Re: AIDS problem turning serious in NE- Manipur's female drug users'

[Guest guest]

Dear forum,

Re: /message/7853

It's very encouraging to learnt that some of the forum members are really

interested in the happenings of Manipur's female drug users'.

Perhaps this issue might as well be the one neglected most by even our colleages

working on Drugs and HIV/AIDS. If we're talking about intervention or care &

treatment among IDUs, there are lot where we can learn from the service given in

manipur.

There are many innovative examples of giving service that could

fit into case study and it's not surprising that the oxfam project

implemented by SASO found a place in the books of UNAIDS.

Also, this particular organisation has been honoured by UNODC & UNAIDS for the

contribution it gave as a civil society organisation,while keeping its identity

as a drug users' organisation.

However, the step motherly treatment/attitude shown by many NGOs towards this

particular community concerns all of us. So far, there is no credible study or

programme being implemented for them excepting the Alliance programme. Even the

SACS needs to be remind that this community exist, leave alone the programme.

An intervention in this area could be the most challenging in the sense that

most of them,unlike our male counterparts, are hard to reach and also on wider

margin among the most marginalised. Perhaps their complex dynamics of

interrelationship with sex work in order to afford their habits could be a major

factor.

A visit to north AOC, a hotspot fot them,would revealed the

true scenario that touched the humane side of the story but nobody ventures into

such issues.

The more you try to explore into their world, the deeper they go

underground. Even an inter-action with them wouldn't reveal their true

identity. They have their own expertise in concealing their

identity.untilland unless, we showed our true care and concern, its not

surprising that they would held back their true stories.

They have beared the maximum brunt of the law enforcers,the pressure groups,the

social reformers and they are the one who felt cheated on numerous ocassion by

people who gave false promises, a rosy picture for the sake of data collection.

As much as scaling up the IDUs intervention program is required, we also needs a

serious brainstorming in manistreaming this particular

community. The SACS needs to outline a strategy on how this particular

community could be reached and brought overground so that services given reaches

them.

Yours in Solidarity

Tomba Meitei

--

Tom Meitei

Activist

Drug use and HIV/AIDS and HCV related issues

Manipur, INDIA

e-mail: <tombameitei@...>