Talking about AIDS (December 1)

Come December 1 and every year it is the same. The world as a whole come together to solemnly fight AIDS and take up measures to sensitize the people to the scourge of the dreaded virus for which there is as yet no vaccine or cure. That the world should come together and observe World AIDS Day as one community amply speaks of the threat posed by this dreaded disease to mankind as a whole, particularly in developing countries where awareness and support system for the infected persons are nothing much to write home about. 

World AIDS Day gains in prominence for the beleaguered people of Manipur, for this tiny State with a population of just a little over 22 lakhs ranks among the first three States in the country in the number HIV positive persons. Already the dreaded disease has claimed hundreds if not thousands of young lives and the official record is probably just the proverbial tip of the iceberg. That Manipur ranks high in the prevalence of HIV infection is not surprising considering the geographical location of the State.

Very close to the Golden Triangle, Manipur is the perfect transit point for cross border drug smuggling and the porous border with neighboring Myanmar only make things easier for the drug cartel to ferry their consignment through the State. This then is one of the reasons why HIV transmission is highest among the intravenous drug users here. On a brighter note records show that HIV prevalence among the Injecting Drug Users have declined from 80.7 percent in 1997 to 60 percent this year. This is probably due to the increased awareness among the young people but another worrying aspect is the steady increase in HIV sero prevalence among pregnant women.

Given this picture the importance of World AIDS Day cannot be simply wished away. While the medicine and scientific world is yet to find a cure for the disease, it becomes increasingly important for the people to realize that AIDS is not only a medical problem but also has social ramifications. While the task of finding a cure for AIDS may be left in the hands of the scientists, it is equally important too for the people to tackle the disease at the social level. To keep the virus from spreading it is imperative that people are educated about the disease.

This is where the role of NGOs, local clubs and voluntary organizations come into prominence. While everyone seems to be aware of the way the virus is transmitted from one infected person to another, what needs to be tackled on a firm footing is to dispel the misgivings and 'myths' surrounding the virus. 

Social stigma, ostracism or plain failure to recognize the AIDS is just another disease, not curable notwithstanding, is one of the most challenging tasks which lie ahead of the people. This is where society can step and find out ways to provide support system to the infected persons. Creating an atmosphere to openly speak about the disease becomes paramount for as long as any taboo is attached to this disease, finding a cure for AIDS will be all that more tougher.

(Courtesy: The Sangai Express)

Back to Top