Red Ribbon AIDS Life in Andhra

Eight thousand people die of it every day. An estimated 36.1 million worldwide are living with it, or rather dying of it. It's the dreaded Acquired Immuno-Deficiency Syndrome, in short, AIDS. As per the WHO and UNAIDS estimates and world medical experts recent statistics, currently in India there are seven million AIDS patients and 2 per cent HIV positives known and detected.

Going by the present growth trends, and if there is no proper preventing strategy, by 2015, 50 per cent of the population will be afflicted with the disease and 40 million children rendered orphans, making India the global head quarters for AIDS.

Andhra Pradesh, with an estimated 4-5 lakh victims, has the second highest prevalance rates in the country and is among the top five fast spreading states, according to last available National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) reports. Prevalence rate in the state is more than one per cent in anti-natal clinics and comes under Type 1 epidemic. Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, Tamilnadu and Manipur fall in this category.

However, with prevention and awareness programmes on HIV/AIDS launched on a war footing across the state by government and nongovernmental organisations, the growth rate has stabilised and the latest report might see the state go lower in the table, say officials of the AP State AIDS Control Society, a governmental organisation under the aegis of NACO and UNAIDS.

And on the occasion of the World AIDS Day on December 1, programmes are being organised on a massive scale in the state to promote awareness about the infection.

The AP Society for one is conducting public rallies in Hyderabad, all district and mandal headquarters for promotion of preventive measures against spread of HIV/AIDS. In Hyderabad it will be organising the rally from either Nizam College or Raj Bhavan to Ravindra Bharathi.

It is also conducting various quiz, elocution competitions in 50-60 colleges for spreading awareness about AIDS. A special Dial Your CM programme on AIDS is also being held on 26th November.

The AIDS control programme undertaken by the society, which has earmarked Rs 11.5 crores spend for the programmes for the entire year, aims at preventing the spread of HIV infection, reduce mortality by the infection, by providing necessary technical and operational support.

The programme is trying to strengthen STD clinics to facilitate HIV/AIDS surveillance, modernise blood banks for facilitating HIV testing, develop human resources to manage those afflicted by the disease, create awareness and organise social support. The society has established three STD centres in Hyderabad, Vizag and Tirupati and six more in Gunturm, Kakinada, Kurnool, Warangal and Chittoor as surveillance centres to detect AIDS cases.

NACO has upgraded about 142 licensed blood banks with HIV and HCV Elisa testing equipments. The society is also conducting field level programmes for awareness generation about the infection in joint efforts with various NGOs.

Moreover, the programme has been integrated into the state government's Janmabhoomi programme for civic betterment, and community action programmes of women self help groups like DWCRA, and water users associations, a spokesperson for the organisation says. HIV /AIDS care is costly and AP AIDS society supports about 17 centres for opportunistic infection management.

Meanwhile, NGOs and voluntary groups are trying to do their bit to promote the red ribbon. Recently, the National Service Scheme announced HIV/AIDS awareness campaigns in 60 colleges under Osmania University as part of its Youth for Healthy Society programme.

It will impart training to 500 to 1,000 students in each of colleges who will then take up awareness campaigns in rural areas and slums about prevention of the spread of the disease. A total of 1.50 lakh students will be covered under the programme. Recently, the IAS STD & AIDS 23rd national conference was held in Visakhapatnam attended by worldwide medical experts.

But, the infrastructure created so far is not enough and a lot remains to be done, says Lavanya M Suneetha, group leader at Lepra India, an NGO focussing on creating awareness of HIV/AIDS all over the country, mainly in Orissa and Andhra Pradesh in both urban and rural areas.

The NGO, which is finalising some awareness programmes for the World AIDS Day, conducts free diagnostic and management tests. It also caters to medical management of opportunistic infections of which TB is most common. "Our experience has shown that symptomatic treatment of these infections aid in improving the quality of life in HIV patients. Early detection and management of HIV in spouses is an other area which our centre focuses on because this is an area which is largely neglected in our society. Focusing in this aspect maintains the family structure and helps them to cope with the disease with a united effort," she says.

Gone are the days when HIV infection is restricted to the high risk groups. It is now more prevalent among all strata irrespective of behaviour, economic/social conditions. Numbers no longer matter as long as we take strong steps to encounter the disease and prevent it from further dissemination, Lavanya adds.

Currently there are many a facilities supporting those who can afford it, but there are very few for those who can't afford it, says the project director of the research facility in city outskirts. The current infrastructure is not enough to cater to the needs. We need more especially in the districts, she says.

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BREAK THE SILENCE ON HIV/AIDS * AIDS results from the late stage of infection with HIV (human immunodeficiency virus). In adults, the onset of AIDS can take up to 10 or more years, and new drug therapies can delay the progression of the disease into AIDS even longer. Therefore, persons infected with HIV may look and feel healthy for many years, but they can still transmit the virus to others.

* HIV is transmitted through the exchange of any HIV-infected body fluids like blood, semen and milk.

* HIV most frequently is transmitted sexually. It is NOT transmitted from donating blood, mosquito bites or bites from other bugs, sneezes or coughs, touching, hugging, or kissing a person with HIV.

* Discriminating against people who are infected with HIV/AIDS or anyone thought to be at risk of infection violates individual human rights and endangers public health. Every person infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS deserves compassion and support, regardless of circumstances surrounding their infection.

* You can help stop the spread of HIV! Get involved in community efforts. Wear the red ribbon on World AIDS Day.

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