Though AIDS had been detected in the United States of America in the eighties, this dreaded disease is now a great source of worry for India as there are more than 3 million HIV infected people. Out of the 5204 cases reported till March 98, 2518 were reported by Maharashtra followed by Tamil Nadu with 1092 and Delhi with 214 cases.
What is AIDS? AIDS is an acronym for Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome which is caused by Human Immune-Deficiency Virus or HIV virus as it is popularly known. This virus attacks the immune system in the body and damages the disease resisting leucocytes or white blood cells consequently, the body’s capacity to naturally resist infections breaks down and minor infection plays havoc with the body and causes death.
How is the HIV virus transmitted? The virus which has been isolated from blood, semen, vaginal and cervical fluids is transmitted through sexual intercourse and blood transfusion. The virus is present in saliva and urine too. While homosexuals form the highest risk group, the transmissions the virus takes place through heterosexual contact too. The disease is detected through ELISA test and the Western Blot test. It is estimated that there are about 3-5 million HIV infected people in India, perhaps the country with the largest number of HIV infected people in the world.
Realizing the gravity of situation, the Government of India launched the National AIDS Control Programme in 1987. In 1992, National AIDS Control Organization was established and a five year strategic plan was implemented with U.S. and World Bank Assistance. The World Health Organization provided the technical assistance for this programme. The objective of this programmed was to control the spread of HIV in India and reduce the future morbidity, mortality and impact of AIDS on socio-economic development.
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Sex workers of prostitutes, truck drivers, intravenous drug users and street children have been identified as the groups that are vulnerable to HIV infection. The government has developed information packages on AIDS and has circulated them in the schools to sensitize the student’s form class IX onwards. Besides, a National AIDS Telephone Helpline, in cooperation with the Department of Telecommunications has been set up with a tool free digit number 1077.
AIDS has no cure. It can only be pre4vented. There are, of course, some drugs which can only prolong the life of an AIDS patient. Though the government is carrying on an intensive campaign to educate the people on AIDS, this disease can be checked only when people take some preventive measures like wearing condoms and testing the blood in blood banks for HIV virus. Unless the people cooperate with the government, AIDS cannot be checked and the future of our nation will be at stake.