India is in doubt over the number of its AIDS victims. Some records place India behind South Africa as the second largest country affected with AIDS, whereas few present a grimmer scenario placing India as the largest contributor to HIV in the world. While, a recent prediction says that India has much lower number of HIV cases.
The UN says 5.7 million people in India are suffering from HIV, the highest number in the world. Contrarily, Ashok Alexander, of the anti-Aids Avahan organization says statistics to be out soon could be ‘substantially lower’ than the U.N. figures say. The BBC prediction also goes with Ashok that the figure could be as low as three million.
The discrepancy between 5.7 million and three million means errors in the methods of calculating the numbers. The new data to be out soon will be more accurate as it is based on figures from pre-natal clinics, high-risk groups and from the government’s National Family Health Survey. The largest number from earlier records puts the largest number of AIDS prevalence in the southern states and northeast.
The first case of the virus was recorded among the sex workers in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Thereafter, India has registered a galloping number in AIDS. The virus is spreading fast among the low-risk groups.
Record of pregnant women affected by AIDS in largest populated state in the country, Uttar Pradesh (UP) and Bihar is alarming, being the most backward, with huge populations, poor literacy and health services. The blame is put on the workers who migrate to cities in search of work, bring the infection back to the states with them.
AIDS is caused by unprotected sex, from mother to her unborn baby, infected unchecked blood, overuse of drugs and from unsterilized syringes.
State governments themselves have to show responsibility in tackling the disease. Unless they do so, there could be an AIDS epidemic.
India lacks the research facilities, equipment, scientific laboratories and medical staff to deal with an AIDS outbreak. Factors such as cultural taboos against debating of sexual practices, poor harmonization between local health authorities and society, widespread poverty and undernourishment, and a lack of facility to test and store blood are surely a hindrance in the ability of the Government to manage AIDS if the disease becomes widespread.
However, India is about to embark on a new and expanded phase of its Aids control program, with increased funding from the government and from international donors.
[Source: battling aids]
