AIDS Activism needs to be built on 'Mutual Trust' amongst stakeholders: Whose agenda is Second Line Treatment?

[Guest guest]

AIDS Activism needs to be built on ‘Mutual Trust’ amongst stakeholders: Whose

agenda is Second Line Treatment?

AIDS Activists across India receiving life saving treatment expressed the need

to expand “Second Line AIDS Activist Programme” initiated by AHF-India Cares in

a concluding Annual Review Meeting of the programme held on 1st May 2008.

We are preparing a list of questions to be asked through public forums and give

a national call immediately signed by AIDS ACTIVISTS and Coalition for AIDS

Treatment Access (CATA) members to grab the attention of NACO, INP+ and Pharma

Companies.

In present situation, activism on Second-Line Treatment has been conveniently

delayed and buried under the earth to benefit a few at the cost of people’s

life.

We want to ask this question - Who is accountable to the untimely deaths of

people failing treatment at government ART centers and refused further treatment

due to lackluster and laidback attitude of the government whose primary concern

was to ensure right to health as a fundamental right to life enshrined in the

constitution.

We demand right to health as a political right to a citizen and not as a

commodity which is market driven.

We call upon humanity to look at these issues with out further delay to observe

Global AIDS Week of Action (May 18-24) where the member states are accountable

to the UNGASS Declaration of Commitment (DoC) to provide UNIVERSAL ACCESS TO

PREVENTION AND TREATMENT OF HIV/AIDS.

We would like to initiate a healthy debate and discussion which leads to some

action to be presented directly to the National AIDS Council (NAC) Chairman, The

Honourable Prime Minister of India, Dr. Manmohan Singh to take immediate and

time-bound action and save the lives of citizens of Independent India.

We want fresh and inspiring activism from civil societies and positive networks

based on meritocracy with human face. We request members of AIDS community

across forums to respond by giving your suggestions and helping to build a

positive activism.

Thanks and regards,

Mahesh

Dr. Mahesh Ganesan,

Advocacy Coordinator

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

S 7 Panchsheel Park,

New Delhi 110017, India

Tel: + 91 11 41745541/42

Fax: + 91 11 41745543

Cell: +91 9911331998

e-mail: mahesh.ganesan@...

www.aidshealth.org