Re: Orissa: Mandatory Testing of HIV befor marriage

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: /message/10355

I am not sure where this came from and who gave the credit to me and Mr. Sanjit

Patnaik for making this statement.

But we have not made any statement on mandatory testing neither do we have any

intention of promoting mandatory testing in Orissa. I am not shocked or

surprised that this statement has brought on such strong reaction.

I am angry that such a damaging statement on mandatory testing is going to ruin

all these years of struggle undertaken by all. I have been struggling at the

community level against forced testing of married young women by family members.

The sad part is that in Orissa media is yet to learn how damaging these kinds

of statement is for Orissa as a state where we are yet to go beyond prevention

programmes and where districts with high prevalence are neglected by the state.

Lokanath Misra

Director, ARUNA

Berhampur, Orissa

e-mail: <lokanath22@...>