FRIDAY BALCAO

In Goa, the AIDS statistics stand at 1000 out of the 8000 samples tested.
Roussel Lobo & Sebastian Rodrigues report on the fortnightly
FRIDAY BALCAO discussion at the Goa DESC.

"MEN make a difference," voiced loud at the Friday Balcao at the GOA DESC Resource Centre in Mapusa on December 1, during the AIDS Day presentation by Beethoven Fonseca and Ms Utkarsha Fonseca, from Positive People, the NGO working for the welfare of the AIDS patients

Introducing the presentation with the statistics of AIDS in India, Beethoven said that the very first known AIDS case was detected in Germany. Today, Africa stands first with 3.7million patients, followed by India, with 3500 patients out of the 77,000 blood samples tested.

In Goa, the AIDS statistics stand at 1000 out of the 8000 samples tested. In pregnant mothers the rate of transfer of AIDS is 1.2% and the most common way of transmission is through unprotected sexual intercourse. Besides semen, HIV or AIDS can be transmitted through other body fluids such as saliva, sweat, etc but the transmission rate is very low. To transmit HIV through saliva one would need twenty buckets of the same for the virus to be effective, but in the case of cuts and wounds, the transmission is possible as it gets in direct contact with the blood.

Says Beethoven, "80% of the total HIV cases reported in the state of Goa are through hetero-sexual relations." The studied presentation was ably supplemented by Uttkarsha, who dealt at depth the dangers posed by the unsafe practice of the dentists in the State. "The dentists are at the grave risk of contracting the fatal disease because they do not wear protective kits, like gloves, as required." Uttkarsha voiced her serious concern at the negligent medical community.

"The spread of the virus in Goa is now showing the sign of stability at 10% of the tested cases," Beethoven disclosed with a slight sigh of relief. He explained elaborately the role played by the NGOs vis-à-vis the one played by the community. "The ultimate solution to the control of AIDS lies with the community--not only to prevent but also to treat people infected with the virus in a humane manner."

Beethoven voiced a deep concern at the humiliating treatment meted out to those tested positive for the virus. "Families do not accept the person once tested positive. Women, on the death of the HIV-positive husbands, even face isolation from the family." Hence solidarity with the HIV positive patience is the call of the hour.