HIV/AIDS – The Need to Respond     

The Country Scenario:

Estimated number of people living with HIV(PLHIV) – 2.47 million

The fact is that there are 140 districts in the country which are in category A and 14 districts with a prevalence of more than 3% amongst the vulnerable age group (15-49 years), 47 districts are in category B and the rest of the 424 districts in categories C&D.

Category A- High prevalence (more than 1% in Antenatal Clinic Attendees)

Category B- Concentrated epidemic

Category C- Low prevalence but highly vulnerable

Category D- Low prevalence, low/unknown vulnerability

Do you know whether your district has relatively high HIV prevalence? Click here to view the category wise classification of each district of the country.

Points to remember:

• 59% of the people living with HIV are from Rural India.
• 39% among the PLHIV are Women.
• 5-7% of those who are infected know of their status.
• 95% of all PLHIVs live in the developing/underdeveloped world.

Who are at risk ?

• Most at risk

• High risk behavior population
• Sex workers
• Trafficked women
• Men who have sex with men
• Needle sharing drug users
   

• Intermediate risk

  • Clients of sex workers
  • Migrant/mobile populations
  • Families of high risk behavior people
  • Population in conflicts
• Lower risk
  • Married women
  • Babies and children
  • Youth
  • Men 

Nobody is in a “no risk” situation. 70% of infected women have been in faithful relationship and earned the infection from their husbands.

HIV/AIDS is recognized as a developmental challenge. Therefore, it needs a multi-sectoral, developmental response and not only a health sector response.

Who could be the natural leaders ?

The elected representatives of the Panchayati Raj Institutions with a bottoms-up response.

The objectives:

A life of dignity free of stigma and discrimination for every person living with HIV.

Increased involvement and empowerment of women, youth and PLHIVs.

Access to services and facilities of prevention, care, support, treatment.

Increased awareness and behaviour change..

Against this background, mainstreaming HIV/AIDS into the schemes – PMEYSA and BRGF is of particular relevance. (Click each link for relevant communications of the Ministry)

The leadership role of elected representatives of Panchayati Raj Institutions:

TALKING ALOUD

Suggested Talking Points

HIV spreads:

1. Through unprotected sex with an infected person

2. Through infected blood or blood products.

3. By using unsterilised needles

4. From an HIV positive mother to her child during pregnancy/delivery/breastfeeding

HIV does not spread:

1. Through touch

2. Through mosquito bite

3. By sharing food, clothes and toilets

IT CANNOT SPREAD BY ANY MEANS OTHER THAN THE FOUR ROUTES MENTIONED ABOVE.

EARLY TESTING HELPS EARLY DETECTION AND LEADS TO TIMELY INTERVENTIONS FOR A HEALTHY LIFE.

Focal issues:

Women are more vulnerable to HIV due to social and biological factors and account for 40% of all HIV infections in India.

About 35% of reported HIV cases are below 29 years. Youth are specially vulnerable to HIV.

This is because 85% of all HIV infections occur due to unprotected sexual intercourse with an infected partner. The risk multiplies when one indulges in sexual intercourse with multiple partners without using a condom. Living away from families and increased mobility of the youth for livelihood reasons is also another predisposing factor for the youth, all the more so for, a section of young women forced into sexual activity.

Therefore, ABC is the preventive strategy:

A - Abstinence before marriage.

B - Being mutually faithful partners

C - Condom use during sexual intercourse

HIV is incurable but people living with HIV can lead a normal and productive life. This is possible today by adopting a healthy lifestyle and taking anti-retroviral drugs when advised by doctors at ART centres. These drugs are provided free of cost at ART centres.

Stigma and discrimination are born of ignorance.

Denial of access to education, work, healthcare and non-inclusion in social gatherings are some of the unwarranted discriminations meted out to PLHIVs.

Community living in an amiable social atmosphere is the right of a person living with HIV. The PRIs can ensure this.

Doing Points:

• A call for institutional delivery in every pregnancy.

• Monitor Condom accessibility within the radius of a 20 minutes walk.

• Lead and organize voluntary non-remunerated blood donation

• Ensure access to NREG and livelihood schemes for PLHIVs who fulfill the laid-down criteria of the schemes/programmes

• Facilitating sensitization of SHGs on HIV/AIDS as pioneers of behavior change communication.

• Ensure schooling of children living with HIV/AIDS

• Build a living link with

  • Integrated Counseling and Testing Centres (ICTC)

  • Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission facilities(PPTCT)

  • Anti Retroviral Treatment Centre (ART Centres) and display information on locations and working hours of nearest counseling and testing facility at the PRI.

• Ensure availability of the pamphlet ‘Gram Sandesh’ at all Gram Panchayats.

• Ensure frank discussions on the epidemic at ‘Gram Sabhas’.

• Ensure that all children go to schools and schools act as safe spaces for development of life skills and responsible life styles for prevention of HIV/AIDS as part of adolescent education program.

• Invite PLHIV to share platforms and encourage networks of people living with HIV/AIDS to maintain contacts with PRIs.