HIV among the film industry in Chennai

[Guest guest]

Greetings from SFDRT!

As you all may know that SFDRT works with the tamil film industry in

chennai and we have identified a prevalence rate of 1.8% among a

1000 population to be HIV +ve and nearly 30% of them have died very

recently having lead themselves to AIDS in a very quick duration of

time and that was because they were very staunch that thier status

should not be revealed to thier families and outsiders, therefore they could

have lacked support. The film circle is still very closed to HIV/AIDS, its

issues etc.

More interesting was that among those identified with HIV nearly 40% were from

the " Lights men " those working with the lights during the

shootings. The reasons specified were that they are the only ones

always occupied with shootings and outdoor unlike the others like the junior

artists etc. where in the latters timings are limited, money - the sex workers

feel and are aware that the men from the lights work are with money always and

that they are always available, the fact that the lights men spend thier time

more on outdoor shootings like the truckers and the most important reason bieng

that they are said to be involved with cheap rated sex with the sex workers in

Andhrapradesh and Hyderabad in particular as specified by them.

This links our NGO friends in Hyderabad those working with the sex workers need

to put thier effrots for a strong behavior change quite quickly by enforcing on

reduction of partners.

Keep you informed with more practicalities and realities

until then...signing off.

Regards

Shyamala Ashok

SFDRT -

E-mail: aabinand@...