Chennai: What started as a mere ‘hospice’ service for people infected with AIDS has now grown into a large network spanning 42 countries across the globe and offers medical treatment free of cost.
That is not what AIDS Healthcare Foundation is famous for, as News Today found out during a conversation with its country programme director, Dr V Sam Prasad.
AIDS is becoming a growing concern and the stigma is still persistent in India, where, as per a 2017 report, it is estimated that 21 lakh people are HIV positive, he said.
“Considering the data State-wise, it is alarming to know that the percentage of infected people in Mizoram is 2.04 per cent and is greater than the national average which indicates that more awareness is required to clear the air and dispel misconceptions,” says Dr Sam Prasad. The erratic migration pattern has also given way for HIV to rise in an exponential manner.
EXPORTING THE CONDITION
“In TamilnaduÂs case, many construction labourers hail from Bihar, Chhatisgarh, West Bengal, etc. They have sex with commercial sex workers, transgenders and also with people of same sex. When they go back home, it is their innocent wives who, in turn, get affected for the crime that they did not commit,” he states.
“Community-based HIV test is needed to detect and treat the condition. We cannot expect people to come voluntarily for screening, it is the experts who have to go to the community,” he explains.
Though the country is moving forward in several realms, using contraceptives is still considered taboo and the doctor opines that people are even diffident about purchasing condoms over the counter.
“People are still hesitant to talk about condoms and refuse to buy them. To them, mere talking of condom itself is immoral. But it does not mean that people in India do not have intercourse – see, the population is increasing. Stigma against condom should come down and it must be taken in the right spirit. We should at once stop being a hypocritical country and focus on breaking the stigma,” he states.
“When it comes to LGBTIQ+ community, their association with gender would have been in conflict since a young age; they might have had intercourse then and would not have had the opportunity to either use contraceptives or get screened for HIV. Post the Supreme Court order, such people are slowly coming out and are ready to undergo tests.”
MEDICATION
India being the largest manufacturer of generic medicines, several new remedial tablets keep entering the industry. Talking about ease of access to medication for HIV, AIDS Healthcare Foundation country programme director, Dr Sam Prasad, says, “India is regarded as the ‘Pharmacy of the World. Keeping the prices of the drug low is the biggest advantage and access for HIV medication is not a problem as government hospitals have also started providing treatment for the condition.”