NACO ignores Madhya Pradesh

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Yet another state left unattended

NACO ignores Madhya Pradesh as NGOs cry hoarse

Nirmala Bhuradia Indore

Madhya Pradesh is witnessing an explosion in the incidence of Acquired

Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) and the National AIDS Control Organisation

(NACO), the apex establishment for the control and prevention of the disease,

has not even included the state on its radar.

In its recent categorisation of ''High Prevalence'' and ''High Vulnerable''

regions affected by the disease, NACO seems to have ignored the Central Indian

state even though Non governmental Organisations (NGOs) working here warn of a

growing pandemic, requiring urgent government intervention.

According to a report released in 2000 by the Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal

came a close second to Kolkata, with the highest number of carriers of sexually

transmitted diseases (STD) in slums, making them more susceptible to AIDS and

the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV).

NGOs working in Indore, Ujjain, Jabalpur, Reewa, Bhopal, Gwalior, Sagar,

Hoshangabad and Morena, claim the number of AIDS victims in these districts is

far more than the official figure of 7000. They worry that awareness campaigns

by public personalities seem to have very little impact on villagers, most of

who question the credibility of their messages. " Yeh to sab acting hai aur phir

hum inki sab baton pe vishwas nahi kar sakte kyunki yeh to datoon se saboon tak

sab bechate hain. " (We know all this is acting and we can't trust everything

they [the actors] say because they endorse everything in the world, from

toothpaste to soaps) they say.

Separate surveys across the state conducted by NGOs found a high prevalence of

the disease among rag-pickers, children working in dhabas between the ages of

five and 18 and truck drivers, caused in large measure by unprotected sex. A

survey by an NGO in Bajaria, Bharat Talkies Bridge and Kabadkhana showed that a

majority of rag pickers and child workers in dhabas covered by them suffered

from sexually transmitted diseases while some of them had even tested positive

for HIV.

The film AIDS — Red Alert by Rachana Johari on the disease in urban areas showed

that even though 60 per cent of youngsters surveyed were sexually active, they

were unaware or not ready to listen to anything about HIV/AIDS. Her film, though

fictionalised, is supported by research.

But a doctor who runs a private nursing home in Dewas said AIDs was no longer

confined to urban areas. She said she had patients " pouring in " from villages,

even remotely located hamlets, and attributed the spread of the diseaseto lack

of awareness. The doctor claimed she had also treated HIV patients from small

towns like Khandwa, Khargone, Badwani and Shajapur, a fact confirmed by the

Madhya Pradesh AIDS Control Society.

Fatima, who caught the HIV virus via blood transfusion during an operation, has

a 12-year old HIV positive daughter. Fatima is inconsolable, as soon she'll have

to reveal the truth to her young daughter, who is in seventh grade. Getting

regular treatment for herself and her daughter is not easy. Her in-laws are

unaware of their disease. Her tile merchant husband, manages to arrange for

their treatment.

NGOs say the biggest challenge they face is the lack of funding for treatment of

victims of the disease. Sahayata, Sankalp and Vishwas are organisations that

support AIDS patients and arrange medication for them. A coordinator in one of

these NGOs said that even though they 150 HIV/AIDS patients approaching them

this year, whereas they had funds to support only 25.

However, the problem in Madhya Pradesh has still not reached irreparable

proportions. With timely intervention by NACO, integrated awareness campaigns,

strong political commitment and media partnerships in response to AIDS, the

growing pandemic can still be controlled.

The reort is supported by the Project for International Health Journalism

Fellowship Program, a colloboration of the Henry J. Kaiser Foundation and the

Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation

http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/2007/11/1788