In an earlier post Reining in the spread of AIDS, I had written about the surprising and rather unbelievable finding thrown up by the annual AIDS survey. Only 28,000 new infections were reported in 2004, compared to 6 lakh in 2003.
My hypothesis then was that reported cases of AIDS were on the decline – due to other factors including fear of stigma – which was more worrying than an actual increase in cases of infection. I had also said – some states including Bihar have recorded zero cases and officially, Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populated state, has only 0.25 per cent of its people affected by the virus – if that does not sound counter-intuitive, then what does? This is where my hypothesis was born…
Now this article from indiatogether talks about the need for a Wake up call for HIV/AIDS in U.P.
This the reality in UP – When the news of Ram Pravesh’s death in Mumbai reached his family members in Allari in the district of Azamgarh in eastern Uttar Pradesh, the people there were saddened but not surprised. Ram Pravesh had been sick for some time. The villagers remembered that the last time he had come home a year ago he had become as thin as a stick. He was due back again but his health deteriorated and so his wife had gone to look after him a month ago. Now he was dead. He was the eighth person to die of what is now called Bambaiwallah bimari (Mumbai’s sickness) in the village in the last three years.
The report says that UP, alhtough not on the HIV map in India yet, has an increasing number of infections and deaths – and the state is ill-prepeared to deal with it. Worse, the government actually did this –
The one early connection U.P. had with HIV/AIDS was the attack that government authorities had launched on workers involved in HIV/AIDS awareness programmes, in 2000 and 2001. The government had framed charges of pornography and promoting homosexuality on the workers.
Also read this promising report on Andhra Pradesh : Clubbing to combat HIV
Realted link – on the eagerly awaited AIDS vaccine – America torn over AIDS vaccine
WHat I found really interesting in your article is that there didn’t seem to be any stigma attached to the HIV positive people in the villages, in this case. This, if anything, is a positive to take from the article. That, and the fact that when the man died, they immediately took his wife for testing, and also that there was no issue with her marrying another man. Both show amounts of awareness I did not think existed. The fact that the villagers are aware of some sickness, which causes this trouble, is a good thing. To hell with whether they call it Mumbaiwali bimari or something else. The fact that there is no stigma should make it easier in spreading awareness and in prevention… (if the government would let it).
Ys, it does seem in this case that the people are prepared for it but the government is not – and with all good intentions will bumble on this too… but I am not sure if this is the case all over the state – it just seems very hard to believe that UP has only 0.25 percent of peoppe affected by the virus – does it mean people are not reporting it out of some fear of stigma. or is it just ignorance?
Have you seen the Monty Pythons- the meaning of life…
They make excellent parody of the Catholic abhorrence for condoms…
the film shows a catholic having over 100 kids and singing a song “All the sperms are sacred”
Charu, good thoughts and like the description on your blog and could very well relate to it since I am from Lucknow…real nostalgic moments while being in USA for the last 7 years.
Thanks,
Anshul
Glad you wrote about this Charu……I just read the article a couple of days ago. But wasn’t surprised at all with what I read.
Even in states which have an effective and aggressive HIV prevention, cure and awareness effort (Tamil Nadu), the numbers are still creeping up. I shudder to think of what it’s going to be like in UP and Bihar where there is denial, as well as the ideal conditions for spread of the disease (low awareness, huge migrant population (especially male migrant population) etc).
Usually, the tipping point is about 1% of the population. South Africa 15 years ago hit 1%….after that the numbers rise exponentially, and now they’re at something like 15-20% of the population. 🙁
Shivaji, haven’t seen this one – but 🙂 to all sperms are sacred (and I remember the cartoon you had put up of condomless Africa and AIDS)
Anshul, thanks – I am guessing Lucknow is much better off compared to other parts of UP – esp the eastern side…
Sunil, yes, where does an intervention program begin in such a state (of denial, I mean) – worse, with the government playing possum…
TTG, in fact, I was thinking about what you have said – the fact that they clal it “Mumbaiwali bimari” – does it mean they are not entirely aware of AIDS – and therefore, this whole being cool about it and no stigma bit? in which case, it is again a dangerous thing – ignorance combined with denial?
Hi Charu
My wife is very interested in studying the AIDS epidemic (she’s a health care economist). I think the issue of underreporting incidence of AIDS is alarming because it means that these governments are more intent on covering-up and denying the truth than dealing with it.
Yes Michael, this kind of denial is scary. esp states like Bihar and UP which are ‘backward’ with regard to other indicators.
and what does a health care economist do exactly? sounds interesting…