Archive for the ‘News’ Category
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Adopted parents’ love for HIV baby
Raj Chavan was just one year old when his parents died. HIV positive and abandoned Raj found a new lease of life when a family from a neighbouring village in Sindhudurg in southern Maharashtra adopted him.
The Chavans had no relation to Raj's biological parents and this decision charged them socially and financially, as they had to bring him to Mumbai regularly for treatment.
"People run away when they hear AIDS and HIV. Family was with me but others you can guess," said Ramesh Chavan, Peon and Raj's father.
"We live on rent. As soon as the landlords come to know of this they ask us to leave," said Reshma Chavan, Raj's mother.
The Chavans already have two daughters, one of whom is handicapped. Bringing Raj home was a collective decision after the family saw him bleeding in a corner of his parents home in the neighbouring village. Now, he is a bundle of energy .
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“The tearful tale of an aravaani” (poem by D. Dinesh Kumar)
Poem reprinted with kind permission from the author, D. Dinesh Kumar, who originally posted it to the AIDS-INDIA@yahoogroups.com mailing list.
"The tearful tale of an aravaani"
This is the story of an aravaani
woman trapped in a man's body
as a man I was destined to rule this world
as a woman I desired to rule this world
yet here I am: this despicable maiden
all forlorn
with an epic so dark and tragic
that it would move a stone to tears.
Along the seashore
adorned in colorful hues
she roamed about, destitute,
with folded hands that clapped,
she begged with dignity
Many were those who
lashed at her with their tongues
leaving her to cry
heaping slurs on her:
broken hearted, she turned to silence
she became a sieve among souls
I asked the broken hearted maiden
And out she poured her story.
what then is the tragic tale of this aravaani?
well, let us listen to it.
the one who bore me in her womb scorned me
the one who sowed his seed made me weep
the ones born before me refused to see my face
the one born after me ran away in fear and scorn
I became blind, despite eyes to see
among my own I became a refugee
within my family I became an orphan
with food I got my daily dose of
earful of hurtful words
the elder one was like a thorn
the younger one was like a spear
Kill me with a knife and I'd gladly die
once, and with dignity
amidst these ignorant people
I died, without dying
not once but many times.
Then my tragic tale became a hurdle
for my fair sister's wedding
my mother who nourished me
with her own blood
was ready with poison.
I decided that a chicken
should not die
in the hands of the hen that gave it life.
and I left..
to live among my own kind
I found my kindred folks
sister, mother they said
and nourished me with love
I surrendered my manhood
transformed into a woman
and glowed in pride
my life was complete at last.
passions shook me from head to toe
yes, I had my distractions
but was determined to live my life
like a lotus that stood tall in shallow water
slowly the will disappeared
blinded by desire
men flocked to my feet
I milked those who
came to eat my flesh
there was money in my hands too.
and then there was one who came as a customer
while I could not carry his child
I thought i would call him mine.
Trickery in the guise of marriage
treachery in the guise of love
he robbed me of my money
and abandoned me on the streets.
generously I gave to everyone
like a bountiful vessel
but was given a begging bowl instead
Who did this?
Who ? who? who?
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D. Dinesh Kumar,
Erode,
Tamilnadu.
e-mail: <ethics.justice@gmail.com> -
Study adds 50 years to HIV history
New Delhi, Oct. 2: A lymph-node tissue biopsy from 1960 suggests that HIV began spreading among humans in the 19th century, perhaps 100 years before AIDS was recognised in the early 1980s.
An international research team recovered fragments of HIV genes from a lymph-node tissue collected from a woman in Kinshasa, Congo, 48 years ago and compared it with genes from the oldest HIV sample known from 1959 - also from Kinshasa.
The scientists found that the two virus samples - from 1959 and 1960 - were genetically so different that any common ancestor would have had to be several decades older, that is, it would have existed around 1900.
However, the researchers also found that the 1900 virus itself would have been genetically different from the original virus that spread from chimpanzees to humans - and that it would have taken several years for this genetic divergence to take place.
G.S.Mudur, for The Telegraph -
Doctors shall face action for shunning AIDS patients: SC
New Delhi, Oct 1 Doctors who refuse to treat AIDS or HIV patients will have to face the music as the Centre today told the Supreme Court that it has decided to take firm action against them.
The Centre said it has circulated directions to states for taking action against doctors and para-medical staff, in both government and private sector, for shunning AIDS or HIV patients.
The Government's submission in the apex court comes in the backdrop of complaints highlighting the plight of patients who were denied treatment by doctors or para-medical staff both in private and government hospitals.
"It must be ensured that there is no discrimination or stigma to PLHA's (persons living with HIV or AIDS) at health care facilities otherwise. The cases of denial of services to positive patients should be viewed seriously and action initiated in all such cases," the Centre's office memorandum circulated among states and submitted in the apex court today said.
chennaionline.com -
Union of India defends Section 377 – 2
A division bench of Chief Justice A.P Shah and Justice Murlidharan of the Delhi High Court continued to hear arguments in the matter of Naz Foundation (India) Trust v. Government of NCT, Delhi and Others, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 7455 of 2001, which challenges the constitutional validity of Section 377, Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC).
On 30th September 2008, the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) - PP Malhotra, sought to counter the petitioner's claim that Section 377 infringes the right to life and liberty under Article 21.
Relying on Kharak Singh, Gobind v State of Madhya Pradesh and A.K Gopalan, the ASG attempted to argue that the petitioner's challenge under Article 21 is not sustainable as Section 377 is a valid law.{According to these decisions, restrictions on Article 21 cannot be challenged if imposed by a validly enacted law.} Rejecting the submission, the Bench said that this principle has been overruled by Maneka Gandhi[4] and subsequent pronouncements of the Supreme Court. Drawing the ASG's attention to a settled position in constitutional law, the Chief Justice said that the impugned law itself must be fair, just and reasonable to withstand the rigours of Article 21.
Second, the ASG argued that the right to privacy is not absolute and can be curtailed in favour of a competing interest. He cited HIV related judgments - Lucy D'Souza[5], Singareni Collairies[6] and Mr X v Hospital Z[7] to press that fundamental rights of people living with HIV can be abridged to protect others. The Chief Justice pointed out that this line of thinking is outmoded; though Courts have permitted mandatory HIV testing, the Indian Government has rejected such measures. Justice Murlidharan further questioned the relevance of these decisions to the present matter which challenges criminal sanctions against consenting adults.
Tripti Tandon, for Lawyers Collective
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Chennai – Shameful act by Govt. Hospital authorities.
Doctors shy away from body of suspected HIV+ youth
CHENNAI: It was a harrowing experience for the kin of a suspected HIV-positive youth, who committed suicide at Narikuravar Colony in Pallavaram on Saturday. They had to run around with the body as doctors refused to conduct post-mortem citing inadequate facilities.
According to police, the 25-year-old victim committed suicide by hanging on Saturday afternoon. He took the extreme step unable to overcome the shock of his blood samples testing positive for HIV.
When his family members took the body to Chrompet Government Hospital, doctors said adequate facilities were not available to conduct post-mortem and asked them to go to Royapettah Government Hospital.
When they took the body there, hospital authorities said the post-mortem could be conducted at Chrompet Government Hospital itself as HIV-positive bodies required special facilities for autopsy. However, staff at the Chrompet hospital maintained that there was no provision to conduct the post-mortem.
With no other option, about 100 people, including women, gathered at the Pallavaram police station with the body and threatened to resort to a road blockade if immediate steps were not taken to conduct the post-mortem.
Special Correspondent, for The Hindu
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Ignore Ramadoss’s stand on gays: Govt to HC
It's a case that is being closely watched around the country. The Delhi High Court is nearing the end of daily hearings on a petition that seeks to legalise homosexuality, which continues to be a crime in India inviting a life sentence.
Last week, the court had some scathing words for the Centre which has argued that homosexuality can create law and order problems. The judge asked: "How can something that happens in private breach public peace?"
The case has also exposed a huge divide in the government. The Health Ministry wants homosexuality legalised but the Home Ministry does not. Meanwhile, replying to the question raised by the HC, the Centre has said that ignore the stand of the Health Ministry on homosexuality issue.
It also said that laws made by Parliament prevail over the views of a particular ministry.
Neha Khanna, for NDTV.com -
Union of India defends Section 377
Proceedings continued in the matter of Naz Foundation (India) Trust v. Government of NCT, Delhi and Others, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 7455 of 2001, which challenges the constitutional validity of Section 377, Indian Penal Code, 1860 (IPC) before a division bench of Chief Justice A.P Shah and Justice Murlidharan of the Delhi High Court. On 25th September 2008, Advocate Shyam Divan argued on behalf of Voices against 377 in support of the petition.
On 26th September 2008, Additional Solicitor General (ASG) - PP Malhotra proceeded to argue on behalf of the respondents - Union of India.
The ASG began by referring to judicial pronouncements on Section 377 where the sexual acts in question were committed against a child. He stressed that Courts had repeatedly described acts covered by Section 377 as "perverse" and "abhorrent". The Chief Justice interrupted the ASG and said that the cases pertained to child sexual abuse and not adult, consensual sex which is the subject matter of the hearing.
The Bench then questioned the ASG on the government's stand on the matter. The ASG replied that he had been instructed to oppose the petition and defend the validity of Section 377.
Tripti Tandon, for Lawyers Collective -
“They still believe TB is untreatable”
It was overwhelming moment for all the villagers when the 50 years old Shivdayal Pasi (schedule caste) died because of TB. Ganga Jamuni, a village around 110 km away from the state capital of Uttar Pradesh, situated in Bahraich district, is becoming more vulnerable towards preventable TB. Shivdayal is not the only one who had died because of TB. There are others in this village who are struggling with TB.
This village has a population of about 1,200 people including children. For the last four years more than six TB patients has been detected in this village.
They believe, TB is untreatable and can easily lead to death. They have seen their forefathers too dying of TB.
They haven't seen the miracle of simple antibiotics to treat TB.
Amit Dwivedi, for Citizen News Service
© 2008 Wake Up Pune.
Articles are copyright of their respective authors.
'Paragrams' by WPSHOWER
