HIV in India

HIV:
Since being first clinically identified in San Francisco in 1981, HIV [Human Immunodeficiency Virus] infection has spread its tentacles all across the globe with 40 millions HIV patients presently. HIV is a retrovirus which upon entering the human body mainly infects immune cells. The HIV virus can infect people primarily through 3 routes – sexual transmission, maternal to child transmission, and transfer of blood or blood products. Upon long term infection, the immunity of a person declines and eventually the person acquires AIDS [Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome] – The end stage of HIV infection. In this phase, the patient is vulnerable to a range of opportunistic infections and could die because of these infections.

HIV in India:
As many developing countries, India is facing a challenge in the HIV disease. In fact India has the highest number of HIV cases in the world. Presently India has more than 4 million HIV infected patients. The HIV disease is now mainly restricted to high risk groups like Commercial Sex Workers, truck drivers, and Intravenous Drug Users. However it has been cautioned by health experts that complacency on part of health authorities could mean that the infection spread from these high risk groups to the general population. Hence the importance of well planned and implemented HIV prevention campaigns and programs not only to raise awareness of HIV transmission routes but also to promote safe sex methods. For persons already infected with HIV, treatment can be expensive and indefinite. This Anti Retroviral Treatment [ART] also requires good compliance on the part of the patients, and regular monitoring by the clinical provider for medication adverse effects and viral resistance (to medications). Though this may seem that ART programs can be impractical to implement in poor countries, it has been seen that with proper planning and strong backing by governments – provision of ART is possible. Therefore, it is important for HIV prevention and ART programs to be implemented side by side.

In India, the Government run National AIDS Control Organization [NACO], set up in 1992, has been the main body responsible for coordinating the response to the HIV infection in the country. Along with NACO, there are State AIDS Control Organisations [SACO] which are responsible for coordination at the state level. Along with these there are many Non Governmental Organisations [NGO] and private bodies which are involved in HIV prevention programs and provision of ART. Inspite of these efforts by the government and NGO’s, HIV infection and the possibility of its further spread is a clear and present danger.

What does this mean to overseas Indians?
As responsible global citizens, we all should be concerned with the spread of HIV disease. In this manner also as overseas Indians we certainly should be concerned with the HIV situation in India. HIV has not only clinical implications but also social and economic implications. Unneeded and Unwarranted stigma associated with HIV infection leads to social isolation of HIV patients and also death of HIV infected breadwinners leads to economic hardship for the rest of the family members.

Not all of us may be HIV clinical/ public health experts or be able to be in the field working in HIV programs, but we can always support NGO’s or other agencies doing this work. Many of these NGO’s or agencies are dependent on external funding for proper functioning and implementation of their programs. This is where overseas Indians come into the picture. After identifying a NGO that we can be involved with, we could either contribute to their efforts by providing financial support or health advice if we are qualified to. We further could raise awareness of the HIV situation in India with other overseas Indians and also have fund raising drives to support the work of NGO’s. Thus, overseas Indians can in their own way contribute to the fight against HIV in India.