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NT Bureau
Chennai, Jan 12:

        There are 5.1 million cases of HIV infection in the country and if left unchecked would turn into an endemic by year 2021.

        This observation was made by Dr Thenral Mangadu, a Texas-based medical practitioner, while making a presentation on 'Managing HIV and HIV Today' organised by the R I District 3230, Rotary Club of Madras here recently.

        Thenral recalled that in India, the first case of HIV was detected in 1986 and said that of late cases of infection among married women is pretty high.

        'Ever since the first case was detected, there has been a steady increase in the number of HIV cases and of late there is a marked increase of HIV cases among married women,' she said.

        She warned prospective Indian brides not to be enamoured by the blitz of America returned Indian bachelors as some among them could be the carriers of the deadly virus.

        'Do not be fooled by the perceived splendour of American returned Indian bachelors as chances are that some of them could be infected by HIV, 'she said.

        She called on civil society to come down heavily on the stigma attached with AIDS patients and called on the community health workers to pick up the gauntlet in fighting this.

        Mangadu further drove home the point that women should play a key role in sexual relationships as that would give them a greater say in matters pertaining to their sexual health and added that religious leaders and leading celebrities should be utilised in the anti- AIDS movement.