In Gujarat, number of new AIDS cases is coming down

In keeping with the national trend, the state too has seen a drastic decline in number of new AIDS cases.

The government machinery reveals that involvement of AIDS patients in mainstream strategies that help curb the spread of HIV infections is the main reason for this phenomenal fall in the number of cases of the dreaded disease.

Due to the combined efforts of the organisation, People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), government machinery and non-government organisations, the state has seen a huge downward trend in new cases.

The annual target for 2009 was to register 51,000 new cases. And the state’s GSACS units got 52,066. The target for this year is 16,000 and till October 10,067 new cases have been registered.

“The sharp decline in new cases in the state is very promising,” said Dr Rajesh Gopal, joint director, Gujarat State Aids Control Society.  
The method of involving PLHA in constructive
preventive measures was adopted worldwide.

The World AIDS Day theme for 2010 - ‘Stop AIDS, Keep the promise: Universal Access and Human Rights’ — encourages government machineries, non-government organisations and the public to work towards strengthening the services offered to People Living with HIV/AIDS and in turn, also motivates and appreciates PLHA for their committed efforts to help prevention of the disease.

The prime reason that prompted PLHA to come into the open and help the cause is the lessening fear of Aids.

Unlike in the past, HIV infection is no more a death sentence on a person. Today, with the Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) PLHA can lead a healthy life -- like patients suffering from diabetes and hypertension and other life-style induced diseases that require life-long management.

Currently, available ART effectively suppresses the replication of the virus in the body and keeps progression of the disease under control. And Gujarat has perhaps the maximum number - 20 -- ART centres providing free treatment by the National AIDS Control Programme of the central government. 

"The people who have contracted Aids feel comfortable taking treatment at these centres as there are PLHA volunteers counselling them there. There is at least one counsellor at each of these centres to guide new patients. They also motivate them," said Dr Gopal.  

Many Catholic churches have also been working actively with the PLHA in areas of HIV prevention, care, and rehabilitative services.

However, with the mainstream government network involving PLHA in their channel, one of the major obstacles, the stigma attached to HIV and discrimination, has begun to be tackled.

Under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP -III) and with grants from PFI, the government has been setting up Community Care Centres (CCCs) for PLHA in West Bengal, Gujarat, Orissa, Bihar and Chhattisgarh since June 2007.

Till October 2010, a total of 48 CCCs have been successfully established, which has enrolled more than 38,300 PLHA for care and support services.

"Moreover, above 100 PLHA work as project staff. Their presence is not only inspirational for their peers, but also brings in much more sensitivity and a sense of belonging into the project team," said Dr Gopal.