As it is that time of the year when attention is turned towards AIDS, India has some reason for relief with the UNAIDS report revising downwards the nation’s estimated caseload. The numbers are down from 5.7 million to 2.5 million. Globally, it brings the number of people infected to 33.2 million from the 39.5 million estimated last year. This has basically come about as a result of more accurate surveys that picked households randomly and tested the women, as against the earlier surveys based on figures from public health clinics. One of the conclusions being made is that the epidemic in India is not generalised, meaning it has not spread from the risk groups to the general population. This somehow remains contested with many experts still believing that it has crossed over from the risk group.
There has been a lot of awareness on the subject as also intervention by many sectors of society which has helped control the numbers infected. While a poll showed abysmal ignorance on the subject on the part of parliamentarians, sex workers were found to be well informed. Many of them have begun to insist on the use of condoms with their customers. This is a welcome change in behaviour. Treatment costs have come down and it is an oft-stressed fact today that AIDS can be managed as well as any other disease as long as the patient sticks to the drug regimen. This should not in any manner lull the populace into a careless mode. There is no vaccine available and the disease cannot be cured.
Also, it is too early to relax guard. There have been cases where the disease showed a resurgence after some initial control. The famous example is that of Uganda, once a model which turned awry, when people stopped using condoms and multi-partner sex became rampant. Younger people beginning sex earlier has also been a concern worldwide and it is so even here in India. The emerging libertine era that encourages casual sex and even portrays it in some media circles as trendy does not particularly concern itself with fallouts like AIDS. One has only to remember that AIDS has killed more than 25 million people since first case was reported in 1981 to realise that the enemy is far too dangerous to be
trifled with.
As it is that time of the year when attention is turned towards AIDS, India has some reason for relief with the UNAIDS report revising downwards the nation’s estimated caseload. The numbers are down from 5.7 million to 2.5 million. Globally, it brings the number of people infected to 33.2 million from the 39.5 million estimated last year. This has basically come about as a result of more accurate surveys that picked households randomly and tested the women, as against the earlier surveys based on figures from public health clinics. One of the conclusions being made is that the epidemic in India is not generalised, meaning it has not spread from the risk groups to the general population. This somehow remains contested with many experts still believing that it has crossed over from the risk group.
