World AIDS Day – 2009 'Universal Access and Human Rights'

[Guest guest]

Dear Associates,

We know the theme of World AIDS Day – 2009 'Universal Access and Human Rights'.

Many patients in India unnecessarily experience excruciating pain, because of

restrictive drug regulations, lack of training for Health Care Providers (HCP)

and poorly integrated care result in needless suffering for patients because

they cannot get inexpensive and effective medications. It felt as if someone was

pricking me when I find PLHIV feels death is the only solution.

We believe that State have an obligation to ensure that essential care and

support must available to PLHIV and that HCP receive adequate training in their

use. I find total failure by the State to fulfill this obligation violates the

right to health.

The failure to train HCP when most of students and young doctors receive no

training on care and support under the purview of Human Rights because the State

does not include such instruction in relevant curricula and still HIV/AIDS Bill

is pending. As a result, most HCP in India simply do not know how to take care

of the rights of PLHIV.

I focus specifically on the availability of treatment of patients and support

provided by the State. I further submit that the State's failure to ensure that

treatment may violate the prohibition against torture and cruel, inhuman and

degrading treatment because of the widespread nature and severity of the

suffering it causes.

In March, 2009 Executive Director of UNAIDS, Mr Michel Sidibe, in Brazil

promoted greater awareness of the interlinked epidemics of HIV and TB, the need

for universal access to HIV services for all people in need, and the necessity

to address stigma and discrimination in Brazil's response to HIV.

Although it is mostly preventable and curable, tuberculosis (TB) is one of the

leading causes of death among people living with HIV globally. Of the 33 million

people who are living with HIV, only 20% of know their status, and only a tiny

fraction, 2% in 2007, were screened for TB according to the Global TB Control

2009 report.

Mr Sidibe advocated that we have to stop people living with HIV from dying of

tuberculosis and Universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support

must include TB prevention, diagnosis and treatment. When HIV and TB services

are combined, they save lives.

We must participate for the promotion of HIV/AIDS awareness, protecting human

rights, and ending stigma and discrimination, especially for those most

vulnerable to HIV and organize regular meetings with representing people living

with HIV, youth, women, and lesbians, gays, bisexuals and transgenders to

discuss these issues within the global, national and local context.

For more information on this issue please visit: Human rights and HIV

http://www.unaids.org/en/PolicyAnd Practice/ HumanRights/ default.asp

Let's join hands and work for universal access and human rights,

Dr Avnish Jolly

e-mail: <avnishjolly@...>