Ignorance and prejudice are fuelling the spread of a preventabledisease. World AIDS Day, 1 December isan opportunity for people worldwide to unite in the fight against HIV andAIDS. There are millions of people worldover who are HIV positive, but being HIV positive is not a crime, it’s atragedy, and it should be treated as such. HIV patients maintain the right to be treated the same as patients withother types of ailments. HIV/AIDS is oneof the biggest challenges faced by us today with millions of people sufferingfrom this syndrome and socio-economicconditions prevalent in the country coupled with the traditional outlook andthe myths surrounding this illness only aggravate the situation further. A poor literacy level is one of the biggestcauses of the spread of this disease which has a very serious social stigmaattached with it.
People infected withHIV/AIDS are discriminated at every place and are looked down upon insociety. The major field where they feelthe effects of this disease is at the workplace. The disease is not completely curable but measurescan be followed to prevent it. Impartingknowledge and creating awareness amongst the people with regard to the disease,its causes, its effects can help in reducing it from spreading further. Investment in AIDS will be repaid a thousandfold in lives saved and communities held together.
Vulnerability to HIVis the lack of power of individuals and communities to minimize or modulatetheir risk of exposure to HIV infection, and once infected, to receive adequatecare and support. Even in populationswhere HIV has not spread widely, some individuals may be more vulnerable thanothers with regard to HIV. For example,a monogamous woman maybe forced to engage in unprotected sex with her spouse,even if he is engaging in sex with others. A truck driver’s vulnerability to HIV may be worsened by peer pressureto engage in multiple unprotected sexual encounters. Sex workers may have greater vulnerability toHIV if they cannot access services to prevent, diagnose and treat sexuallytransmitted infections, particularly if they are afraid to come forward becauseof the stigma associated with their occupation.
How can we watch onequarter of some countries’ people die? Why should millions of orphans be left to fend for themselves? We may not be able to solve the entireproblem today. But let us not bediscouraged from taking the steps necessary to begin the journey. It is clear that no nation till date hasreally waged a war on the HIV and AIDS with any degree of piety, responsibilityand care. The global HIV/AIDS epidemic is an unprecedented crisis that requiresan unprecedented response. In particularit requires solidarity between the healthy and the sick and between the richand the poor. There are over 30 millionorphans whose parents have died. Whatare we waiting for? It’s time we wake upfrom our slumber.
Thewriter a Social Scientist and Lawyer has for decades as a Human RightsActivists espoused the cause of vulnerable sections of society
