AIDS-A SOCIAL MOVEMENT

Name: Nannaware Kiran Balkrushna

Qualification: B.Sc.Biotechnology
Mobile no: 9561886458, 8668675985
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“It is unawareness that has made HIV rampant”

Know Your Status. The theme of 30th World AIDS Day clearly emphasizes the importance
of awareness. Around the world, 36.9 million people are living with HIV, the highest number ever; yet a
quarter do not know that they have the virus. Ignorance and unawareness have played a major role to reach
HIV such a huge number.
In this essay, we will examine the journey of Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) from few
to millions, initiatives were taken by the world and India to combat HIV, and how it was always a social
movement? And things we can do to make it a great social movement.

The journey
The Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) a retrovirus originated in non-human primates in
Central and West Africa that causes Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). The latest report of
UNAIDS shows 36.9 million people globally living with HIV, of which 2.40 million are Indians. It looks like a
mammoth task but was extremely easy for HIV in initial years as people were unaware of the way it transfers.
Up until the 1980s, we do not know how many people were infected with HIV or developed AIDS. In February
1987, the World Health Organization(WHO) first time launched the global program on AIDS to raise
awareness and next year declared 1st December as the first World AIDS Day. By the end of the decade,
people became aware that HIV transmits only through specific activities. Following diagram explains the way
HIV transfers.

Figure: HIV Transmission

What makes HIV so terrific? The answer lies in its name that is Immunodeficiency, means
the virus affects our Immune system. HIV itself does not cause any disease but weakens our immune system
to such an extent that we are no longer resistant to opportunistic infection from other bacteria or viruses.
Individual become more susceptible to common cold, pneumonia, tuberculosis, etc. And there is no cure to it.
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The big picture

In 1996, apart from developing drugs and testing methods the world came together and
established the joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) to advocate for global action on the
epidemic and coordinate the response to HIV and AIDS across the world. A large number of actions were
taken which we cannot discuss over here. However, some major initiatives launched by UN, WHO, and WTO
includes negotiation with major pharmaceutical companies to reduce antiretroviral drugs prices for developing
countries, the adoption of Millennium Development Goals which included a specific goal to reverse the
spread of HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis, creation of “Global Fund’’ to support efforts by countries and
organizations to combat the spread of HIV through prevention, treatment and care including buying of
medication.

On Indian soil
The first case of HIV/AIDS in India was reported in Tamil Nadu, in 1986. Learning from world’s
experiences, in a no time the government of India took the first step towards combating HIV with setting up
screening centers to monitor citizens as well as the blood banks. Later in the year country launched its first
ever National AIDS Control Programme (NACP). However, increase in the number of cases, triggered the
setting up of National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) with the responsibility of formulating,
implementing and monitoring policies concerning prevention and control of HIV and AIDS. The fight is still on;
currently country is implementing NACP-IV. The main strategies include intensifying prevention services,
increasing access to comprehensive care, support, and treatment, building capacities at national, state and
district level. NACO also conducts regular Mass media campaigns on TV, radio to cover issues of condom
promotion, STI, treatment and services, stigma and discrimination, the vulnerability of youth to HIV, HIV-TB,
and blood safety.

The movement
Anything to become social need acceptance and assistance from the masses, the same is
applicable in case of AIDS. The absence of knowledge and unawareness amongst the people resulted in fear,
stigma, discrimination, rapid growth HIV cases and the death of thousands. The following diagram will explain
the myths associated with HIV.

Figure: HIV is NOT transmitted by

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In this scenario, there was a strong need for the social movement to spread awareness
in society to end fear and discrimination. At the international level, there were several countries including the
USA, restricting the entry of people infected with the HIV. Finally, in 1990 the sixth international AIDS
conference in San Francisco protested against the USA’s immigration policy as it was a major violation of
Human rights and a form of discrimination. Next year, The Red Ribbon project was created by visual Aids
artist caucus with the purpose of generating consciousness and compassion among people. The Red ribbon
became an international symbol of AIDS awareness.
However, these efforts were never enough. Researchers understood that prevention is the
best way to tackle HIV. In this direction, WHO launched the Global Programme on AIDS to raise awareness;
provide technical and financial support to countries; conduct research; promote participation by NGOs, and
promote the rights of people living with HIV. A large number of mass media campaigns were organized to
promote sex education, use of condoms, and use of ART at the international and national level to raise
awareness. International AIDS Society is another such effort; it is the world’s largest association of HIV
professionals, with members from more than 180 countries working on all fronts of the global AIDS response.
The joint United Nations Programme on AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to
achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, and zero AIDS-related deaths.
UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFA, UNODC, UN
Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO, and the World Bank and work closely with global and national partners toward
ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. That is how the world
came together to initiate the movement against HIV. Yet, the goal is far, and we need to do a lot.
On the occasion of this World AIDS Day to check ground reality, I asked few questions
regarding HIV and AIDS to individuals of age group ranging from 15 to 65 and their answers were shocking.
They don’t even know the difference between HIV and AIDS. Some were saying it causes due to
masturbation. Many think it causes only through unprotected sex. The rate of avoiding a question was also
high. All this shows lack of interest and unawareness in the age of internet of things.
We all know that, to achieve great things we need to come together. India and the world
are already fighting in their own way. However, it is not sufficient as our enemy is much stronger than we think.
The new report of UNAIDS shows 1.8 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2017. While the world
has committed to ending AIDS by 2030, rates of new infections and deaths are not falling rapidly enough to
meet that target. This is high time for the innovation of new ideas to combat HIV. We as a responsible citizen
surely can do many things in this direction. India is a big country, government alone cannot do everything.
They need active participation and solution-oriented approach from the public. Following are the ways; through
each one of us can contribute to scale up the movement.

Figure: Ways to accelerate the movement

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Social media
In the age of the internet, we all spent countless hours on social media. Apart from
entertainment, we can effectively use these social media (Facebook, WhatsApp, Instagram, Twitter, etc)
platforms to spread authentic information.

Colleges
Numerous medical and science Colleges are present in the country; we can definitely use this
valuable human resource to educate people of lower strata. Formation of AIDS clubs or societies to
organize various events with the help of local hospitals can play a major role in this movement.

NGOs and Hospitals

Any individual or group which is interested to learn and educate others can work
with local NGOs and government hospitals. These people are very friendly we can learn a lot from them.
Local people participation always makes a task easier for the government.

Village panchayat and High Schools

Village panchayat and schools can play a major role in the rural
area. If you are an educated person in a village you can organize a regular awareness campaign at
panchayat and school. You can take a help from local doctors. You and your friends can educate school
going students about health, hygiene, and AIDS. Animated media can be very helpful in this case.

Regular check up for HIV

It is not necessary that you can get HIV only through your mistakes; it can
happen in many ways. Hence, it is necessary to check your blood regularly for HIV. It is more helpful for
infected people to check their virus load in order to check the effectiveness of treatment. Organization of
such campaign on yearly basis at village, school and college level can play a great role.

Role of women
The history is full of contributions of women towards the society from Rani Laxmibai to
Mother Teresa. Women are sensitive and loving; they know how to handle sensitive situations where men
fail. In India as well as in world sex workers is undivided part of the society. Sex workers are most
vulnerable to HIV. Young passionate girl students from colleges can work with NGOs to educate these
women about HIV and use of condoms.

Celebration
On this World AIDS Day I was reading a national newspaper and to my surprise, there was
no news about World AIDS Day. It is nothing but a sign of ignorance. We ought to develop an attitude to
see World Aids Day as a reason for celebration. On this occasion, you can meet people infected with HIV
to make them feel better. You can organize various events like rallies, street plays, and music concerts to
make people aware. This year to promote HIV testing among the public, the Mizoram and Telangana
State AIDS Control Societies followed the same strategy by organizing a rooftop concert and Red ribbon
run respectively. Various sports events like Olympics, World Cups provide a great stage to spread
awareness on a mass level. This year Hockey World Cup is organized in Orissa, India. The government
can utilize this great opportunity for such a noble cause.
It is not easy to defeat HIV. However, data shows we have achieved a lot. For the first
time ever, more than half of the global population living with HIV is receiving antiretroviral treatment, a
record of 19.5 million people. Development of the Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) is the biggest
achievement, now individual infected with can live a healthy life like others. The free distribution of
condoms and HIV treatment in developing nations like India is helping the poor to live with dignity.
According to the new report of UNAIDS, new infections have been reduced by 47 percent since the peak
in 1996. India is also on the same page with a decline in new infection cases by 85 percent.

“Miles to go”
Every minute of every day a girl aged between 15 to 24 years gets HIV IN Sub-Saharan
Africa. However, First time in the human history Chinese scientist successfully used the gene-editing tool
CRISPER-Cas9 to modify the DNA of two embryos before birth to avoid HIV infection. It shows not only
the great potential of the human race but also the advancement in technology. The event has generated
many hopes around the world.