HIV/AIDS: Kashmir, no exception

[Guest guest]

[The UNAIDS/WHO Working Group on Global HIV/AIDS and STI Surveillance, in

collaboration with the WHO Public Health Mapping Team, Communicable Diseases, is

producing maps showing the location and HIV prevalence in relation to population

density, major urban areas and communication routes. ( " UNAIDS/WHO

epidemiological fact sheets on HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections,

2004 Update " ). However, these maps claims that there in no data availabe on

HIV/AIDS from Kashmir!? Moderator]

Kashmir, no exception

DR. M RAFIQ

A few months back, when Ramzan jo (not his real name), a local middle man, who

has arranged about 100 marriages, was declared HIV positive, we knew that

Kashmir is not alone and safe in its battle against HIV/AIDS. The current trends

show that we are also on the brink of a disaster waiting to happen. Consider

these figures.

More than 750 patients have been reported HIV positive from the whole state of

J & K as reported by J & K state Aids Control society till date.

We have been hearing since last, few years that the projected estimate is about

25,000 patients, considering the various taboos associated with the disease.

Fortunately, the figures are not too much, but can we escape the reality that is

faced in the whole

country? The official prevalence is estimated to be about below 1% of the adults

in the age group of 15-49 years. These figures have been calculated from data

like antenatal attendees, sentinel surveillance & other data.

National AIDS Control Organization (NACO), estimates that India is on the verge

of greatest increase in the estimated number of people living with HIV/AIDS

(PLWHA), in the world in coming decades, with over 50 lakh PLWHA's.

Till date India has second largest number of cases next to South Africa. NACO

projects that by the year 2010, there will be 90 lakh cases, which will overcome

the South Africa figures. This will have untold human suffering, cause severe

stress on the already struggling public health system and will destroy the

family economies.

In this context a study by Durraswamy in year 2003, reports that families

affected by HIV/AIDS, on an average spend about 49% of household expenditure on

treatment & this increases to 82% among low income families.

Fortunately government of India (GOI) has woken up to the challenge and has

pledged to provide free antiretroviral drugs (drugs used in AIDS patients) to

one lakh population by year 2007. Also large number of global partners like,

Bill & Melinda foundation are also

helping massive prevention and treatment campaign in country.

However lot of challenges are there. With the launch of NACP III (National AIDS

Control Programme IIIrd) by March 2006, we hope to adequately scale up the

response but lot of bottle necks exist, like inadequate health workforce, lack

of infrastructure including mandatory laboratories for the diagnostic component,

inadequate &

ineffective monitoring & lack of sustained funding.

Till date India's Public health system has struggled to provide a basic level of

care for the poor & marginalized. If we take into consideration the trends

facing the country and the state in terms of HIV/AIDS, we will be under

tremendous pressure and stress to provide testing, counseling, prevention,

education, treatment & palliative care.

Various hindrances that we face in this connection include, lack of proper

political will, a lack of sense of urgency to tackle the impending epidemic, non

availability of an effective NGO working in an high risk area. These are some of

the challenges we face these days. Fortunately modalities & opportunities for

handling these challenges are available over the years.

There has been a true commitment to improving & investing in health &

controlling HIV/AIDS, but still a consistent & regular information about

HIV/AIDS is needed at all levels.

To reach the United Nations Millennium Development Goal (MDG) of stopping the

spread of HIV/AIDS by the year 2015, will require expansion of the targeted

interventions for high risk population, strengthening of health system,

improving public private partnership and sustained funding.

Further research into new drugs, the AIDS vaccine are still continuing and we

hope to reverse the trend of infection in few more years. For the current year

The World AIDS Campaign advocates for the fulfilment of the UN Declaration of

Commitment on HIV/AIDS and subsequent policy commitments on AIDS under the theme

" Stop AIDS.

Keep the Promise. " With the aims to hold the world community accountable to the

commitments they make. The World AIDS Campaign also aims to ensure individuals

are actively engaged in the response under the theme " Stop AIDS. Make the

Promise. "

The specific commitments the international community would work to fulfill –

include prevention campaigns, reducing stigma, building health infrastructures,

providing necessary resources, and ensuring treatment, care and respect for

people living with HIV or AIDS.

These commitments to action in support of a comprehensive AIDS response are

directed to all of us and everyone has a role to play in responding to HIV and

AIDS.

(The author is a public health expert working in SPM department GMC Srinagar. He

has been participating in activities related to AIDS prevention for the last

five years. He can be contacted at dr_mmr@...)

http://www.greaterkashmir.com/full_story.asp?ItemID=12859 & cat=11