We are well into the second decade of the HIV/AIDS
epidemic in India and our country is home to an estimated 3.5 million
people infected with AIDS, the largest population of HIV infected
people in the world. In Manipur AIDS has emerged as a serious public
health concern. In fact, it is becoming a number one killer of young
people in Manipur. As of February 2000, a total of 9,732 HIV positive
cases, 574 AIDS cases were reported of which 131 are registered
AIDS victims. Three districts namely Imphal, Thoubal and Churachandpur
contribute about 85% of the total number of 'positive cases' as
of February 2000. From the early '90s till date different NGOs in
association with State AIDS Cell and Manipur AIDS Control.
Society (MACS) had been mounting multi-pronged HIV/AIDS
prevention measures. A big enough sum has also been pumped into these
outfits to take up different projects. NGOs and other Government agencies
are working in the field of Drug de-addiction and took to their shoulders
the responsibility of spreading the message of HIV/AIDS across the population
of Manipur. A few of them took the burden of caring HIV/AIDS infected
people and AIDS. They are continuing to hold workshops, seminars and other
mass awareness campaigns from time to time through education and communication
using audio and visual aids, wall posters, newspaper, reading materials,
street plays etc. etc. Above all, the state Govt. also observed various
occasions related to HIV/AIDS as rest of the world does. For the first
time in Manipur, various NGOs and other institutions were observing 17th
International Candlelight Memorial on May 21 across the State under the
organizing committee of 17th International Candlelight Memorial, Manipur.
The day was observed under the theme "Break the silence; Honour
every death, Value every life" by keeping the goals of honouring
those who have died of AIDS, demonstrating public support for those living
with HIV/AIDS, raising awareness of opportunities to respond to HIV/AIDS,
and assisting grassroot organizations in building multi-sector community
support and commitments to local, National and Global efforts to end the
AIDS pandemic.
What arouses the curiosity and apprehensions of this writer is that
"How far the efforts made by these NGOs and Manipur AIDS Control
Society are going to be effective"? The writer notice from reliable
sources that the exact number of the HIV infected persons will be much
higher than the reported figures, as many HIV/ AIDS infected persons remain
hidden in order to escape the deep hurt and hopelessness that accompany
societal rejection. Due to the lack of awareness and literacy among the
general mass most people are with the perception that HIV infection "is
a dangerous disease", a shameful punishment for past sins and that
once a person has HIV/AIDS, he/she would die soon. In such a situation
people living with AIDS (PLWA) chose not to disclose their status to others,
fearing discrimination, physical harm or blame. Some did not reveal their
HIV status for fear of imparting sorrow to their loved ones or wanting
to protect the future of their dependents from social exclusion. In short
the disease AIDS has already seem to have won the battle as majority of
general population do not treat these infected persons as human
beings. Such an opinion among the general public and infected persons
brings about a communication gap which ultimately disconsolate our collective
responsibility to combat the so called "deadliest disease" of
the modern world. Should we agree to remark all these as a positive outcome
of our efforts made by expending a huge amount of money during the last
one decade?
By suppressing all these social stigma and negative attitude towards them,
Manipur network of Positive People (MNP+), now a registered body comprising
courageous and hopeful infected persons was formed on 7th September 1997
aiming at promoting a sense of belonging and render necessary support
and care service to PLWA's for overall improvement in their lives in general
and society in general. The first of its kind in the entire northeast,
the self-support group, MNP+, had been intending to overcome the constraint
and limitations faced by the people infected with HIV/AIDS. The body consists
of seven members in the executive Committee to look after the functioning
of the organization and its services along with 70 other members with
an advisor for guidance. At present, MNP+ is a member of Chennai based
Indian Network of Positive People, INP+ and networking with other
state level networks of Tamil Nadu, Maharastra, Goa, Karnataka, and Pondicherry
as well as Positive Women's Network, a network run entirely by women in
South India. MNP+'s working secretary, L Deepak is also a member of Executive
Board Member of INP+.
The MNP+ has been working with meager financial assistance from Manipur
AIDS Control Society in the areas like refining a positive and giving
visibility to the issues of PLWA by dissemination of accurate and up-to-date
information on AIDS thereby countering fear and ignorance, sharing personal
experience, information, skill and resource essential for promoting a
sense of belongings and render necessary support and care services to
PLWA, advocating the strong legislative measures to protect the individual's
right to remain confidential. The body also does counseling, providing
home-based care and referral services to hospitals. MNP+ shares information
and other expertise with their counterparts based in other states through
communication in papers, workshops, training programmes and regular meetings.
In a bid to facilitate sharing of information, a project had approved
for providing free Internet connections to these network groups throughout
the country. The project will come into action very shortly.
The writer had a one to one chat with L. Deepak,
secretary, MNP+, who recently attended at the Donor and Supporters
Meeting of INP+ at Chennai on April 27 last. He also attended the Board
Meeting of INP+ held on April 28 and 29. The chat was focused on problems
and constraints faced by infected persons and MNP+'s role in caring and
supporting these people. Banka, President, MNP+ and other members also
attended the chat session.
Excerpts;
Samarendra: As
an infected person, what do you feel the discriminatory attitude towards
people living with AIDS (PLWA) in the context of Manipur?
Deepak: There is wide discrimination prevailing
in our society. No longer can HIV/AIDS be viewed as a bracketed issue,
affecting certain sections of society. Clearly the epidemic is spreading
rapidly, affecting all strata of society and urgently requiring a response
from all sectors. It is pity that when such people should be given love,
care, sympathy and support they are mistreated and isolated. I personally
witnessed some bed ridden HIV/AIDS patients being isolated and ill treated
by even their family members. In such a prevailing situation MNP+ wants
to deliver this message to the general public that as long as such stigma
and discrimination continues in our society, it will be harder to tackle
the epidemic. Instead they should be encourage to live openly and with
dignity so as to enable in joining hands with general public in promoting
the prevention of further spread of HIV/AIDS.
Samarendra: Although
a huge sum of money is pumped into awareness campaigns and other preventive
measures, there are fresh reports of alarming increase in the number of
HIV/AIDS infected persons. Any comment of MNP+ in this regard.
Deepak: According to our own view, it is
because of least number in committed NGOs, doctors, health activists working
in this field. Although there is awareness among general public and infected
persons there is a hardly change in their behavioral attitude. Every individual
should commit to his or her moral and behavior to retard the rate.
Samarendra: What
do you feel about the present health care facilities for persons living
with HIV/AIDS in Manipur?
Deepak: The present health care system
for infected persons in the state is very unfortunate. There is lack of
trained doctors and awareness amongst paramedical staff is also major
problem. Ten beds provided in hospices are not matching with the number
of infected persons who are supposed to get acute medical treatment. The
state has no provision for availing medical equipments like CD 4 Count,
Viral Load machine, one has to bind for Mumbai by expending a big sum.
HIV/AIDS patient hardly gets medicine free of cost. And one more alarming
situation is the claim made by blood banks in the state that all the blood
in these banks are 100% safety. MNP+ strongly deny their claim, because
these blood banks do not test for Hepatitis C, which is also a dreadful
transmitted through blood. There are also some instances of discrimination
in health care institutions for instance people living with AIDS are not
provided proper attention and care when they approached to these hospitals.
Samarendra: Please
tell something about MNP+'s activities in the past three years.
Deepak: Apart from conducting meeting,
conference and workshop from time to time, we do counseling, providing
home based care and referral service to hospitals. We share and provide
information on maintaining good health, nutritional requirements. MNP+
had also conducted a need assessment for PLWA on various issues including
human rights of infected persons, and was being submitted to the Indian
Network of Positive People, INP+.
Samarendra: Please
tell me a brief account on the "Donors and Supporter's Meeting"
that you had attended recently?
Deepak: The meeting organized by Indian
Network of Positive People, INP+ released the report of the assessment
conducted with the people living with HIV/AIDS across the country including
Manipur. The first ever assessment of it its kind where people who live
with the virus have themselves documented the needs and suffering of fellow
people living with HIV. The meeting was attended by various international
funding agencies like Family Health International, FHI, and Project Concerned
International etc. on being presented the assessment report, these agencies
gave their consent in extending their maximum monetary help to the needs
of INP+. The project for providing free Internet connection to all the
network groups across the country including ours had also sanctioned by
FHI. The INP+ also presented its action plan for the year 2000-2001, which
aim to give face to the epidemic with each member going out public and
removing misconceptions about AIDS and PLWA.
Samarendra: What
are the sources of fund of MNP+?
Deepak: When MNP+ was formed three years
back at the premises of Continuum Care Project Lamphelpat with just seven
members, we are financed by this care project with a monthly grant of
Rs 1000 and was later increase to Rs 4000. After having registration under
the Societies registration Act 1989 on 14th December 1998, NACO and Manipur
AIDS Control Society, MACS extend their financial support to us. MACS
is very cooperative and supportive with us, so as to say. The Project
Director has also given his verbal consent in inducting one member from
MNP+ in the Executive Committee of MACS.
Samarendra: Please
elaborate MNP+'s future course of plans.
Deepak: We have submitted "Care and
Advocacy Project, CAP" a project proposal to the MACS which is expected
to implement within two or three month's time, if it's approved by MACS.
Under the project we are planning to launch a mobile Home Care Service
to avail the facilities of care, support and treatment from MNP+ with
trained nurses and doctors for infected persons throughout al districts
of Manipur. Those unfortunate PLWA residing at remote places could get
our care and support with this service in the days to come. But all these
depend on the financial position granted by the MACS. We are also aware
of the fact that the state is facing an acute financial problem. We are
exploring to hold a workshop on "HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis C Co infection"
which is very related and so common in HIV infected persons. According
to a London based journal 80% of Injecting Drug Users have the risk of
Hepatitis infection which is a new among us in Manipur. We are trying
to find ways and means to spread the awareness of it with the help of
medical experts from outside Manipur. MNP+ seriously think media should
play a vital role in such concerns.
Samarendra: Well,
thanks a lot for sharing valuable information and we wish MNP+ all
the very best in your future endeavours.
Deepak: It's my a pleasure . Thank you!
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