Re: NACO rejects HIV infection claim. Mr Feachem's claim was nonsense.

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

At this stage of the HIV/AIDS epidemic in India, it is crazy to quibble over

numbers! 5.1 million and 5.3 million what difference does it make?

The critical issue is to get systems in place that combat the epidemic in an

emergency-footing and with great sensitivity towards people infected and

affected by the virus.

Initiating standard surveillance systems - increasing numbers of Sentinel

Surveillance Centres and ENSURING that data generated from them is of high

quality is one of the most important steps we need to take urgently. Sadly,

although the designs and etc. at the central level are good - no one is ever

sure of what happens at the sample collection levels. Logistic and management

issues need to be standardised and monitored. Do we do that?

Besides, no one REALLY knows what's happening in the most populous of Northern

Indian and Central Indian states - beset as they are with innumerable health

system and health delivery problems.

Prevention issues and advocacy and IEC issues likewise require to be led by

groups and people who do not carry hoary psycho-social baggage on subjects of

sex, sex work, same-sex relationships, condom-use etc.

We have too many people in the HIV/AIDS scenario - leading Govt. and on-Govt.

institutions who have problems regarding multi-partner sex, same-sex

relationships and etc.

Are we doing anything to change mindsets of these program and project managers

to make them more sensitive to the communities they are supposed' to serve?

In the treatment and care support issues - less said about the majority of my

medical colleagues the better - as we saw most recently in Jahnabi's case (in

Assam)! Imagine if that can happen to an articulate activist, what fate befalls

most of other people who are HIV positive.

We need urgently to take steps to change such mindsets and mentalities - from

top down among healthcare personnel.

My feeling is that we in India have adequate funds to do all this including

initiating ART in a big way for people who need it - what we lack is not expert

people, but experts and doers with a pro-PLWHA and ro-people mindset... As

long as we do not develop that. we'll go on arguing and quibbling over numbers!

In solidarity,

Amitrajit

Dr. Amitrajit Saha

Kolkata (India)

E-mail: amitrajitsaha@...

[Guest guest]

Dear Foram

The increasing HIV numbers may be a nonsense for those whom it has become AIDS

an industry.

For those who hasn't lost sensivity, it is great fear that oneday the very

youthness of this country will evoporate.

Millions and millions dollars are being spend to meet the challenges of AIDS.

God only knows what is going to be outcome when children are becoming orphans,

sister has started becoming widows. Stigma and discrimination is on its full

swing. But for the Government and the N.G.Os. it has become a business.

PLWHAs are being underestimated, GIPA principal has not yet implimented the very

imparance of PLHAs has not yet understood whenever the virus enter in anyones

body his/her life is not only afected but along with family Country get

affected.

But who bothers? Where is 3by 5 initiative, and what about patent law and how

many are accessing to ARV treatment so far?.

The HIV/AIDS number is not a nonsense for us. May be for the government, the

PLHAs life is a nonsense.

We are the componant of society and revolution and evolution is going to take

place through us.

I can say-------

Ab to apane hi hatho me patwar samhli jaye

shayed mumkin hai ye nou bacha li jaye

Brijesh Dubey

rnp+

E-mail: <rnpplus@...>