********************************************************** SAATHII Electronic Newsletter HIV NEWS FROM INDIA Source: The Indian Express, The Hindu, Chennai Online and DNA India. Posted on: 29/12/2007. 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. On plate for cadets: Refreshing course on AIDS, drugs The Indian Express, December 27, 2007. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/On-plate-for-cadets-Refreshing-course-on-AIDS-drugs/254640/ 2. AIDS awareness campaign The Hindu, December 27, 2007. http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/27/stories/2007122756560400.htm 3. Indian families not comfortable buying veggies from AIDS-hit Chennai Online, December 27, 2007. http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B377454C3-090D-48DB-866C-B79E15D89864%7D&CATEGORYNAME=NATL 4. Sex education curbs sexual appetite: study DNA India, December 27, 2007. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1141622 5. Chhattisgarh has 2,800 HIV positive people DNA India, December 27, 2007. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1141698 =============================================================== 1. On plate for cadets: Refreshing course on AIDS, drugs Express India, December 27, 2007. http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/On-plate-for-cadets-Refreshing-course-on-AIDS-drugs/254640/ New Delhi: When over 300 National Cadet Corp volunteers assembled on Wednesday morning, it was for a different kind of education — sensitisation training on HIV/AIDS and drug abuse. The training was part of the annual National Cadet Corps (NCC) camp, being held at Safdarjung Enclave in collaboration with Partners in Development Initiatives (PDI), a group that works on reproductive and sexual health issues. The cadets were divided into groups and were given simple statements and situations pertaining to HIV/AIDS and drug abuse to analyse and discuss. The cadets, provided with red, green and orange-coloured flags, were eager to register their responses and have their queries addressed. The red flag meant a statement was false; green meant it was true, while orange signified disagreement within the group. Queries on issues such as the difference between the HIV infection and AIDS to upcoming research on AIDS vaccines were raised and dealt with. An interactive session was also held where they engaged on a personal level with trained group facilitators. “The HIV prevalence rate is highest among the age group of 15-40. We encouraged these adolescents to perform a self evaluation of their attitudes for a better understanding of the problems of this age group,” said Arpita, a member of the PDI. Since the cadets have already been exposed to these issues at the school and college level, an effort was made to build on the existing knowledge base. “I found these cadets very aware about issues and also very forthcoming in their queries. This signifies a promising trend, which will help in our efforts to spread awareness,” said Dr Savitri, a member of the PDI and one of the programme facilitators. Earlier, the cadets were given the themes of drug abuse and AIDS awareness as topics for poster making and posters they made as part of groups were also put on display. “As a part of NCC training, we always provide cadets with basic knowledge modules like health, HIV/AIDS and traffic regulation. Additionally, camps like these provide forums where we can train and sensitise them and also encourage them to carry the message forward to their schools and families,” said Colonel Sodhi, CO of the camp. Most of the participating cadets were students of government schools, universities like Jamia Millia Islamia and colleges like Deshbandhu College of Delhi University. =============================================================== 2. AIDS awareness campaign The Hindu, December 27, 2007. http://www.hindu.com/2007/12/27/stories/2007122756560400.htm NEW DELHI: An AIDS awareness campaign organised by the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation began in the Capital on Wednesday. The first event was a sensitisation workshop where safety managers and other senior contractors’ staff were provided information about HIV and AIDS. The Voluntary Health Association of India, a non-government organisation, is the implementing agency for this campaign. “Managers and other staff members were made aware of all aspects of HIV/AIDS including its mode of spread and symptoms, vulnerability of the migrant population to HIV and the role that managers and other senior staff can play in reducing the vulnerability of the labour force. Information regarding voluntary counselling and testing centres was also made available during the workshop,” said a DMRC spokesperson. =============================================================== 3. Indian families not comfortable buying veggies from AIDS-hit Chennai Online, December 27, 2007. http://www.chennaionline.com/colnews/newsitem.asp?NEWSID=%7B377454C3-090D-48DB-866C-B79E15D89864%7D&CATEGORYNAME=NATL New Delhi: A majority of Indian families would be willing to take care of a family member with AIDS but would not buy vegetables from somebody afflicted with the disease, according to the latest National Family Health Survey. However, a similar proportion say that a female teacher, who has AIDS but is not sick should be allowed to continue teaching. The survey found that fewer adults are comfortable buying vegetables from a shopkeeper with HIV. "Sixty per cent women and 63 per cent men say they would not buy groceries and vegetables from persons afflicted with HIV/AIDS," the NFHS says. About two in three adults say that if a family member gets infected with HIV/AIDS, they would not want to keep it a secret. The problem, according to health sector workers, lies when such patients go to seek medical treatment at local government hospitals and primary health sectors. Forced abortions and verbal abuse are a regular feature for HIV positive rural women seeking treatment at local government hospitals, some of the afflicted women claim. The women also have to face verbal abuse from doctors and para-medical staff at government hospitals, they say. =============================================================== 4. Sex education curbs sexual appetite: study DNA India, December 27, 2007. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?newsid=1141622 Educated teens are more likely to abstain from sex NEW DELHI: Despite all the brouhaha about sex education in schools, the fact that formal sex education among teenagers effectively reduces sexual risk behaviours has more scientific validation now. It is important that sex education is provided before the child’s sexual initiation, says a research published in the latest issue of the Journal of Adolescent Health. Sex education was found to be particularly important for those subgroups that are traditionally at high risk of early initiation sex and of contracting sexually transmitted diseases, say researchers from America’s Centres for Disease Control and Prevention. The study was conducted on America’s 2019 unmarried teenagers between the ages of 15-19 years. Those who received sex education were associated with less sexual activity. Interestingly, while 59 per cent teen girls were less likely to start having sex before age of 15 if they had received sex education, the percentage was impressively as high as 71 per cent among male teens. School going teenage boys who received sex education were three time more likely to use birth control the first time they had sexual intercourse. However, no such association was found among females. The research also showed that boys living in single-parent households were more likely to delay sex past the age of 15 if they had attended a sex education class. Though conducted in a different setting, this research may have bearings on Indian conditions as well since a study conducted by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) indicated that teenage sex is a fast emerging trend in India. “Teenagers are usually in an experimental mood when it comes to sex. What is disturbing is the fact that a large number of young men in the age-group of 15-24 engage in casual sex with sex workers,” said an official from NACO. The ministry of Human Resource Development and NACO had jointly initiated the Adolescent Education Programme in schools. However, the programme faced rough weather in many states over its contents, forcing the government to revise the material and teaching methodology. =============================================================== 5. Chhattisgarh has 2,800 HIV positive people DNA India, December 27, 2007. http://www.dnaindia.com/report.asp?NewsID=1141698 RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh has 470 confirmed AIDS patients and about 2,800 HIV positive people, a senior health department official said on Thursday. "The state has about 2,800 HIV positive persons besides 470 confirmed AIDS patients," Ajay Pandey, project officer, State AIDS Control Committee, told newsmen. He added that AIDS had claimed 18 lives in Chhattisgarh since year 2002. "Government is doing its best to tackle the dreaded AIDS, a massive awareness campaign is underway with participation of several groups and NGOs in all the 146 blocks to educate people about preventive measures," Pandey said. Officials say the number of HIV infected is higher than government figures as health personnel fail to reach forested hilly interiors of the state, mainly in southern Bastar and northern Surguja regions. Pandey said that 'Red Ribbon Express', the specially designed seven-coach train, which was flagged off from New Delhi Dec 1 with the objective of spreading AIDS awareness and promoting preventive measures, would reach Chhattisgarh Friday. He said that it would also help fight discrimination against AIDS patients. =============================================================== Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in the above articles are those of the respective newspapers, not those of SAATHII.