AIDS loses lustre

[Guest guest]

AIDS loses lustre

ON Tuesday, which marked World AIDS Day, Kochi saw only a handful of events that

stressed on the need for awareness and preventive measures to tackle the HIV

threat. Unlike in the past years, not many organisations and NGOs came forward

to conduct programmes to observe the day.

Though the district level programme was held at the General Hospital, only a few

agencies participated in it. Many organisations limited their programmes to the

distribution of red ribbons and leaflets. And the reason? Lack of funds and the

general disinterest of the officials concerned.

All across the globe AIDS has lost much of the public attention it got in the

past years.

Kerala being a `low prevalence state' it is difficult for NGOs to get financial

assistance for their various awareness programmes and campaigns.Though experts

warn that Kerala is more at risk because of the migratory nature of the

population, the yesteryears' active campaigns have been replaced by routine

talks on awareness.

" I don't understand why, but the government seems to have lost interest in this

issue. The fund is less and there is no effort to identify people who are yet to

seek treatment, " says ph, state treasurer of CPL Plus, the Council of People

Living with HIV/AIDS, Kerala.

The `low prevalence' tag is likely to pose serious problems as more number of

HIV cases are being reported from many parts of the state. The high-risk group

is now drug users, but no effort is made to tackle this issue.

Lack of funds was the major problem when CPK Plus planned `Sneha Sangamam', a

get-together of HIV positive persons at Ernakulam Town Hall last month. More

than 1,000 people including 387 children attended the meeting which was

conducted with the help of the AIDS Control Society and various agencies.

All the organisations working for the welfare of HIV positive persons now

conduct programmes in collaboration with others to cut the expenses. That is one

reason why there was a decrease in the number of events in the city on World

AIDS Day.

" Usually we are invited for the programmes organised by the Office of the

District Medical Officer. But not this year.

We put up a stall at the Government Hospital at Tripunithura, gave classes and

distributed red ribbons and leaflets.

What we were asked to do, we did, " says Ruby T J, coordinator of Prathyasha

Kendram.

What the authorities should do is to launch a comprehensive programme to remove

the widespread stigma and discrimination towards persons with HIV/AIDS, say the

activists of organisations in this field. Instead of concentrating on the

programmes for a single day, the government should come up with a campaign to

bring HIV positive persons to the mainstream society, they say.

" We are concerned with the problems faced by HIV positive women and children.

But no one else seems to be bothered about it. Not much is being done for the

people affected.

And programmes are held on World AIDS Day just for the sake of it, " says Bindhu

P B, president of the Kerala Positive Women's Network.

It seems red ribbons and positive talks should make the way for a more effective

campaign to ensure that Kerala remains a `low prevalent state' in the future

too.

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