What’s Being Done?
HIV PreventionThe national government of India has given the responsibility for HIV prevention and education to the individual states across the country. Each state has its own AIDS Prevention and Control Society that are collectively guided by the National AIDS Prevention and Control Society (NACO). India has devoted US$2.5 billion, however, barriers at the state level such as language and dialect differences make a national prevention and education plan very difficult.
There is a huge push to use condoms. Condom machines are being placed in colleges, roadside rest areas, restaurants, gas stations, and along truck routes in an effort to promote and increase condom use. However, the stigma surrounding condom use remains, impeding the process. In response, national celebrities are publicly promoting condom use in an effort to remove stigmas surrounding condom use. In an effort to further HIV education, teachers and peer educators are being trained in order to increase the availability and ease of access to HIV education.
HIV Testing
Currently, India’s official stance on HIV testing is that it is voluntary. However, there is a high incidence of “forced testing,” especially among patients preparing to have surgery. Unfortunately, those testing positive for HIV most often will have their surgery cancelled by the surgeon. Because of HIV stigmas, many people are afraid to get tested for fear of retribution if they are found to be infected. To make matters worse, a very high percentage of health care workers are not very HIV aware, which only contributes to the stigmas and prejudices.
HIV Treatment
India is home to some of the largest distributors of HIV medications in the world. Ironically, only about seven percent of those Indian citizens that need HIV medications can access them. The high rate of poverty in the country makes it very difficult if not impossible for most people to get HIV drug regimens. There are attempts to improve access to HIV drugs. One such initiative involves the use of a single dose of the HIV medication Nevirapine to help decrease the incidence of HIV transmission from a mother to her unborn child. Unfortunately, the prevalent stigmas surrounding HIV cause some pregnant women to avoid any HIV medication for fear of what would happen if her HIV diagnosis was made public.
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