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A first: Kerala reserves post for HIV positive
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: This is a quota that is unlikely to be embroiled in a debate about merit dilution and fairness. Kerala became the first Indian state on Tuesday to reserve a government job for HIV positive candidates, marking a new sensitivity for those afflicted with the killer virus.
The Kerala State Aids Control Society (KSACS) announced that it had reserved a vacancy in its office for HIV positive candidates with the hope that the presence of such a person will improve coordination and communication with groups at risk and ensure effective prevention.
"We have issued advertisements inviting applications to the post of coordinator, People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), only from candidates who are HIV positive. Earlier, we had set this as a desirable factor, but then we decided to make it an essential one," KSACS project director and special secretary, health, Usha Titus told TOI.
The Times of India
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Now, insurance cover for HIV+ in Karnataka
BANGALORE: The number of people living with HIV in India runs into the millions. Yet, insurance companies have largely ignored them, till now.
On Wednesday, a group health insurance plan was launched for 250 HIV-affected people, the first of its kind. The scheme is supported by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under Project Connect, a programme designed to build public-private partnership to combat HIV and tuberculosis in India.
Population Services International (PSI), an NGO, in partnership with Star Health and Allied Insurance Company and the Karnataka Network for Positive People (KNP+) launched the scheme.
The policy, not available to individuals, will be given to a group of about 300. In Karnataka, the policy has been given to 250 applicants from six districts - Bellary, Mangalore, Mandya, Udupi, Kolar and Mysore.
The Times of India -
New strain of HIV detected in Manipur but alarm bells don’t ring yet
IMPHAL Aug. 16: The National AIDS research Institute (Nari) has detected a new HIV hybrid strain in blood samples taken from HIV-positive residents of Manipur but authorities don't seem to have sat up.
The blood samples have tested positive for the HIV-1 B/C recombinant strain - a combination of of B and C strain of the virus. The strain, which resembles that prevalent in Thailand, is believed to have been acquired through cross-border sex tourism at Moreh-Tamu junction on the Indo-Myanmar border and fingers are being pointed at traders who frequent Thailand.
Experts are viewing the identification of a new strain very seriously as known methods of combating the HIV virus may now have to undergo a sea change.
Dr Priyo, in charge of anti-retroviral treatment (ART) at JN Hospital in Manipur told The Statesman: "A new strain is always worrisome. Apart from HIV 1, HIV-2 strain is also found in patients here. The HIV-2 strain does not respond to Nevirapine therapy."
Yumnam Rupachandra, for The Statesman -
Ostracised Indian AIDS victim dies
Nava Pradhan (named changed), the 42-year-old HIV-infected grade-four staff of a nationalised bank at Kendrapara in Indian coastal state Orissa, died at his home on Tuesday. He was pushed into a state of deep agony and distress from where there was no return.
Nava, who was ostracised in his village, was also subjected to discriminating treatment by the bank authorities.
He was first asked to go on a long leave and was never allowed to report on duty. Under such circumstances, he was forced to stay back home without a job.
Nava had moved the National Human Rights Commission and Orissa Human Rights Commission against the injustice meted out to him by the bank.
Akhand, for WordPress.com -
Effort to curb HIV/AIDS in India
ndian scenario, new trends, efforts to curbThe HIV/AIDS incidence in India is a cause of concern. About 4.58 million adults in the country are estimated to be infected with the disease. The infection is not just confined to high-risk groups and the trend is to spread from urban to rural communities. The government of India has given high priority to prevent the epidemic and several organisations are engaged in various activities.
The Indian Red Cross Society (IRCS), with a network of 650 district branches, is in a unique position to curb the spread of the infection. Recently, the IRCS is piloting a project which is geared to supporting HIV+ women and pre-school children of HIV+ families, preventing the spread in communities and addressing stigma in the society. The projectThe project is in Namakkal district of Tamil Nadu state. Namakkal is well known for truck industries, poultry and associated commercial activities. The truck drivers and the migrant casual workers, predominantly in the villages, are transmitting HIV infection to their women partners.
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India still under siege of AIDS epidemic
India's claim that its HIV/AIDS epidemic has stabilised was questioned by leading epidemiologists at the 17th International AIDS conference in Mexico City.
Experts say that evidence shows that new high risk communities have emerged who may give a completely different picture to the epidemic.
Migrant workers, men who have sex with men and transgender - form the new face of India's AIDS epidemic.
Epidemiologists tracking the disease say emerging data shows that these high risk groups, who are beyond the government's radar, can derail the country's fight against the disease.
Dr Geoffrey P Garnett, professor at Imperial College, UK said, "It is wrong to believe that the epidemic has stabilised. What has happened is that new infections equal deaths, so it seems that the numbers have plateaued."
Mohuya Chaudhuri, for NDTV.com -
Personalized HIV therapy developed
WASHINGTON: A research team from Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), along with researchers from Universite de Montreal have developed a personalized immunotherapy to fight HIV/AIDS.
Scientists have long been finding it difficult to create an AIDS vaccine due to high genetic variability of the HIV virus.
"Our approach is unique in the world: no one else has yet developed customized immunotherapy using the virus from individual patients," said Dr Jean-Pierre Routy, from MUHC.
"This experimental technique remains long and costly for the moment, but we're hoping it will hold the promise of a completely innovative and widely available treatment in the future," he added.
The Times of India -
‘Elite’ HIV woman holds key to vaccine
WASHINGTON: A woman who has never shown symptoms of infection with the AIDS virus may hold the secret to defeating the virus, US researchers said.
Infected at least 10 years ago by her husband, the woman is able somehow to naturally control the deadly and incurable virus - even though her husband must take cocktails of strong HIV drugs to control his. She is a so-called "elite suppressor", and studies of her immune cells have begun to offer clues to how her body does it, the team at Johns Hopkins University in Baltimore said on Tuesday.
"This is the best evidence to date that elite suppressors can have fully pathogenic virus," said Joel Blankson, who led the study. "The feeling was initially that they had defective virus," Blankson added in a telephone interview.
But the couple has been monogamous for at least 17 years, Blankson said, and tests show they are infected with the same strain of virus. What is different is the immune system of the wife, who cannot be named for privacy reasons.
The Times of India -
HIV patients try to ‘bat out’ the associated stigma in Kolkata
Kolkata, Aug 12: HIV and Thalassaemia affected people took part in a cricket practice session ahead of the Red Ribbon Cup organised under the banner of Thalassaemia and AIDS Prevention Society in Kolkata.
More than 15 HIV patients have decided to fight their own battle by 'batting out' the discrimination in the society and reduce the attached stigma.
Sporting T-shirts with 'AIDS' quotations and messages written on them, the members are all set to spread awareness about the commonly dreaded disease.
DailyIndia.com
© 2008 Wake Up Pune.
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