HIV/AIDS: What do you know?

A disease that is not only fatal to the human body, but also to ones’ social status. The probability that you are going to be shunned from society if you are known to have this condition is close to one or one itself. Children and adults are treated the same way, stared upon with contempt and fear. So the question that really needs to be addressed here: How much do we really know about this disease?

The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) is a retrovirus that infects cells of the immune system, destroying or impairing their function. As the infection progresses, the immune system becomes weaker, and the person becomes more susceptible to infections. The most advanced stage of HIV infection is Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). It can take 10-15 years for an HIV-infected person to develop AIDS.

HIV is most commonly spread through unprotected sexual intercourse (anal or vaginal) or oral sex with an infected person, sharing of infected needles or other sharp objects, transfusion of contaminated blood. It may also be transmitted between a mother and her infant during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

Not all cases of HIV/AIDS infections are due to immoral activities. Transfusion of contaminated blood is major contributing factor. In 1999, the transmission of HIV, in India, through blood transfusion was 6.07%, in 2006 1.96%, and in 2007 1.1% [NACO].

You CANNOT get AIDS by sitting next to an infecting person or talking to him/her. HIV is unable to reproduce outside a living host, except under strictly controlled laboratory conditions. Mere sneezing, coughing or sharing of glasses or cutlery won’t spread the infection.

To become infected with HIV you must get a sufficient quantity of the virus into your body. Saliva does contain HIV, but the virus is only present in very small quantities and as such cannot cause HIV infection. Unless both partners have large open sores in their mouths, or severely bleeding gums, there is no transmission risk, except from mouth-to-mouth kissing. HIV can neither be spread through insect bites.

Prevention and Cure

Currently there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. But with good and continued adherence to antiretroviral treatment (ART), the progression of HIV in the body can be slowed to a near halt.

Antiretroviral drugs are used in the treatment and prevention of HIV infection. They fight HIV by stopping or interfering with the reproduction of the virus in the body.

HIV transmission can be prevented during pregnancy, labour and delivery with the help of modern drugs. The transmission risk can be brought down to 2%.

Recent studies suggest that male circumcision can reduce the risk of acquiring HIV through sex. However, it is not 100% effective, and circumcised men can get infected if the wounds have not properly healed after surgery. Additionally, HIV-positive circumcised men can infect their sexual partners.

According to estimates by WHO and UNAIDS, 33.4 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2008. That same year, some 2.7 million people became newly infected, and 2.0 million died of AIDS, including 280 000 children. Two thirds of HIV infections are in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2007, in India, the no. of people living with HIV is between 1.8-2.9 million, with an estimated adult HIV prevalence of 0.34% (0.25 %-0.43 %), i.e. 0.34 per one lakh.

HIV in India

It is thought that HIV has spread among the general population in India because the epidemic has followed what is known as the 'type 4' pattern. This is where new infections occur first among the most vulnerable populations (such as injecting drug users, homosexuals and female sex workers), then spread to 'bridge' populations (clients of sex workers and sexual partners of drug users and homosexuals) and then finally enter the general population.

The 2009 annual report of NACO indicates a mixed response in HIV infection in the country, with increase in some areas and decrease in others.

As the HIV Prevalence among the high risk groups (HRG) is very high compared to that among the general population, India continues to be in the category of concentrated epidemic. The sexual mode continues to be the major mode of transmission, though transmission through injecting drug use and Men having Sex with Men are on the rise in many new pockets. The annual HIV sentinel surveillance covered 1,215 sites in 2008-09.

We the people

“We put him in power, we can also bring him down,” said a 30 year old laundry worker protesting the price hike.

On Friday Bolivia’s president Evo Morales “decided to rescind Decree number 748 and other measures that accompanied it." This is the result of widespread unrest that erupted following the passing of the decree.

Decree 768 removed price controls on fuel and raised the price of petrol by 83% and diesel by 73% in Bolivia. This move by the government was followed by an open-ended strike by the Bolivian bus drivers and demands for hike in bus fares by 100%. This is the highest fuel hike since 1991 in Bolivia.

Last year there have been many a decisions that have gone against the will of the people. France reformed its pension system even after facing stiff opposition from its people. UK introduced cuts in its education system thereby tripling costs. The austerity measures and cuts in Greece that followed after its debt crisis has led to mass protests in the region, but little has done to change the governments mind. The US passed the Bush Era tax cuts for the wealthy that was to expire at the end of 2010. And India deregulated its petroleum and oil industry, thereby allowing the industry to set prices according to international prices.

United we stand

The passing of the decree was met with thick resistance throughout the nation. All quarters joined in. Bus drivers, teachers, workers, farmers and other unions demanded the same. Morales’s strongest bases, coca growers, voiced their disdain at the price hike. Demonstrations muttered the word “treason” to describe Morales’s action.

The president’s attempt to stem down the discontent among the public, by announcing 20 percent minimum salary increase, was outright rejected by unions and civil groups. This move promised further marches, strikes and disruptions.

The united stand eventually led the president to bow down to public interest and repeal the law.

Divided we fall

India deregulated oil and gas prices in June 2010. Unlike Bolivia, this was met by mild resistance. There were protests and strikes only in states led by the left- West Bengal and Kerala. With little opposition, both within the parliament and amongst the masses, there was no need for any reversal in its policy. This move by the govt. has led to rise in food prices and other essential commodities.

The fundamental difference between Bolivia and India is the fact in the case of the former unions and civil groups came together when push comes to shove. They were loyal to their principles and did to stoop down to political alliances. They represented the will of the people they stood for and at the same time led them towards achieving their objective.

In our country people are often moved by politician's rhetoric which inturn leads to the wrong candidate getting elected. “All it takes is disgruntled voters who don’t know what’s at stake- and we have plenty of those. Banana republic here we come,” was what Paul Krugman had to say about Nassau County when they fell for the Tea Party campaigns. With millionaires in the Parliament and policies that are counter to public opinion we already might be a banana republic.