01 Dec 2022 | 04:25am IST
Living an equal life with HIV
December 1 is earmarked as World AIDS Day to commemorate and raise awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection and mourn those who have died of the disease
Team Café
E
very year, on December 1, the world comes together to
commemorate the lives lost and those affect by the world’s longest running
epidemic, AIDS. On World AIDS Day, the United Nations remembers those who have
died of AIDS related illness, support people living with HIV (PLHIV), celebrate
achievements in the space of HIV/AIDS, raise awareness and unite to combat the
virus.
Forty long years have gone by and yet
there seems no respite in sight. HIV/AIDS remains a global crisis. As one
enters the fifth decade of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, it is important to ask the
question, ‘Why is it so difficult to fight this virus?’ Globally, there is a
lot of engagement and advancement in the HIV response, yet India is still
lacking behind manifold.
According to UNAIDS, though there was 54 percent
decline in new HIV infections since 1996, an estimated 1.5 million individuals
have acquired HIV in the year 2021. “According to National AIDS Control
Organization (NACO), India was estimated to have around 62,970 new HIV
infections in 2021, with 15,000 new infections among young people (15-24
years). Though this is a huge decline, it is still alarming. The numbers in Goa
are even more so, given the area and population, at 196 new infections in 2022.
This indicates that there is still lack of awareness and gap of knowledge,”
says Celina Menezes, an Advocacy Officer for the Indian Network of people
living with HIV.
Ever since the introduction and access of free anti-retroviral
therapy, the first generation of epidemic survivors are growing up and growing
old. The prospect of an increased lifespan gives them hope and raises their
spirits to dream like any other. But the challenges pertaining health,
education, social life, employment and so on continues. Pranab Barui,
Psychosocial Wellbeing Lead at Human Touch Foundation says, “While adolescents
and young people who are positive face hurdles of growing up with the Virus,
adults on the other hand, face issues ageing with it. Although HIV has gained
the status of a manageable chronic illness, mental health is a rising concern
among people living with HIV (PLHIV). PLHIV hesitate to seek support with a
fear that the disclosure of their status will expose them to a life a
difficulty and facing rejection in society.”
In other efforts, science has advanced in the field of HIV. The
use of drugs like Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) and Post Exposure Prophylaxis
(PEP) that can be administered to individuals who are at a high risk of
acquiring HIV. While PEP is often used in medical settings especially in case
of rape, PrEP is a fairly recent entry into India. Awareness, availability and
easy access prevention methods including comprehensive sexuality education is
the need of the hour to decrease the number of new infections especially among
young people. Greater availability of self-testing kits needs to be considered
among the general public. Laws and policies protecting the rights of PLHIV need
to be rectified. The HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Act of 2017 is still not
notified in the state, even after five years.
Human Touch Foundation has been catering to unmet needs of
Adolescents and Young People Living with HIV (A&YPLHIV). Since they are at
a higher risk of developing mental health issues associated with HIV, the
organization through psychosocial support, also provides a safe space for young
people living with HIV to express their concerns, build resilience and achieve
an optimum level of well-being. Human Touch Foundation is hosting the 4th
edition of Goa Red Ribbon Fest 2022 today, December 1, at Jardim Garcia de Orta
(Panjim).
Applesta da Costa, Head of Operations at Human Touch Foundation
says, “With this year’s theme ‘Equalize’ for World AIDS Day, there is urgent
need to end the inequalities and discrimination that further cause AIDS and
other pandemics to thrive around the world. The theme is a call to everyone to
join hands, vocalise and act on in the HIV response to end AIDS by 2030.”
It
is thus necessary to educate people about HIV, express solidarity with people
living with the virus, encourage testing, demand for care and treatment
services and promote better health care systems. This will bring us closer to
the UNAIDs 90-90-90 global HIV target to help end the epidemic.