By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: With over 400 HIV+ registered cases in the State, according to the Inter Counselling and Testing Centre (ICTC), Meghalaya, the State needs more of “HIV sensitive” policies and programmes to provide the much-needed employment and succour to victims, said experts.
Even the Prime Minister recently favoured linkages to be built between MNREGA and HIV/AIDS programmes to streamline the issue. The PM was speaking at the National Convention of Parliamentarians, Legislators, Zila Parishad Chairpersons and Mayors on HIV & AIDS. He proposed the linkage so that HIV+ persons are benefited from opportunities under MNREGA as this is the biggest health challenge confronting humanity now. The PM has urged that respective ministries come up with schemes for rehabilitation of the victims.
Speaking to The Shillong Times, Hasina Kharbhih, chairperson, Impulse NGO Network said HIV is not a disease but a social problem requiring a multi-pronged inter-departmental approach because it is not only about HIV+ people but others in the high risk behaviour category.”
She said the ICTC under Meghalaya Aids Control Society (MACS) is a government arm that gathers data on the number of HIV+ in the State but the data is based on the people who attend the government counselling centres. “But there are many who go to private hospitals for testing and they are not accounted for in the ICTC data. The ICTC figures are based on the Voluntary Testing Centre whereas there are many people who even go out of the State for testing and they are not accounted together,” she said.
Kharbhih said many HIV+ people are living in isolation and very few come forward to talk about the disease for fear of social ostracism. Hence an inter-departmental approach is required since this is also a human rights issue.
Carmo Noronha, Executive Director, Bethany Society, Shillong said no human being irrespective of their medical status should be discriminated since everybody has a right to livelihood. “Most importantly they should be given their right to livelihood since everyone has the right to live. MNREGA is a social program which provides guaranteed employment and anybody, irrespective of their state of health, should benefit and not be a subject of discrimination. It is like education where everyone has a right to education but there is discrimination with some students,” said Mr Noronha.
“HIV-AIDS can no longer be brushed under the carpet as it is a cross cutting issue. Anyone is vulnerable to the affliction. It knows no caste or creed because it is a lifestyle disease,” observed Noronha.
Former bureaucrat and social activist, Toki Blah said he fully agrees that the ministries and inter-departmental approach is the right one since it is an issue of public awareness wherein public departments come forward to create peer pressure, so that there is no social stigma.
The general opinion is that awareness creation is of paramount importance so that young people learn to protect themselves from HIV-AIDS. A Government doctor said HIV prevention services need a revamp for all those who are at risk.”