and much reported problem?

National Police Academies shouldn't be waiting too much longer either I suggest.

But why go to the USA Pacific Command for advice?

The answers are now very much home grown and available by liaising with the

capable Umbrella organisations that can be credited for the best practice

initiatives.

I have been using Indian models in counselling infected military personnel in

Uganda where 45 % of their enlisted soldiers are already positive.

The Indian tax payer should be asking what the percentage is already in India

and demanding that the investment in peace keeping and border safety be

preserved as a matter of urgency. The solutions aree straight forward but they

will not be solved by Committees or Joint Advisory Boards with military

heirarchies of friendly allies.

The problem can't wait for those outcomes.

Military doctors need to be liaising with the few highly competent HIV/AIDS

physicians in India and then mapping some important initiatives now involving

linkages for infected serving officers and their families, confidentiality,

treatment care and support initiatiatives and long overdue prevention education

campaigns inside the services.

The expertise for all of that is readily available in many States in India

particularly in Kerala and Tamil Nadu.

The alarm bells have been sounding for at least 10 years and no one has been

waking up.

Geoffrey

E-mail: <gheaviside@...>

[Guest guest]

Re: Spread of AIDS alarming in Indian army, from: " Geoffrey Heaviside "

I do appreciate and respect you for your experience and age and the work you are

indulging in being an advocate for HIV/AIDS IN India

No doubt, as a member of the indian Military, I would like to dispel and dismiss

each of your thoughts as figments of undocumented and unsupported imagination

and book work, without knowing the facts on ground

Needless to add, Indian military has one of the most epidemiologically sound

prevention, care and treatment aspects of HIV/AIDS programs encompassing what

others in civil street are still advocating in book form only. It is a programm

which needs to be emulated by all others to manage, control and contain the

spread of HIV. Indeed, such 15 long years of efforts have resulted and impacted

the incidence to atleast 10 times less than the figures quoted at national

levels.

And we don't need others to tell us what needs to be done in a scientific manner

Thank you

Dr HS Ratti

E-mail: <ratti2@...>

[Guest guest]

One question; while it is clear that soldiers can spread HIV sexually, are we

sure we really understand the dynamics of infection within the military?

Solders undoubtedly get more medical injections, transfusions, and surgery than

the adult population at large.

Can the Defense Establishment today ensure that the medical procedures carried

out are risk free in terms of HIV, and Hepatitis transmission.

If yes, very good. If not, why not?

Minkin

E-mail: <niphiv@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Dr Ratti,

The last thing I would want to try to do is to tell anyone in India WHAT to do

about the evident problems with HIV/AIDS in the peace keeping forces of India.

The increased incidence of sudden suicide after diagnosis by serving

officers;

The level of interest shown by serving Lt's in my travels on the trains of

India;

The numbers of spouses that I have met who were infected by their serving

spouses;

And the increasing reports in the media which I read even while I am in

Australia suggests that the situation is not as rosy as you indicate.

If you are correct then there is nothing to worry about and nothing needs to

change in the way in which serving officers are trained in sexual health and

safety.

If you are not correct then someone needs to be flagging the need to address the

situation that takes account of the ways in which serving officers living away

from their families have their health issues managed.

The most recent reports I am receiving are from the Assam Rifles which I presume

is part of the peace keeping forces of India.

As you know I move very freely and frequently around all classes in Indian

society and in many States and even without the benefit of fluency in the

numerous languages used, I hear a lot of stories.

My job is to reflect on best practice, empower infected and affected

communities and speak as often as I consider necessary about the issues I see

and hear about.

It is the responsibility of the various SACS to develop and implement programs.

I suspect that no SACS program would even attempt to influence the training,

care and support procedures as they apply to the military or for that matter the

various State Police forces who are also discovering unhealthy frequencies.

I am grateful that you have a handle on the situation for the Indian

Military and I will leave it in your capable hands to monitor the

effectiveness of your epidemiological practices so that we can see less

instances of poor post test counselling and better care, support and treatment

advice.

Just for my information when I am speaking about the issue in Srinigar and the

North East could you kindly supply some of your statistics that indicate the

frequency of sero conversion viral illness so that I can be better informed.

One of the most important developments that you are no doubt aware of, and which

should be of great interest to military economists, is that from early detection

HIV positivity can be contained and progression to AIDS disease can be averted

for a working lifetime of a serving soldier. I hope that is also well understood

by your epidemiologists and Commanding Officers.

Nice to hear from you again and to know that you are still actively involved in

HIV issues.

Geoffrey

E-mail: <gheaviside@...>