(this disease doesn’t spread through touch), Bollywood actor Shabana Azmi cried herself hoarse in the 80s to drive home the message on national television. Hoardings in prime locations, primetime slots on radio and television. Numerous mediums have been used to create awareness in the global battle against HIV/AIDS. For a medical condition that was first confirmed in 1981 in the US, in India in 1986 and in Goa in 1987, recent events force us to question the stigma and discrimination that still persists around us. Should we still throw a veil over all things related to sex in India, thereby only adding to the prejud ice around us? According to the Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS), some of the main obstacles they still face are widespread denial and complacency (low risk perception), myths and misconceptions about the cause of HIV, how it can spread and methods of its prevention. “Stigma and discrimination against HIV positive patients exists globally, even in developed nations. It will take time to completely vanish from society, especially due to the nature of this illness,” project director Dr Vandana Patankar says. According to her, even patients coming to government centres for the anti retroviral treatment (ART) hide the purpose of their visit if they run into acquaintances. Of course the recent incident where 13 HIVpositive children, all orphans living in Nitya Seva Niketan children’s home, were shown the door from a school in Rivona following protests by parents of other students, only underscores the deep-rooted prejudices, born out of ignorance. Dr Patankar’s observation that her team had met with determined obstinacy from some of the parents when they attempted to educated them on the myths and misconceptions about HIV, further elaborates the fact of how littleattitudes have changed in many parts of Goa. GSACS does however plan to increase its activities in this area. Since 1986, there are 438 children who have tested positive in Goa. Some 148 are being treated regularly at GMC and 387 of them are being monitored. Interestingly, according to Umakant Sawant, deputy director Information, Education and Communication (IEC), they sometimes face two extreme mindsets during their awareness campaigns: one group that almost borderlines phobia (like the parents from Rivona), while the other group believes “amka kai zavpak na” (nothing can happen to us). “The latter—some may fall into the high risk
group (HRG)—don’t bother taking us seriously and unfortunately they realise only after contracting the disease. Then they live in denial. There are some who take the test, but are scared to collect reports,” states Sawant. In such cases, the GSACS team tries to convince them through practical example (without disclosing names) to explain various scenarios that they may relate to and also show actual photographs of how the disease looks, which also helps drive home the seriousness of the
situation.
Formed in 1999, IEC has a multi-pronged strategy in Goa which includes folk troops or
magic shows in villages, phone-in programmes on radio, panel discussions or scroll messages
on local cable network. To ensure their reach extends to every nook and cranny of Goa,
GSACS works closely with the Directorate of Health Services, Primary Health Centres
(PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs) and NGOs.
Another GSACS effort that is unique to Goa is roping in motorcycle pilots to broadcast their
message. These social messages are printed on these pilots’ helmets.
“Many tourists come to Goa with the idea of sex tourism and these pilots may be their first
point of contact, taking them to places soliciting
such customers. So if we sensitise them,
we hope they can guide these tourists where
to buy condoms or just to be careful. So they
are very important to our campaigns,” says
Patankar.
According to GSACS statistics, between 1999
to 2013, the sexual route was the predominant
mode of transmission of HIV in the range of
83 to 96 per cent, followed by prenatal at 4 to
7.6 per cent. Transmission through blood and
blood products and infected syringes and needles
is negligible in Goa.
For a transmission route that ranks as high
as 96 per cent, a surprisingly dangerous practice
is letting an HIV positive female sex worker
(FSW) continue soliciting with mere instructions
to practice safe sex.
“Very often, there is awareness among FSWs,
but the decision to have unprotected sex is
taken by the clients or their pimps/traffickers,”
states Arun Pandey of ARZ (Annay Rahit
Zindagi).
Referring to prostitution as a market, Pandey
says that till a sex worker exits this market, it
is not safe.
“But where are the alternatives? Many want
to exit, but have no options for income. The
state needs to help her exit. Every girl in the
flesh trade has around eight to 10 people surviving
off her, and don’t want her to escape.
Just rescuing her and putting her in a remand
home will not help. This is where law enforcement
agencies come in, to ensure no one forces
these girls back into the trade,” states the ARZ
director.
The Economic Rehabilitation Programme
initiated by ARZ in 2006 to cater to the economic
empowerment of victims of sexual
exploitation led to the setting up of Swift
Wash, a fully mechanised laundry unit in
Sancoale for providing employment to the
victims of commercial sexual exploitation.
Currently, the unit is providing employment
to 35 women and girls and 15 boys.
As president of NGO Positive People Isabel
Santa Rita Vaz says she has definitely seen a
change in awareness levels about HIV-AIDS,
but the recent incident in Rivona shocked her.
“The saddest part is that even those who
provide medical services to HIV patients discriminate
against them,” she states, but adds
that one positive step in the Rivona case was
the Goa State Commission for Protection of
Child Rights (GSCPCR) took suo motto cognisance
of the matter. “Along with awareness,
the legal process is also important and must
be enforced,” says Vaz.
According to her the government needs to
invest more in this area to conduct awareness
not only in schools, but among the general
public too.
Speaking of the general public, one product
that has interfered with this entire AIDS awareness
campaign has been the emergency contraceptive
pill.
Having worked at the grassroots, GSACS
project director Patankar states they have had
to battle the misconceptions surrounding this
product.
“We tell people that this pill is only protection
against pregnancy, not sexually transmitted
diseases or AIDS. But due to its easy availability
and mass advertising, it is becoming
increasingly popular among people who prefer
to have unprotected sex,” she states.
But undeterred Patankar discloses that in
June 2014, 1217 pregnant women were tested,
and none were HIV positive. “This is heartening
for us,” she adds.
