Awareness way behind magnitude in M’rashtra

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Awareness way behind magnitude in M'rashtra

SANJAY JOG

Posted online: Monday, October 03, 2005 at 0034 hours IST

MUMBAI: Of the 5.134 million HIV-positive cases in India, well over

20% (one million) are in Maharashtra. And half the state's cases are

in Mumbai, the country's commercial capital, where the first case

was diagnosed in 1986. The HIV-AIDS challenge is one of the biggest

hurdles for Maharashtra, which records the highest prevalence among

Indian states. " Only two districts report no cases, " says the

state's Human Development Report.

Sexual transmission, mainly on account of unsafe sex, is the leading

cause for the spread: HIV prevalence rates are highest among sex

workers and their clients, injecting drug users and men who have sex

with men. Infected blood and blood products and from mother to child

are also responsible, particularly in Mumbai.

Commercial sex workers, male clients, truck drivers and other high-

risk groups largely comprise Mumbai's five lakh cases.

And, despite intensive efforts by the state government, civic bodies

and government and non-government organisations, HIV-Aids remains

widely misunderstood in the state. Very little work has been done in

motivating the clients of sex workers in Mumbai in a sustained and

effective manner, for instance, to practice safe sex.

Mumbai Districts Aids Control Society (MDACS), the governing body of

which is led by the municipal commissioner, has allotted 20 projects

to 14 NGOs. As a part of the National AIDS Control Programme,

a `syndromic approach' for diagnosis and management of sexually

transmitted infections (STIs) was adopted. To achieve this, 35 STI

clinics have been strengthened under the programme and a massive

information, education and communication awareness programme is

being implemented in the metropolis.

Says Nirupa Borges, director of MDACS: " More than 90% of awareness

is in Mumbai. So far, more than 85% of schools have been reached.

MDACS has undertaken workplace intervention projects in

collaboration with the International Labour Organisation, to create

awareness among the working population. Extension of activities in

unorganised sectors such as migrant workers, construction workers

and private sector units in collaboration with NGOs is also being

taken up. "

At the state level, the government has launched a school Aids

prevention and education programme, with technical and financial

support from Unicef. A top government functionary informs: " Out of

15,510 higher secondary schools in the state, so far 14,500 schools

are covered under this programme. "

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