`Getting Zero: Zero new infection, Zero AIDS related death, Zero discrimination` is the theme for this year`™s World AIDS Day observation. It is heartening that Chief Minister Okram Ibobi speaking during the observation organised by the Manipur State Aids Control Society had come down heavily against misuse of funds by NGOs which are meant for spreading awareness. He had warned that any organisation found pilfering funds will be blacklisted. The CM`™s warning is indicative of the malpractices, and their quantum, on the part of the NGOs, which are working in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention, control and management. The CM`™s apprehension must have reliable grounds in the information gathering machinery of the state. For the common people, a good enough premise that something is terribly wrong with some of these NGOs would be the conspicuous mushrooming of palatial houses belonging to NGO workers. If there is a political will, weeding out such NGOs is not a difficult task for the government. There are enough mechanisms to check the flow of funds of the NGOs. We would definitely like to see the CM`™s words translating into action.
The CM underscored the fact that awareness is the key to control further spread of the HIV virus amongst the population. It is true that with the introduction of Antiretroviral Therapy, ART, there has been considerable hold on HIV related deaths in the state. But then the goal of `zero discrimination`™ is still a far-fetch one. Discrimination exists at various levels of our society. This discrimination can be seen in the Leikai community, at social functions, at the work places and even within the family. Sometimes, discrimination can be seen at the most unexpected places `“ the public hospitals and clinics. It is said that people living with HIV generally do not feel comfortable in their visits to the ART centres of the state. A visit to such ART centres will ascertain the fact. It is disheartening enough to see people standing on queue just to collect their ART drugs. But to know that most of these centers are without proper resting place or even drinking water facility moves one to the verge of risking a conclusion that they have been discriminated and then forgotten. More often than not, there are complaints of `unwanted attitude`™ in the functioning of the State AIDS Clinical Expert Panel, a reviewing and decision making body on all cases referred by the ART centres regarding viral load testing and starting of 2nd line and alternative 1st line ART.
Some leading NGOs have been equally critical of the government`™s policy and functioning on the HIV/AIDS issue in the state. An outspoken NGO worker, L Deepak, who is the president of the Manipur Network of Positive People, speaking on a parallel observation of World AIDS Day had charged the government of neglecting the issue. He maintained that the government has failed to earmark funds for HIV/AIDS in the state budget. He said the current funding on HIV/AIDS are all global funding that comes through the National AIDS Control Organisation; and he further urged the MLAs, ministers and officials concerned to shun rhetoric and rather practice what they preach. That there is an unfortunate deficit of trust between the NGO workers and the government is a picture painted by these different takes on the issue. In order to be anywhere near the goal of `Zero new infection, Zero AIDS related death, Zero discrimination`™, the chasm of mistrust between the NGOs and the government must be spanned. A little bit of soul searching on both the camps with focus on the issue might do the trick. One cannot be overly optimistic but this is one case where one does not have much of a choice.
Leader writer: Senate Kh