********************************************************** SAATHII Electronic Newsletter HIV NEWS FROM INDIA Source: 07/01/2008 Posted on: New Indian Express, DEccan Herald, Assam Tribune, Kantipur Online, Kangla Online and Bernama News. COMPILED BY: Jacob Boopalan, and L. Ramakrishnan SAATHII Chennai Office. Note: this compilation contains news items about HIV/AIDS published in the Indian media, as well as articles relevant to HIV/AIDS in India published internationally. Articles in this and previous newsletters may also be accessed at http://www.saathii.org/orc/elibrary =============================================================== 1. Sample Survey by PACS indicates 0.58 percent of the population to be HIV positive New Indian Express, January 06, 2008. http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20080105003843&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0 2. AIDS manual cum thriller! Deccan Herald, January 06, 2008. http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jan62008/books2008010545060.asp 3. Assam Rifles manages to keep AIDS at bay Assam Tribune, January 06, 2008. http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jan0608/at08 4. Kids of HIV positive too poor for schooling Kantipur Online, January 06, 2008. http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=133495 5. Helping Mr Manipur ready for Mr India Kangla Online, January 06, 2008. http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=40652&typeid=1 6. More Sex Workers In India Bank On Female Condoms For Protection Bernama News, January 06, 2008. http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_world.php?id=306236 =============================================================== 1. Sample Survey by PACS indicates 0.58 percent of the population to be HIV positive New Indian Express, January 06, 2008. http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IET20080105003843&Page=T&Title=Southern+News+-+Tamil+Nadu&Topic=0 PUDUCHERRY : Sample survey by Pondicherry AIDS Control Society (PACS) has indicated 0.39 percent HIV positivity in the general population in the Union territory of Puducherry. The survey was carried out targetting 75,000 general population to respond to voluntary testing within a time frame of two months. Around 63,000 people including students responded to the survey that began on August 21 and concluded on Oct 21 and an equal number of samples were collected by the society. After screening all the samples, 243 people were found positive, Project Director PACS Dr Gilbert Fernandez told this website's newspaper. Though around 50,000 in Puducherry people came forward for voluntary testing, the response was less in the outlying areas of Karaikal , Mahe and Yanam. As a follow up these people are now being informed about their status and were being asked to come and register themselves. They would be further examined by a medical team to know whether they suffer from any other infections and their CD4 count. Based on their health conditions, they would be advised on how to lead a normal healthy life and the precautions they need to take so that they do not spread the infection. If those who have tested positive are found to be suffering from any diseases they would be provided treatment. Moreover if their CD4 count has gone below 250, they would be provided with Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART) , said Dr Fernandez. At present Puducherry is having 9200 cases of HIV positive persons and 480 AIDS patients. These 480 AIDS patients are being given ART therapy at Government General Hospital, JIPMER and Distribution centre at General Hospital, Karaikal. Since Puducherry does not have a CD4 counter to test the number of T-cells in HIV affected, it is being done after collecting blood samples and sending them to Madras Madical College centre. Puducherry could approach National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) for having a CD$ counter, only after the total number of HIV patients aking ART treatment crosses 500, said Dr Fernandez. =============================================================== 2. AIDS manual cum thriller! Deccan Herald, January 06, 2008. http://www.deccanherald.com/Content/Jan62008/books2008010545060.asp Rajesh Khullar defies the quintessential bureaucrat much like his book demystifies the beliefs around HIV or AIDS. Tell him his book is a good read and this IAS officer is humbled instantly. “I never thought I would be able to write a book,” he says. His first book, Viral Match, provides the windfall every HIV positive person awaits. When the book says that it may well take 15 years or sometimes even 30 years for an HIV positive person to develop full blown AIDS, or when it exemplifies through one of its characters (Dr Saran) that surgeons are at high risk to contract the disease— the book deflates two HIV myths; being HIV positive is the dead-end and promiscuity is the answer to all HIV whys. According to the author, Dr Saran represents hundreds of surgeons in the country who have become HIV positive while pursuing their noble profession. “Personally, I know six surgeons who have contracted the virus through this means. It is sad, but you cannot do much about it.” “During the surgeries, there are chances for blood vessels to rupture and the blood to get splashed on the doctor’s eyes. If that happens, and if the patient is HIV positive, then the chances are that the doctor too gets the virus. Again, it depends on the viral load of the patients,” says Khullar. That’s when the medical world came up with the phrase post-exposure prophylaxis and the triple cocktail that could counter the viral attack if taken within 72 hours (in case of hospital exposure to the virus). In Viral Match too, Vishal takes the triple cocktail, fearing sexual exposure to the virus and goes through unpleasant side-effects of the medicines. Wasn’t the author divulging too much information about the medication? Doesn’t he feel it will be misused by at least some of his readers? “Come on ... this information is all over the internet. If people have to misuse it, would we be able to stop them?” the author asks. Database for queries Even though Viral Match has all the ingredients of a gripping medical thriller, it also serves as a database for all HIV-related queries and at times as a service manual for condoms and provides many sure shot ways to kill oneself. Khullar started his research on AIDS much before the idea of a book surfaced in his mind. His stint with the Haryana State AIDS Control Society, as its director, also helped him gather knowledge of this deadly disease. According to Khullar, writing fiction with the disease as the main theme itself was part of the drive to clear the smoke about HIV. “I have noticed that the information fails to reach the right segment— the youngsters. So I thought of a book a father can gift his son or daughter. I am sure my book will at least help that section of society that can read,” he says. When the book says a needle tip can hold 16,000 HIV viruses or that these viruses can survive outside the human body only for a couple of hours and moreover, during blood donation, if your blood is tested positive for HIV, it is destroyed at once, it dispels many a myth attached to this disease. But one is also left to wonder why the law in the country prevents hospitals or blood banks from informing the person about his HIV status if found positive during a blood donation drive. “It is quite strange. But that’s what the law dictates. The same is not the case in the US. Then again, the HIV positive person’s identity may get disclosed if the information is let out,” Khullar says. The book is also peppered with interesting pieces of information like the one in which Radhika warns Vandana, “The less suspecting you are about your husband, more are the chances that he’s cheating on you” and the Karmic rule of timings, “If the act is creative, do it now; if it’s destructive, do it after 24 hrs.” Are these words of wisdom ripped off from his own life? Khullar laughs, “My male friends who read the book told me that such tidbits could detriment the ‘sanctity’ of their marriage. And the Karmic rule of timings is of course from the Australian philosopher Gurdjieff, the only Western philosopher who is known to have attained enlightenment.” This author is now working on another book on governance, or rather the lack of it in the country. And when he’s not writing or reading, he spoils his two children. =============================================================== 3. Assam Rifles manages to keep AIDS at bay Assam Tribune, January 06, 2008. http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=jan0608/at08 GUWAHATI: Once regarded as a more dreaded threat than the bullets of the enemy, HIV/AIDS is now just a terrifying experience of the past for the Assam Rifles, the premier central para military force of the country, which is meant for guarding the interest of the North East region. Having reportedly affected over 100 personnel of the force in the last one decade or so, out of which quite a few have died of the dreaded disease, the AR seemed to have come out of the scary phase. Director General of Assam Rifles Paramjit Singh while talking to The Assam Tribune revealed that no fresh cases have been reported in the recent past in the Assam Rifles. “I can say that we have now been able to put a check on the spreading of the disease among all ranks and not a single case of HIV infection was detected for almost couple of years,” Singh asserted. “We have been and are taking effective measures to do away with this killer virus,” Singh pointed out. “More money is being spent on the awareness of the jawans and even sex education is being given special stress,” said a senior official of the Assam Rifles. “I feel that the AIDS issue in the Assam Rifles was blown out of the proportion. As the Assam Rifles recruit jawans from even the remotest areas of the region, the awareness level among them about the dreaded disease is very low, which made young recruits vulnerable to the disease,” Singh said. “ It was not just the case with the Assam Rifles in particular. We must also keep in view that the NE has always recorded higher percentage of such cases than the other parts of the country. Assam Rifles, which comprise youths mostly from the region was also a part of the trend,” Singh said. The Assam Rifles, which boasts of a strength of 46 battalions, under the Ministry of Home Affairs recently started recruitment on all India basis, unlike earlier where recruits from the North East region were eligible for the appointment. “Though the recruitment system has been transformed into all India pattern rather than being just NE centric, we are giving special stress on recruiting the youths from the region as it helps the force to work more effectively, especially in terrains which they are accustomed with,” Singh reiterated. That the Assam Rifles is combating the menace on a ‘war footing’ is evident from the series of awareness programme that the AR is conducting round the year, which include screening of special movies besides conducting a host of counselling session for the jawans. Chief Medical Officer of Assam Rifles Colonel JK Tripathy further informed this correspondent that the AR medical teams are working tirelessly to fight the killer virus from having further effects. “In fact, the department has also put up a huge number of hoardings in all the AR training schools and other campus in the region to educate the men in uniform,” Tripathy said. However, he feels that as the AR recruit jawans from the remote areas, introduction of sex education in the primary and high schools would help in combating the disease in a more effective manner. =============================================================== 4. Kids of HIV positive too poor for schooling Kantipur Online, January 06, 2008. http://www.kantipuronline.com/kolnews.php?&nid=133495 TANAHUN: Children of HIV positive parents in the district are not able to attend school due to financial crisis. "I was a sixth grader when I had to stop going to school as my father fell sick and there was no other family member to earn a living," said Laxmi Pariyar of Andheribhanjyang, Byas-9. "I feel like going to school. But my family can't afford." Tanahun Support Society (TSS) is giving her training in making muda (traditional bamboo stool). "I wanted to send her to school but I couldn't afford it after I fell sick," said Laxmi's father who worked in India for 10 years. No different is the story of Bal Kumari Thapa of Kahunshivapur-4 who stooped going to school three years ago when she was a fourth grader. "After her mother got infected through her father I had to stop going to school as there was no one at home to look after household chores," she said. Her father died some seven months back. "If I can I will support my brother's education, but if I can't he will also have to stop studying," she said. Her eight-year-old brother is a first grader. Dipu Shai of the same VDC, who stopped going to school last year when she was a fifth grader, said, "We lost everything while treating father. So I couldn't continue schooling." According to Tara Thapa, chairperson of TSS, the children, aged from 12 to 15 years are basically from rural areas, including Baidi, Ramjakoat, Ranipokhari, Phirphire and Dhorphirdi VDCs, among others. Most of the 150 children of HIV infected parents in the district, who abandoned school don't have parents. Even those who have parents are not able to attend school because their parents are taking medicine and can't work. Records at TSS shows that about a dozen HIV positive children died in the district in 2007, while 50 were affected due to their parents getting infected with HIV. =============================================================== 5. Helping Mr Manipur ready for Mr India Kangla Online, January 06, 2008. http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=40652&typeid=1 IMPHAL: Come March and Manipur might have reasons to celebrate if Khundrakpam Pradipkumar wins in the senior 60-kg category Mr India contest to be held at Uttar Pradesh. Pradipkumar won the senior Mr Manipur title in the 60-kg category organized by All Manipur Body Building association on December 16 at GM Hall, Imphal. Winning the title of Mr Manipur is a dream come true for many aspiring body builders. For Pradipkumar it is a very special dream coming true since he had given up even the very hope of living after he came to know his HIV status in 2000. Today Pradipkumar is asking the people living with HIV "to come out, live and compete because we are no different from those who are not positive". Pradipkumar revived his long-cherished dream of bodybuilding one afternoon in 2001. Since then there is no looking back. Pradipkumar came in the second position in the 2006 Mr Manipur Contest in the senior 60-category and in 2007 he won the Mr Manipur title in the same category. "I have a long way to go and with the support of the people, I am confident of achieving my goals," said the 37 years old bodybuilder. Pradipkumar was felicitated today jointly by the staffs and members of SASO and MNP+ at the office of SASO. He was given financial assistance to meet the dietary supplements that he needs to compete with the healthy people who would be coming from the different states of India. The financial assistance was jointly given by the staffs of SASO, MNP+ and Shivananda, regional coordinator of Asian Network of Positive People. Speaking at the felicitation today, Pradipkumar said that the decision to take part in this competition where physical strength is paramount came about after a young martial arts student told him, "Ta Tomcha, why don`t you take part in bodybuilding competitions. You have good muscles." This gave the encouragement and confidence and with regular practice with the limited equipments at Eagle Guide Gym, Pradipkumar finally won the Mr Manipur title. After achieving this milestone, there are many more to be reached. Pradipkumar said, "Due to my financial limitations, I could not afford proper dietary supplements. Today I am getting the financial assistance for one month." As conveyed by Pradipkumar, he had been managing with the dietary supplements for a day spread over three days. With help coming from some organizations, Pradipkumar is gearing to compete at the national level. It may be recalled that Lifeline Foundation gave him bodybuilding equipment on January 4th in a face off programme. =============================================================== 6. More Sex Workers In India Bank On Female Condoms For Protection Bernama News, January 06, 2008. http://www.bernama.com.my/bernama/v3/news_world.php?id=306236 NEW DELHI: More sex workers in India are relying on female condoms to prevent sexually transmitted infections (STI) whenever their male customers refuse to wear condoms. With the high prevalence of HIV/Aids and other STI cases in India, social health workers are finding female condoms to be a practical option to curb the spread of diseases in red-light districts. Social workers in states like West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh, where the sex industry thrives, have witnessed a positive change in the use of female condoms among sex workers due to the effective health awareness campaigns that help to educate them on the dangers of sexually transmitted diseases. "Our primary focus was to test (female condoms) on sex workers because they are in the high-risk group and the aim was to reduce the prevention of STI among this group," Chief Executive Officer of Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust G. Manjo told Bernama. Prostitution remains largely illegal in India but there are an estimated five million sex workers, many trafficked from poverty-depressed rural areas and forced to work in squalid conditions by underworld agents. Without proper education, the practice of unprotected sex and high drug usage among sex workers makes them vulnerable to sex-related diseases. On top of that, they also have limited access to intervention and healthcare facilities, making it more traumatic if they are infected. At least 15 per cent of sex workers in India are reported to suffer from HIV/Aids. Female condoms are from polyurethane. About 6.5 inches in length, they were introduced in 1992 but only reached India in 2003. "A female condom lines the vagina and protects against HIV, STI and unwanted pregnancy. Unlike the male condom, it also protects the female external genital area from STI," the Kolkata-based Chittaranjan Welfare and Research Centre (CWRC) director Satyban Ranjit said. According to social workers, there was initial rejection from sex workers in using female condoms although they were heavily subsidised, costing only five rupees (50 sen) per pair instead of about 250 rupees (RM25). But constant awareness campaigns, increasing familiarity to such condoms and greater ease of use have made them more acceptable among the sex workers, the social workers said. "Women say the response from male partners and customers has also been good, making it possible for them to use the condoms," said Ranjit. Manjo said the rate of use of female condoms was also higher as more than 20 per cent of the 1.3 billion male condoms distributed free of charge usually went to waste, either due to pilferage and or because they pass the expiry date when they reach rural destinations. As an anti-HIV measure, female condoms had been reported to be highly successful but social workers said more research needed to be done to evaluate their effectiveness. Where the male condom had failed, the female condom is seen by social workers as a reliable substitute, not only from the health perspective but also as an empowerment tool for women to avoid unplanned pregnancies. =============================================================== Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in the above articles are those of the respective newspapers, not those of SAATHII.