Re: Manipur: HIV infection rate shoots up (Editors reply)

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM.

/message/10679

We thank Dr. Mehra, for the message and the willingness to engage in a dialogue

on HIV related issues in India.

Dr. Mehra's willingness to participate in a dialogue is particularly

commendable as many of the UN agencies (and some INGOS) specifically censor

their staff from being engaging in public dialogue on HIV related issues in

public forums such as AIDS INDIA (we have list of such agencies- which we have

compiled during our annual subscriber feedback survey)

Most of the UN agencies and INGOs work on HIV related issues, who censor their

staff have access to large data base and thus they deprive the public to access

such data and thus they do a great disservice to the Indian public, apart from

depriving their staff of their fundamental right – freedom of expression.

We salute the courage and conviction of Dr. Mehra.

However, we disagree with the observations of Dr. Mehra.

First, Dr. Mehra's statement is very general " I am increasingly worried about

the kind of mails that we now see on the AIDS India " Please let us

know your specific concerns about issues raised on this FORUM.

The editors of AIDS INDIA do not agree that we have deviated from our core

mission " This FORUM strives to become an active body of conscientious public

opinion on HIV AIDS related issues in India "

AIDS INDIA e FORUM is an open forum, read by about 7,000 subscribers.

AIDS INDIA forum is one of the few e FORUMS, received global accreditation for

" Source of Reliable Health Information. (http://www.hon.ch/HONcode/Conduct.html)

It is matter of great pride for us that, even the e-forms run by UN agencies in

India do not enjoy such accreditation for being `a source of reliable health

information'.

Dr. Mehara;s observation about HIV infection rate in Manipur is noted. This

report is from the local news paper. AIDS INDIA is very responsible in

amplifying local concerns to the national audience.

As a person who lived and worked in the interior districts of Manipur

let me say this with no ambiguity. Epidemiology as an established body of

knowledge, failed to grasp all aspect of HIV infection in Manipur. Based on my

field data, I have noticed that there is a differential impact of HIV on some of

the smaller ethnic minority population groups in Manipur. Some of them are

seriously at the risk of " ethnocide "

NACOs, current HIV surveillance mechanisms does not capture such detailed

ethnographic data and HIV impact on various ethnic minority populations.

The consequences of such lack of ethnographic data in policy making is serious.

It appears that HIV prevalence of some of the ethnic minorities in the

Hill-districts of Manipr state are much higher than general population. And,

the prevention and care resources they receive is not proportional to their HIV

prevalence and vulnerability.

Also, please remember, the HIV prevalence in India should be understood as an

aggregate of several localized epidemics.

If local groups/States are not vigilant- HIV may run under the radar, which is

already happening in many districts.

So we beg to differ with Dr. Mehara' s observation and congratulate the local

newspaper The Sangai Express in carrying out this article based on the

statements from a senior official of the Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS).

We particularly thank our conscientious contributor to AIDS INDIA Dr. " Avnish

Jolly " for posting this message.

Let us take this opportunity to request all the UN agencies and INGOs who muzzle

their staff, to develop a proactive policies which promote `participation in

public dialogue'

We invite you to continue to comment and post your opinion and suggestion about

HIV and AIDS related issues in India.

Thank you for your attention.

Editor

AIDS INDIA

/

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

Re: /message/10700

AIDS INDIA forum is indeed serving a great cause.

It is very satisfactorily working on its  committed stand which ,inter

alia,includes sharing the concerns of all local/regional stakeholders,timely and

topical communication for sharing, learning and growing together, giving a voice

to the voiceless and what have you.

The cumulative capital of information,experience and expertise must be shared

through all possible ways for the best possible and most effective utilization

by all the stakeholders committed to the containment of the the dual

epidemics-the HIV pandemic and the epidemic of stigma,denial and discrimination

still faced by the PLHIV and other communities.

We all wish the best to the forum for increasingly participatory and interactive

endeavours in all the days to come.

We must ensure that conscientious and evidence generated public opinion on

developmental issues, prevails and is effectively translated into all our

interventions.

Any national programme belongs to the entire nation and we all are fully

committed(irrespective of our affiliation(s)) to the succesful implementation of

the same by broad basing/mainstreaming it and filling up the gaps through

supplemental pursuits.

Please do keep up the excellent work!

Best wishes,

Dr.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@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

One unfavourable comment should not deter your work and every individual has

their own say from their experiences and knowledge.

 

But as far the information is concern one can rethink and comment on it.

Increase sentinel surveillance sites across the states that does not mean every

individual is access to it. In the state like Manipur you can't even move 200

days of 365 days without mental stress how one can think every individual is

access to health care services and particularly interior districts.

When there is no job in the market and half the year is closing down because of

socio-politico and insurgency crisis, HIV positive widows have no options but to

enter into sex work which resulted to new HIV infection. Even in urban area many

HIV positive men are unreported and living with their wives and children.

 

The bottom line is not the number but how one can think of providing effective

services to vulnerable people so as to prevent further spread of HIV in lawless

land. When one does not have fair knowledge of the area commenting on other view

or information is unjustified. 

 

Great Work - AIDS INDIA! 

 

Kh. Gyanen Angom