Two decades on, on film a story of stigma, discrimination, HIV/AIDS

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Two decades on, on film a story of stigma, discrimination, HIV/AIDS

Twenty years after the HIV/AIDS epidemic first hit India,

people are still dying ... from stigma and discrimination,

says an Italian doctor of Argentinian origin based in Mumbai,

who has just done a film on the issue.

" My source of inspiration was Kamal. She will be the first

PLHA (person living with HIV/AIDS) to be my colleague. She

inspired me to start compiling the material I shot in 2004, "

says Guillermo Caravotta.

Kamal got to know of her HIV/AIDS status six months into her

marriage. He was a doctor but he never disclosed his status

to anyone. She has a daughter. After her husband died, she

decided to complete her medical studies, to become a doctor,

and to " live for positive people like her " , says Caravotta's film.

" I never thought of making a docu film about HIV/AIDS. But

after listened to her during a trip to Delhi I was shocked,

and I started to look in my archives of tapes. I found in her

story a lot of courage to empower people living with

HIV/AIDS. I think that if she get an MBBS degree, will be a

powerful living message for Indian society. I hope she can

realise her dream. "

What was the response to his film?

" The reception of the film was okay. I expected a bit more

(of a response). I went to Delhi to screen it at a National

Consultation. Some sort of shock (emerged) there. However,

apart from a lot of interest from people living with

HIV/AIDS, some internal conflicts between organizations cast

some some side effects on it. I would like the message of the

documentary film spread all over India with the same velocity

as the (HIV/AIDS) virus, " he said in an interview.

Caravotta started to make films from his adolescent days, and

comes from Argentina. However, he says: " India acted as an

alarm clock for my film-making creativity, boosting my

potential. "

Some facts and figures from him: In India, there are around

10,000 HIV new infections everyday. 1000 people die of AIDS

daily. It is a dreaded enemy of the society, even more than

terrorism. However, the most powerful enemy is the stigma and

discrimination associated with this disease.

Ignorance hurts people. The National Family Health Survey,

the most extensive Study on health and nutrition in India,

reported that 57% of women in this country are unaware of

HIV/AIDS. Health officials and doctors still reject patients.

Big companies are still unclear about the disease. Families

eject their sons and daughters from their homes after they

contract HIV/AIDS. Some institutions refuse to take care of

children who are positive.

Can we stop this epidemic with condoms? Can we stop it with

antiretrovirals? Can we stop this epidemic with pamphlets

only, asks Caravotta.

While making the film, and to respect the PLHAs

confidentiality, Caravotta didn't take assistance from crew

members.

" My main objective in 2004 was, not about making a

documentary, but to record some incidents about PLHAs. Then,

in 2006, I was touched by the transformation of the people,

and this was the beginning of (the film called) 'Second

Life', " says the doctor-filmmaker, influenced by groups like

Medicine sans Frontiers.

Language: Hindi-Marathi

Subtitles: English

Duration 40'51 " 16

Interviews and camera: Dr CARAVOTTA

jorge.caravotta@...

Produced by Humanity Films

--

Frederick Noronha

e-mail: <fred@...>