by
PHYLLIDA BROWN in
DELHI
Activists in Asia have begun the long campaign to enlighten their governments,
doctors and scientists about the politics of AIDS. Last week’s Second International
Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, held in Delhi, brought little
new technical knowledge on the disease, but it provided historic first encounters
in the region between politicians and people with HIV, and between doctors
and activists struggling to end discriminatory practices.
doctors and scientists about the politics of AIDS. Last week’s Second International
Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific, held in Delhi, brought little
new technical knowledge on the disease, but it provided historic first encounters
in the region between politicians and people with HIV, and between doctors
and activists struggling to end discriminatory practices.
In scenes reminiscent of the American AIDS conferences of the eighties,
doctors watched perplexed as activist groups protested against testing prostitutes
without their consent and the refusal of hospitals to admit patients with
HIV. By the end of the conference, senior Indian medical officials had been
stung into a public response, indicating that some sort of dialogue may
finally have begun.
doctors watched perplexed as activist groups protested against testing prostitutes
without their consent and the refusal of hospitals to admit patients with
HIV. By the end of the conference, senior Indian medical officials had been
stung into a public response, indicating that some sort of dialogue may
finally have begun.
The conference was widely derided as an expensive jamboree, remote from
the needs of people affected by HIV. Delegates from China and the Philippines
complained that the focus was too narrowly on India, while many felt the
voice of the Australians had been too loud. But P. R. Dasgupta, head of
India’s National AIDS Control Organisation, told New Scientist it had been
‘very, very valuable’ for overturning some ‘insular perceptions’ of the
disease in India.
the needs of people affected by HIV. Delegates from China and the Philippines
complained that the focus was too narrowly on India, while many felt the
voice of the Australians had been too loud. But P. R. Dasgupta, head of
India’s National AIDS Control Organisation, told New Scientist it had been
‘very, very valuable’ for overturning some ‘insular perceptions’ of the
disease in India.
The week saw the first meetings of a group of Asians representing gay
organisations from India, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries in Southeast
Asia. Initially, gay groups were angry that they had been allotted only
one session at the conference, and this right at the end when many delegates
would be leaving. But in the end they upstaged the rest of the con-ference,
gaining front-page coverage in The Times of India.
organisations from India, Malaysia, Indonesia and other countries in Southeast
Asia. Initially, gay groups were angry that they had been allotted only
one session at the conference, and this right at the end when many delegates
would be leaving. But in the end they upstaged the rest of the con-ference,
gaining front-page coverage in The Times of India.
The umbrella group wants to increase the visibility in Asia of gay men,
lesbians and other sexual minorities such as India’s hijras, or eunuchs.
Ashok Row Kavi, the chairman of the group, from a Bombay-based gay newspaper
called Bombay Dost, said that the WHO and other bodies had wrongly assumed
that homosexuality was virtually nonexistent in Asia. This assumption was
affecting epidemiological models of the spread of HIV and meant that funds
and education were being channelled exclusively towards organisations working
with female prostitutes, said Kavi.
lesbians and other sexual minorities such as India’s hijras, or eunuchs.
Ashok Row Kavi, the chairman of the group, from a Bombay-based gay newspaper
called Bombay Dost, said that the WHO and other bodies had wrongly assumed
that homosexuality was virtually nonexistent in Asia. This assumption was
affecting epidemiological models of the spread of HIV and meant that funds
and education were being channelled exclusively towards organisations working
with female prostitutes, said Kavi.
No one knows how common homo-sexuality is in Asia. In most of the region’s
countries, homosexuality is illegal but the few gay men who dare to come
out say it is widespread. The majority of men who have sex with men are
married and do not identify themselves as gay. Many in the medical profession
deny that they exist.
countries, homosexuality is illegal but the few gay men who dare to come
out say it is widespread. The majority of men who have sex with men are
married and do not identify themselves as gay. Many in the medical profession
deny that they exist.
The unexpected stars of the conference were a group from Delhi called
AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA) – the AIDS Anti-Discrimination Movement.
Formed in 1988, the group began by campaigning for the rights of prostitutes
and others who have been arrested, tested for HIV by researchers without
their consent, and imprisoned. They have hired a local lawyer to campaign
for the rights of individuals, and have gone on to produce four detailed
reports on women and AIDS, professional blood donors, gay men and intravenous
drug users. Their members include an ex-professional blood donor, a professor
of French, a Catholic nun and social workers and doctors from Delhi.
AIDS Bhedbhav Virodhi Andolan (ABVA) – the AIDS Anti-Discrimination Movement.
Formed in 1988, the group began by campaigning for the rights of prostitutes
and others who have been arrested, tested for HIV by researchers without
their consent, and imprisoned. They have hired a local lawyer to campaign
for the rights of individuals, and have gone on to produce four detailed
reports on women and AIDS, professional blood donors, gay men and intravenous
drug users. Their members include an ex-professional blood donor, a professor
of French, a Catholic nun and social workers and doctors from Delhi.
The group staged several loud protests during the conference, drowning
out doctors who tried to justify mandatory testing of ‘risk groups’. They
also launched a ‘charter of demands’ calling for the release of all HIV-positive
people from jail, the establishment of a commission to document all violations
of human rights for infected people, and the decriminalisation of homosexuality
and prostitution.
out doctors who tried to justify mandatory testing of ‘risk groups’. They
also launched a ‘charter of demands’ calling for the release of all HIV-positive
people from jail, the establishment of a commission to document all violations
of human rights for infected people, and the decriminalisation of homosexuality
and prostitution.
The charter also called for India’s government to prosecute doctors
who refuse to treat HIV-positive people. Although such refusals are against
the Indian code of medical ethics, they are regularly reported.
who refuse to treat HIV-positive people. Although such refusals are against
the Indian code of medical ethics, they are regularly reported.
ABVA’s charter says police policy should be reformed to stop them harassing
gay people, prostitutes and professional blood donors. Instead, they have
argued, the police should concentrate on the drug barons and on the blood-bank
managers.
gay people, prostitutes and professional blood donors. Instead, they have
argued, the police should concentrate on the drug barons and on the blood-bank
managers.
Meanwhile, testing certain groups of people for HIV – without counselling
and often without consent – remains one of the biggest obsessions of many
Indian doctors. Dasgupta says they are doing it out of ignorance. ‘It is
not our policy to do testing against anyone’s informed consent.’
and often without consent – remains one of the biggest obsessions of many
Indian doctors. Dasgupta says they are doing it out of ignorance. ‘It is
not our policy to do testing against anyone’s informed consent.’
Dasgupta says that the National AIDS Control Organisation is now considering
setting up a system for anonymous screening of blood. This system – similar
to that used in Britain and elsewhere – provides an overall picture of the
prevalence of HIV without any single sample being traceable to any individual.
setting up a system for anonymous screening of blood. This system – similar
to that used in Britain and elsewhere – provides an overall picture of the
prevalence of HIV without any single sample being traceable to any individual.
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https://www.newscientist.com/article/mg13618480-900-doctors-and-activists-clash-over-aids-in-asia/
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