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| Sunday, 27 November 2005 |
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Features |  |
| News Business Features Editorial
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Don't turn your back on AIDS by Vimukthi Fernando
I remember the young girl whom I had interviewed four years earlier, in the protective confines of 'Nest' an organisation working with HIV positive individuals, under the watchful eye of its founder. Her tanned round face vividly etched in memory... the bright laughing eyes, the voice full of hope... of being able to enjoy her life and work, of building a house for her mother... and the pain of the denial and desertion by her only partner who infected her with the virus, of being parted from the children she loved, of being ostracised with a separate cup and a plate by her own mother who knew nothing about how the disease is spread.... However, unlike a few years ago, the Sri Lankan community are no strangers to the abbreviations HIV/AIDS which stand for the Human Immuno-deficiency Virus and for the resulting disease, Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. The virus spreads through unprotected sexual contact and through blood and blood products. On exposure to the virus, a window period of about three months (10 to 12 weeks) is required to determine whether an individual has contacted the virus or not. HIV/AIDS is a disease that we need to be cautious of. HIV/AIDS claims millions of lives globally. UNAIDS (the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS) records an estimated 490,000 adult and child deaths in the region of South and South-East Asia, in 2004. (Source: AIDS epidemic update 2004: Regional Analysis). "Does the discrimination spring from HIV/AIDS being labelled a 'fatal' disease?" I ask Nigel de Silva, President of Lanka+ another organisation working amongst HIV positive individuals. If 'fatality' is a measure, simply being on a road in Sri Lanka is more 'fatal' than being HIV positive, quips de Silva. (In Sri Lanka, with over 2000 fatal accidents in 2004, the rate is one death every four hours, confirms records of the Police Traffic Headquarters.) "A person diagnosed as HIV positive can lead a normal life, perform his or her routine tasks, be employed, be part of his or her family and social life. Medically, it is more normal than diabetes. With modified behaviour he or she can even lead a better and longer life." Yes, discoveries in the field of medicine - the antiretriovirals (ARV) have defeated HIV/AIDS, they curb the spread of the virus and help individuals suffering from HIV/AIDS live longer. Furthermore, in Sri Lanka ARV treatment is provided free of charge, says Dr. Kulasiri Buddhakorala, Consultant Venereologist, National STD/AIDS Control Programme (NSACP). Every individual revealed HIV positive by tests are entitled for this treatment in complete confidentiality. The NSACP also provides HIV/AIDS testing/screening and counselling for patients and their families or carers. But, the response to testing is not encouraging, says Buddhakorala. Though individuals get tested, many never come back to get the report choosing to ignore their status. Therein lies the danger, Buddhakorala points out. The false belief that they are immune, will make them continue risky behaviourial patterns and if they are infected spread the virus to others while the knowledge of being HIV positive, will prompt someone to modify behaviour and contain the spread of the virus. The hidden content of HIV/AIDS is monumental, says Janet Leno, Country Coordinator, UNAIDS, Sri Lanka. Ninety percent (90 %) do not know that they are infected. Why don't they want to know? They neither have proper awareness of the disease, nor knowledge of ARVs. Furthermore, social discrimination and stigma send people underground. No one is immune from HIV/AIDS, says Leno. An individual does not have to engage in unsafe sex or practise injecting drugs to be infected with the disease. Even the most faithful and monogamous partner in a marriage could get it - by a mistake his or her other partner made, or an unsterilised needle-prick long forgotten. We have to be conscious of what happened in the past. It is the personal responsibility of each and everyone to get themselves tested and to know ones status. It is one's personal accountability. To know your status is a promise to keep with oneself. If tested negative, stay negative. If tested positive, take measures to curb the spread, get treatment and change the lifestyle by practising the A-B-C, abstain from risky behaviour, be faithful to one partner and use condoms to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS. So far in Sri Lanka, official statistics show a low prevalence of HIV/AIDS with a total of 712 HIV positive individuals and an estimate of 3,500 HIV positive individuals throughout the country. Nevertheless, the number we have to consider is the 90 percent that is hidden. HIV/AIDS is here to stay. No amount of surprise, disbelief, denial, rejection, discrimination or stigma can take the disease away. But, letting those who are HIV positive live, by accepting and helping them to receive proper treatment will help curb, if not eliminate this disease. Are we willing to do so? HIV/AIDS Surveillance Data in Sri Lanka National STD/AIDS Control program, Department of Health Services HIV/AIDS estimates for Sri Lanka by UNAIDS/ WHO as of end 2003 People living with HIV/AIDS Adults(15-49 years) -3500 Children (<15 years) -<100 Deaths in 2003 -<100 Adults prevalence (15-49 yrs) -<0.1% REPORTED HIV/AIDS CASES National STD/AIDS control program 2005 Quarter Cumulative HIV HIV/cases Cumulative cases at the reported HIV cases at beginning during the the end of quarter quarter the quarter 1st qtr. 614 35 649 2nd qtr. 649 25 674 3rd qtr. 674 38 712 Cumulative Cumulative Cumulative Reported HIV cases AIDS cases AIDS cases AIDS by gender at the end by gender deaths of the qtr. M/F M/F 382/267 190 139/51 4 402/272 194 141/53 1 417/295 200 144/56 3 * Male to female ratio of reported HIV cases - 1.4:1 * Cumulative AIDS deaths reported - 139 * Cumulative perinatally transmitted cases reported - 22 * Cumulative foreign HIV cases reported - 55 * Number of HIV tests carried out during 2004 - 251.871 * HIV sero-positivity rate for 2004 - 0.04% |
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| Produced by Lake House |
The phone rings... I wait in anticipation. A sweet voice answers... and I
ask her the telephone number for the National HIV/AIDS Control programme.
Surprise registers in her voice as she asks me to repeat the question. And
when I do so, the answer comes in the form of a banging of the phone... I
want to contact the programme in order to consult them for writing an
article about HIV/AIDS. This is the response from an officer of the national
inquiries section of the Sri Lanka Telecommunications. Understanding dawns
on me in waves of anger... I am angry at the injustice, discrimination,
stigma with which the two abbreviations HIV and AIDS are treated. I am angry
at a generation who claims immunity to a very potent virus. I am angry at
the hypocrisy of individuals who with detrimental habits and lifestyles,
point whitewashed fingers at others whom they 'presume' engage in same. I am
angry - more so, at a nation built on the values and teachings of a great
religion and a great philosopher, taking an ostrich like attitude towards
one of the grave realities of the modern era. 
