WorkshopClaiming Cure of AIDS: Zero tolerance- Need to take immediate action !

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

The following actions were taken by the GSACS today(18th March) :

Show cause notice:

The organization has been issued show cause notice from GSACS, the claims of

curing AIDS have been objected in strong words . They have been asked to explain

and rectify the message. The representatives of the organization were called at

GSACS and they have verbally agreed to do so after talking to their superiors.

FIR by GSNP+:

The GSNP+ has registered an FIR with the help of Human Rights Law Network(HRLN),

with an outside guidance from GSACS against this firm under above act and IPC

section 420 for cheating at police station.

Advertisement by GSACS:

An advertisement is published by GSACS for tomorrow in all Ahmedabad Editions of

news papers with message that such claims are absolutely baseless.

ART Centres:

The ARTC counsellors have been informed that if any patient enquires, they

should be guided that these are false claims.

Appeal made to all the partners last night(17th March)

____________________

WORKSHOP CLAIMING CURE OF AIDS !Tuesday, 17 March, 2009 11:53PM

Dear Colleagues,

Any claims for claiming cure of AIDS are :-

(1)ILLEGAL-

As per the Drug and Magic Remedies(Objectionable Advertisement) Act [as suitably

revised in 2002 to include AIDS in the list of diseases] and section 420 of IPC

it is an offence to claim cure of AIDS and entice people for the

same.(Incidentally the GSACS had taken action against a person claiming AIDS

cure in 2001 itself in the absence of DMR(OA) provision using section 420 of

the Indian Penal Code.The parson was sent behind the bars.)

(2)UNETHICAL AND IMMORAL-

It is highly improper to suggest any thing about curing an incurable(though

manageable) condition.Yoga is a good thing and must be promoted but the

workshop between 19th to 26th March 2009 at Ahmedabad Education Society Ground,

Nr. Doordarshan TV Tower, Bodakdev, Ahmedabad should not sugggest anything about

curing AIDS.

(3)ANTISOCIAL-

Raising the hopes of people by false claims and providing a false sense of

sevurity may affect the standardized care and support programme including the

ART care which is being facilated through the ART centres,link ART centres and

trained private practtioners.

(4)CORRUPT-

Regardless of the intentions and motive of such a workshop,whether the

'services' are paid or not,it is indeed a corrupt practice to dupe the innocent

and gullible PLHIV and all the stakeholders must join hands to curb it.

I would reguest all to please take an initiative and meet the organizers to

prevail upon them so as to ensure that they refrain from any utterances/claims

about curing AIDS.

Lodging an FIR at this hour may not be effective due to paucity of time.

Being busy in some other activity I could not learn about the developments

earlier and am offering my suggestion in my personal capacity.

We have to have zero tolerance for any such unfortunate development!!!

We MUST ensure imediate action to nip such a thing in the bud.

Action point:-

A delegation comprising representatives of GSNP+,HRLN,GSACS and civil society

organizations( NGO partners) must meet the organizers of the 'workshop' and

prevail upon them to remove any claims for curing AIDS through an advertisement

published by anyone which claims that somebody has a complete cure for AIDS

With best wishes,

In solidarity,

Rajesh Gopal.

Dr. Rajesh  Gopal,MD Joint  Director,

Gujarat  State  AIDS  Control  Society (GSACS),

O/1 Block, New  Mental Hospital  Complex,

Meghaninagar,Ahmedabad, Gujarat. PIN 380016

Phone (O) 079-22680211-- 12--13,

22685210 Fax 079-22680214

E-MAIL: <dr_rajeshg@...>