Love and AIDS

NYKS Scrutinizing Role of Youth in HIV Campaigns

2008-06-22T17:43:00.000-07:00

NYKS Scrutinizing Role of Youth in HIV Campaigns
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2755
Jun 22nd, 2008 By News Team Category: Chandigarh, Nation The India Post Team, Chandigarh 22nd, June :Around 150 rural youth ambassadors from ten states gathered at the National Integration Camp here on Sunday to share their experiences of creating awareness on HIV/AIDS among other children.The programme is an initiative of Nehru Yuva Kendra Sangathan, under the Ministry of Sports and Youth Welfare , Government of India. On this occasion they organized Youth parliament on Sexual Reproductive Health, STI and HIV and AIDS. These children are peer educators — children who themselves learn how HIV/AIDS transmitted and what are the ways to prevent it — and then share that knowledge with other children. They also shared their experience with Dr. Avnish Jolly Resource Person, NYKS on Adolescent and Mr. Umesh Baurai, Project Coordinator, FXB India Suraksha.The workshop looked at training these Young Ambassadors in four important aspects of the awareness project — how to better their knowledge, how to better their communication with other children, what are the difficulties in teaching other children about HIV/AIDS and how to overcome them. Now under the National policy the resource team stressed upon ABC and step wise and advocates accordingly:A – AbstinenceB – Be faithful to your partnerC – Use CondomDr. Avnish Jolly Resource Person, NYKS shared that the training of these children is part of Adolescent project that has been launched by NYKS in 63 districts of the country to check on the effectiveness of having teen and youth talk about HIV/AIDS to other peer group members and our idea is intervention by teen — as teen people may prefer to talk to and listen to other teenagers on HIV/AIDS problems. If we find it is effective, then we will have youngsters taking to HIV/AIDS awareness program across the country. We will make youth intervention in HIV/AIDS a national project.He exhorted to involve themselves in institutions which hold reins of development in the field of economics, health and sustainable development.The children, in the course of the program, create Teen Clubs that all children can join to feel safe and secure in case they are afflicted by HIV/AIDS. Given the stigma, children look towards social groups to share their anxieties and the clubs work towards offering protection. The decision to get them to work in particular districts was based on assessment of HIV/AIDS prevalence — the highest prevalence districts got a preference and participate in Red Ribbon Express.Youth delegates debated issues of health and education, with an emphasis on the ever-growing threat of HIV/AIDS and related orphan hood.Mr. Umesh Baurai said we can’t hide from children such things when they are seeing it all on television. We can’t be hypocritical and should not forget that 15 per cent are teenage pregnancies and shared FXB India has made recent gains in combating AIDS, and infection rates are down. Still, the country has struggled to care for the growing number of children who have lost one or both parents to the disease. Umesh also talked about reproductive rights and stressed upon the point with the correct knowledge of reproductive rights o can improve health system related to reproductive and sexual health issue. He cited the several cases through which Supreme Court of India under the preview of Reproductive Rights has given direction to state and union Government to improve issues related to reproduction and sexual health. During the question answer session Youth Ambassadors talked about greater involvement of youth in promoting Adolescent Health education for combating HIV/AIDS and Child Abuse. Youth also express their worry regarding separation of HIV/AIDS on economy of the country and its social fabrics. Through a small role play they depict the role of Panchayat and Sarpanch to reduce stigma and discrimination against People living with HIV/AIDS.

Men think about sex - Women think of shopping

2008-06-11T18:44:00.000-07:00

Men think about sex - Women think of shopping!
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2422
Jun 12th, 2008 By News Team Category: ArticlesWomen displaying this level of preoccupation would indicate widespreadaddictive behavior.Dr. Avnish Jolly, Chandigarh:It is that new pair ofManolo Blahnik heels , that must-have H&M skirt, thoughts of indulgingin `retail therapy' govern currently to young women's waking hours asmuch as thoughts of sex dominate young men's minds according to recentstudy.

Sleeping Well- Happily Married

2008-06-11T18:43:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Well- Happily Married
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2420
Jun 12th, 2008 By News Team Category: ArticlesDr. Avnish Jolly, Chandigarh: Happily married women had less troubleor staying asleep as compared to unhappily married women. They also hadmore restful sleep than their unhappy sisters, according to recentstudy, by researchers at the University of Pittsburgh, was based on1,938 married women with an average age of 46 years.Subjects reportedtheir marital happiness, sleep quality and frequency of difficultyfalling asleep, staying asleep or early morning awakenings. Accordingto the results, higher levels of marital happiness were associated witha lesser risk of having multiple sleep complaints in few women.

White Coat lost in Modern World

2008-06-11T18:42:00.000-07:00

White Coat lost in Modern World

http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2413

Rules regarding donating or gifting (ACCORDING TO LAL KITAB - Part-2

2008-06-09T00:33:00.000-07:00

Rules regarding donating or gifting (ACCORDING TO LAL KITAB - Part-2 http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2325

Rules regarding donating or gifting (ACCORDING TO LAL KITAB - Part-I)

2008-06-08T02:49:00.001-07:00

Rules regarding donating or gifting (ACCORDING TO LAL KITAB - Part-I)http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2324
Jun 8th, 2008 By News Team Category: Articles, ReligionKulbir Bance and Dr. Avnish Jolly ,8 June:It is a general rule that thekarak objects of a planet should not be gifted or donated if it iseither exalted or well placed in the horoscope. On the contraryaccepting gifts of these items is considered auspicious.If a planet is in debility or badly placed in the horoscope then thekarak objects of such planets can be gifted or donated; but should notbe accepted as gifts or as donation.

Medical Astrology - Upaya for a Cancer patient

2008-06-08T02:47:00.000-07:00

Medical Astrology - Upaya for a Cancer patient
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2329
Jun 8th, 2008 By News Team Category: HealthKulbir Bance and Dr. Avnish Jolly:Cancer is such a disease which wouldalways need medical attention. How ever a few upaya could make thetreatment work . According to Lal Kitab we are suggesting a couple ofupaya which we known to be effective in bearing the pain and making thepatient respond to the medicine. Some thime we find these upayas arealso beneficial in blood related diseases.

Anger due to Low Serotonin Levels

2008-06-08T02:46:00.000-07:00

Anger due to Low Serotonin Levels Jun 8th, 2008 By News Team Category: Health http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2315
Dr. Avnish Jolly,8 June:According to recent study by researchers at the University of Cambridge has found that low levels of the chemical serotonin are linked to anger in people.

Human Rights Advocacy Group and Worldwide campaign to uproot Human Trafficking

2008-06-07T17:58:00.000-07:00

Human Rights Advocacy Group and Worldwide campaign to uproot HumanTrafficking
Human Rights Advocacy Group and Worldwide campaign to uproot HumanTrafficking - I
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2293
Human Rights Advocacy Group and Worldwide campaign to uproot HumanTrafficking - II
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2294

Amarnath Shivlingam shows Signs of Growth - Blessings of Lord Shiva

2008-06-07T17:56:00.000-07:00

Amarnath Shivlingam shows Signs of Growth - Blessings of Lord Shiva
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2312

Fruit and Leafy Green Vegetables - Keep Arteries Clean

2008-06-07T17:55:00.001-07:00

Fruit and Leafy Green Vegetables - Keep Arteries Clean
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2310

Cardio Problems in Women may Diagnosed Through Their Toe Nails

2008-06-07T17:53:00.000-07:00

Cardio Problems in Women may Diagnosed Through Their Toe Nails http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2308

Sex in Space Soon

2008-06-07T02:20:00.000-07:00

Sex in Space Soon
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2301
Jun 7th, 2008 By News Team Category: Health, Love & Beauty Dr. Avnish Jolly ,7 june:Sex in Martian gravity might be pretty appealing though. Many couples expressing their desire to have sex in space have become a cause of concern for scientists, says a report. The experts do not think that it would be possible to have sexual congress in space. Experts guess that realising sex in space would require spacecraft like the Shuttle to be installed with special “love handles” that would control astronauts floating around. “We’ve had a variety of people inquire about it,” Daily Star quoted Will Whitehorn, president of Virgin Galactic, whose boss Richard Branson hopes to put tourists into space next year.
“One got in touch about a charter flight so they could be the first to have intercourse in space and get in the Guinness Book of Records. We’ve also had an approach from people wanting to make a movie,” Whitehorn added. While two crewmembers on a 1996 NASA Shuttle are rumoured to have already had an out of this world experience, space medicine expert Dr James Logan insists that lack of gravity would make it difficult for space tourists to have sex. He believes that the first tourists would instead be more interested in the amazing view.
Dr Logan, however, added that the first mission to Mars later this century might enable space tourists to enjoy intercourse. “Sex in zero gravity would more or less be a flailing exercise, quite frankly,” he said.

Sexual Pleasure and Neurology

2008-06-06T23:49:00.000-07:00

Sexual Pleasure and Neurology (Part-I)
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2258
June 6th, 2008 Dr. Avnish Jolly,6 june:Sexual desire, as well as orgasm, is controlled by various influences on the brain and nervous system. Researchers have revealed many similarities between men and women; contrary to popular belief, for example, visual stimuli spur sexual stirrings in both. Brain imaging studies show that achieving orgasm involves far more than merely heightened arousal.
Sexual Pleasure and Neurology (Part-II)
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=2259
Dr. Avnish Jolly,7 June:Bernie Zilbergeld, Sexual psychologist and popular author have shown that most men with potency problems believe in ...

The Next Generation of the Spa Industry in the Interest of Ayurveda

2008-06-06T22:53:00.000-07:00

The Next Generation of the Spa Industry in the Interest of Ayurveda
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1987
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1986

Human Rights Advocacy Group and Worldwide campaign to uproot Human Trafficking - I

2008-06-06T22:46:00.002-07:00

Human Rights Advocacy Group and Worldwide campaign to uproot Human Trafficking - IJune 7th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly :The campaign organized by International women’s organization, is aimed at forcing the government of different countries to adopt tough laws targeting those who hire prostitutes. The demand for prostitution is the driving force for the illegal trafficking of women and adolescents for sexual purposes. Sex trafficking cannot be stopped if demand for prostitution continues to flourish. Sex trafficking go hand-in-hand with prostitution.

UN Award - Mumbai-based sex workers organisation Sanghamitra

2008-06-06T22:46:00.001-07:00

UN Award - Mumbai-based sex workers organisation SanghamitraJune 7th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,6 June:Presented every two years at the International AIDS Conference by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), the award seeks to recognise community initiatives that help in reducing the spread and impact of AIDS.

Teaching v/s Coaching

2008-06-06T22:45:00.003-07:00

Teaching v/s CoachingJune 6th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,6 June:When a child is born, it’s not only the child, but expenditure also gets birth along with him, which increases day by day. In child hood one hardly bothers about the sums spend on the growth, but the real figure is seen after 10th or 12th. On clearing the matriculate or +2 exam, one chooses the stream to acquire vocational training.

Working Women suffer more with Workplace stress

2008-06-06T22:45:00.001-07:00

Working Women suffer more with Workplace stressJune 6th, 2008
Dr.Avnish Jolly ,6 June: Working women suffers job related stress than men. Recent study from University of Melbourne has revealed that nearly 1 in every 5 Victorians working women suffer depression that can be recognized to job stress and more than one in eight or 13 per cent of the working men with depression have problems due to job stress.

Study - Can Sharing Emotions Help to Overcome Trauma

2008-06-06T22:44:00.001-07:00

Study - Can Sharing Emotions Help to Overcome TraumaJune 6th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,6 Jue:According to latest issue of the American Psychological Association’s Journal of Consulting and Clinical Psychology Sharing Emotions may Not Necessarily Help to Overcome Trauma.

Socio-Cultural Factors HIV/AIDS and Women

2008-06-06T22:43:00.002-07:00

Socio-Cultural Factors HIV/AIDS and WomenJune 3rd, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly ,3 June:The number of women living with HIV/AIDS is on the rise in the country and a recent NACO found that in majority of the cases the disease was passed on by polygamous husbands. Biological, socio-cultural and economic factors make women and young girls more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. The HIV virus is more easily transmitted from men to women than from women to men .

WHO: Workers with ADHD – Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder are Less Productive

2008-06-06T22:43:00.001-07:00

WHO: Workers with ADHD – Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder are Less ProductiveJune 4th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:According to Journal Occupational and Environmental Medicine, May 2008, Adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) do about Thirty day’s less work each year than people who don’t have this condition’. Recently a study from the World Health Organization (WHO) demonstrates. To evaluate the prevalence of ADHD among workers and its consequences in the workplace, the researchers surveyed 7,075 between the age group18- to 44-years. They were paid workers or self-employed as part of the WHO World Mental Health Survey Initiative. The survey included workers in ten countries i.e. Belgium, Colombia, France, Germany, Italy, Lebanon, Mexico, the Netherlands, Spain and the USA.

History and Work of Lal Kitab

2008-06-06T22:42:00.001-07:00

History and Work of Lal KitabJune 4th, 2008
4 June,Dr. Avnish Jolly :Lal kitab was written by Pt. Rup Chand Joshi, born on 18th January, 1888, in the home of Shri Jyoti Ram Joshi, resident of village Pharwala, Tehsil Noormahal, District Julundhar, Punjab. Pt. ji was exceptionally good in studies and was rewarded with scholarships during his student life.

Cell Phone - Damage Baby During Pregnancy

2008-06-06T22:41:00.002-07:00

Cell Phone - Damage Baby During PregnancyJune 4th, 2008
4 june,Dr. Avnish Jolly:Pregnant women who use mobile phones likely to give birth to children with behavioural disorders, according to a study of more than 13,000 children. Even if they use the handsets just two or three times a day was enough to raise the risk of their babies developing hyperactivity and difficulties with conduct, emotions and relationships by the time they reached school age.

Study -Women attracted to men’s fragrance of sex is in armpit sweat

2008-06-06T22:41:00.001-07:00

Study -Women attracted to men’s fragrance of sex is in armpit sweatJune 5th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,5 June:The fragrance of sex is in your armpit sweat - contains a complex compound of odourless pheromones that have a powerful subconscious effect on females, for a study has found that women are attracted to chemicals in a man’s underarm smell that can make her decide if you are the one for her. According to researchers at Monell Chemical Senses Centre in Philadelphia.

Technological Interventions come together hooked on Health and Fitness soon

2008-06-06T22:40:00.002-07:00

Technological Interventions come together hooked on Health and Fitness soonJune 1st, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly :Monitoring blood glucose and steps taken every day through a cell phone sounds like something ahead of its time; researchers at the American College of Sports Medicine’s 55th Annual Meeting say the technology could be on the market in the near future.

Active Social Life Helps to retain Good Health

2008-06-06T22:40:00.001-07:00

Active Social Life Helps to retain Good HealthJune 1st, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:Being socially active may increase feelings of self-worth and emotional validation that could end up helping maintain memory, researchers say. Social interaction may also present older minds with new challenges, keeping the brain more agile. People who keep up active social lives as they age may be doing their brain a favour, a new study finds.

Institutionalization common after the death of a spouse

2008-06-06T22:39:00.000-07:00

Institutionalization common after the death of a spouseJune 1st, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly ,1 June :According to Elina Nihtila, Researcher, Department of Sociology, University of Helsinki reported that elderly people are more likely to be institutionalized following the death of a spouse. "We found that the risk of entering long-term institutional care was higher among older adults who had lost their spouse than among those living with their spouse." Moreover, the excess risk of institutionalization was highest during the first month after the spouse’s death, Nihtila said. "The risk was more than three times among both men and women, and decreased with time from bereavement, stabilizing at approximately 20 percent to 50 percent higher over one to five years," she said.

International Atomic Energy Agency stressed to reduce X-ray usage

2008-06-06T22:38:00.003-07:00

International Atomic Energy Agency stressed to reduce X-ray usageJune 1st, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,31 May: International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has come up with a quality assurance programmes at hospitals and clinics to reduce the usage of X-rays in developing countries due to repeated exposures to radiation for clear image quality.

Bikini raids Myanmar for Democracy

2008-06-06T22:38:00.001-07:00

Bikini raids Myanmar for DemocracyJune 1st, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:Campaign this week, asked the women to send their undergarments to Myanmar embassy in Ottawa, to shame Myanmar’s ruling junta into giving citizens greater access to humanitarian aid and human rights.

WHO: Total Ban on Tobacco Advertising

2008-06-06T22:37:00.001-07:00

WHO: Total Ban on Tobacco AdvertisingMay 30th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,30 May:The WHO’s call to action comes on the eve of World No Tobacco Day, 31 May. This year’s campaign focuses on the multi-billion dollar efforts of tobacco companies to attract young people to its addictive products through sophisticated marketing. "A ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship is a powerful tool we can use to protect the world’s youth," the Director-General advocate.
WHO today urged governments to protect the world’s 1.8 billion young people by imposing a ban on all tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Recent studies prove that the more young people are exposed to tobacco advertising, the more likely they are to start smoking. Despite this, only 5% of the world’s population is covered by comprehensive bans on tobacco advertising, promotion and sponsorship. Tobacco companies, meanwhile, continue targeting young people by falsely associating use of tobacco products with qualities such as glamour, energy and sex appeal.

Medical Tourism to Earn Rs 8,000 Cr

2008-06-06T22:36:00.003-07:00

Medical Tourism to Earn Rs 8,000 CrMay 28th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,28 May:Due to higher and very expensive medical costs in the western countries, patients from economies of scale including Africa, Gulf and various Asian countries have started exploring medical treatment in hospitals located in various places in India. The prospects of medical tourism in India will also get a boost with the increase in health GDP ratio, which would amount to proliferation of new health facilities as well as their centres for patients to accommodate overseas patients as with increasing health facilities.

Cat can distance children from developing asthma

2008-06-06T22:36:00.001-07:00

Cat can distance children from developing asthmaMay 30th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly May 30 :According to Chark Sahiata Asthma Patients can recover while serving lambs at home. Cleaning lambs increase the Immunity system of the person suffering from Asthma. Recently published study brings out interesting insight while living with cat with reference to childrens.

Early Childhood Lead Exposure - Linked to Adult Crime

2008-06-06T22:34:00.000-07:00

Early Childhood Lead Exposure - Linked to Adult Crime

May 30th, 2008

Dr. Avnish Jolly:According to Kim Dietrich, Researcher, University of Cincinnati in Ohio, one of the studies in the Public Library of Science Journal PLoS Medicine are now reporting that lead exposure in early childhood, even as early as in the womb, can lead to permanent brain damage and may cause criminal behavior. Two separate studies indicate that people with high levels of lead in childhood grew up with not only blocks of missing brain cells, but with a propensity for crime, some violent. As a matter-of-fact, the lead effect is so strong it may account for a large percentage of inner-city area crimes, where old houses are likelier to have lead paint.

Swimming Pools - Harmful for Children

2008-05-26T21:04:00.001-07:00

Swimming Pools - Harmful for Children
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1954
May 26th, 2008 Dr. Avnish Jolly, 26 May :During the summers vocation public / private swimming pools and water thunder zones across the world are undergoing preparations to open, swimming pools and water thunder zones will be filled with millions of people having fun and staying cool. But germs may be in the water, even if it’s treated with chlorine.

Paints - Can make you Infertile

2008-05-26T21:02:00.001-07:00

Paints - Can make you Infertile
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1955
May 26th, 2008 Dr. Avnish Jolly,26 May :Every one wants to live colorful life and love to play with colors. But the people who are manufacturing colors for others there life looses color of life, due to the chemicals used during the manufacturing process.

Chantix (Anti-Smoking Drug): Serious side effects such as Depression, Suicidal thoughts, Aggression, Possible Psychosis - Banned for Persons Operating

2008-05-25T05:31:00.000-07:00

Chantix (Anti-Smoking Drug): Serious side effects such as Depression, Suicidal thoughts, Aggression, Possible Psychosis - Banned for Persons Operating Vehicles and Heavy Machinery
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1931
May 25th, 2008 By News Team Category: Health Dr. Avnish Jolly,25 May:On last Thursday, according to the Wall Street Journal reports to not qualify anyone currently use this medication for commercial motor vehicle licenses. The findings of the study were posted online because its co-author Curt Furberg, a Wake Forest University Medical epidemiologist, thought the findings too important to submit to a medical journal, which could take six months or more to publish.
On Friday, patients using Chantix were warned to stop taking it and to immediately call their health care providers if they experience agitation, depression, behavior changes or suicidal thoughts.
The report linked Chantix to 988 serious events in the last quarter of 2007 alone. The drug, made by Pfizer, was approved in 2006 for sale in the U.S. and the European Union. Sales of the drug were $883 million last year and an estimated 6.5 million people have used it worldwide. The dramatic decisions follow a report by the Institute for Safe Medication Practices, a non-profit watchdog group based in Horsham, Pa., which warns against “use of Chantix among persons operating aircrafts, trains, buses and other vehicles, or in other settings where a lapse in alertness or motor control could lead to massive, serious injury.”
Following the Federal Aviation Administration’s decision to ban use of anti-smoking drug Chantix by pilots and air controllers on Wednesday, now it is the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s turn to warn against the medicine. Since approval, Chantix has been under conflagration due to its serious side effects such as depression, suicidal thoughts, aggression, or possible psychosis. Now, the new report also found the drug responsible for potentially lethal heart rhythm disturbances, heart attack, seizures and diabetes in its users. Of special concern for those operating airplanes and trucks, there were 173 serious injuries, some resulting from traffic accidents where drivers were dizzy, mentally confused or became unconscious.
On Friday, patients using Chantix were advised to stop taking it and to immediately call their health care providers if they experience agitation, depression, behavior changes or suicidal thoughts.

Green Cleaning Products : Marketing Strategy - Multi Nationals

2008-05-25T05:29:00.000-07:00

Green Cleaning Products : Marketing Strategy - Multi Nationals - I
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1904

May 24th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,24 May:Growing number of Americans are seeking so-called green cleaners products made with natural, nontoxic, and biodegradable ingredients. Sales of natural cleaning products totaled $105 million in the last year– up 23 percent in just one year. Some of these cleaners promise that they contain natural (instead of synthetic) agents, break down quickly in the environment, or pose less of a toxic threat to humans and ecosystems. But critics caution that just because the ingredients in green cleaners are plant-based or natural doesn’t necessarily mean they’re safe.

Green Cleaning Products : Marketing Strategy - Multi Nationals - II
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1905
Dr. Avnish Jolly,25 May:Many companies are just chomping at the bit, eager to reach into the wallets of modern, environmentally concerned consumers who want to live healthier lives, without having to boil their own soap. And by now, everyone should be aware that advertising is all too frequently about making money, not about telling the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Now there is nothing wrong about earning a profit, after all it is the Modern way, but when you compromise and exchange human health in exchange for profits, most has a major problem with that.

Hair Dyes - Cancer

2008-05-24T09:06:00.001-07:00

Hair Dyes - Cancer
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1906
May 24th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,24 May:Hair color is often one of the few cosmetics that people justify using, often to cover up gray hair. Some estimates even say that more than one in three women and one in 10 men over 40, throughout India, Europe, North America and Japan use some type of hair color.

Study - Pretty Girls more likely to be bullied

2008-05-24T09:04:00.000-07:00

Study - Pretty Girls more likely to be bullied
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1907
May 24th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly ,24 May:According to Recently published study in the Journal - Aggressive Behaviour. Pretty Girls more likely to be bullied. They wear branded dresses, spend most of the time in front of the mirror, but contrary to conventional understanding, teenage girls who consider themselves attractive are more likely to be the victims of emotionally damaging bullying - including being socially ostracised or having rumours spread about them, says a new research.

HRT Patches Poses Less Clotting Risks than Pill Does - New Medium to Earn More

2008-05-23T10:19:00.001-07:00

HRT Patches Poses Less Clotting Risks than Pill Does - New Medium to Earn More
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1883
May 23rd, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,23 May:Often you found matching patches on the arms of women wearing sleeveless clothes, this is not trend but a HRT (Hormonal Replacement Therapy) - Patch. women are conscious to sustain the beauty due to many factors. Under the influence of media glamour, job requirements or family needs etc. Even selling these pills or patches, South Asia is the biggest market. Most of women are conscious about their beauty.

HIV/AIDS – Women and Children

2008-05-23T10:17:00.000-07:00

HIV/AIDS – Women and Children
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1882
May 23rd, 2008 Dr. Avnish Jolly,23 May:Women and children, including those who describe themselves as “Living - Positively,” are struggling to come out of the dimness that still hinder the efforts to fight HIV/AIDS.

Study - Erectile Dysfunction due to Heart Problems

2008-05-23T06:22:00.001-07:00

Study - Erectile Dysfunction due to Heart Problems http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1828
Dr. Avnish Jolly:According to Journal of the American College of Cardiology, May 27, 2008, the issues related with maintaining an ...

Teen blood donors have complications

2008-05-22T22:08:00.000-07:00

Teen blood donors have complications
http://www.theindia post.com/ ?p=1826
May 22nd, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:Still donating blood is uneventful for most donors of all ages. Blood Donation Centers in U.S. are relying more on teenage donors to maintain an adequate blood supply, but these donors are more likely than older ones to faint or have other complications, researchers said.

Self Medication - Busy Life Style and High Consultation Fee of Professionals

2008-05-21T23:23:00.002-07:00

Self Medication - Busy Life Style and High Consultation Fee of Professionals
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1692
May 16th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly, 16th May, 2008,Chandigarh: Health is wealth; a saying goes on and on. But now it seems it is coming out of the quotation books to our life practically. People now talk about it, discuss about, spend on it, as there is lots of material available in the market. You name the topic and the book is there even due to net revolution most of the latest information available to the people. Navneet Vermani of Shivalik Book Centre Sector-17, Chandigarh, says there is a sudden increase in the sales of health care books, some times people ask for a particular book, but mostly the customers ask which book is much in sales, we provide them with that but these days they started buying medical books (Medical Journals, Differential Diagnose, Practical Prescriber etc.).

US: California Marriage Ruling for Same-Sex Couples

2008-05-21T23:23:00.001-07:00

US: California Marriage Ruling for Same-Sex Couples
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1738
May 17th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,17 May:Scott Long, Director, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Rights Program said this decision should push the US government to stop obstructing equal treatment of relationships and families.

Call-center employees are getting stress and breaking traditional life style and living with relationship troubles – needs counselling badly

2008-05-21T23:21:00.002-07:00

Call-center employees are getting stress and breaking traditional life style and living with relationship troubles – needs counselling badly
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1762
May 18th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,18 May:Working as counsellor in the City Beautiful from last fifteen years, I find Call-center employees are getting stress and breaking traditional life style and living with relationship troubles.

Around 100 million people - mostly the poor and illiterate - smoke beedi (hand-rolled cigarettes )

2008-05-21T23:21:00.001-07:00

Around 100 million people - mostly the poor and illiterate - smoke beedi (hand-rolled cigarettes )
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1758
May 18th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly,18 May,Chandigarh:Around 100 million people - mostly the poor and illiterate - smoke beedi (hand-rolled cigarettes, ) in India and 200,000 tuberculosis deaths are due to these hand-rolled cigarettes, a health ministry report released on last Monday. The report, for the year 2004-05 and termed as the first analytical, scientific and systematic study on the trend, said beedi smoking was more harmful than cigarette smoking.

Drug Fosamax - Not Healing Osteoporosis but also bad for Heart

2008-05-21T23:19:00.001-07:00

Drug Fosamax - Not Healing Osteoporosis but also bad for Heart
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1804
May 20th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:Fosamax is in the same chemical class (phosphonate) as the cleaners used to remove soap scum from our bath tub. This is a metabolic poison that actually kills your osteoclasts. Osteoclasts are cells that break down your bone so your osteoblasts can rebuild them.

Drug Fosamax - Not Healing Osteoporosis but also bad for Heart

2008-05-21T23:18:00.000-07:00

Light Governs Sleeping Patterns and Sex -Life

2008-05-21T23:16:00.000-07:00

Light Governs Sleeping Patterns and Sex -Life
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1805
May 20th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:Biological clock is not the only thing that reminds you to shut eyes; a new study by Researchers, Johns Hopkins University found has found that it’s actually light that governs sleeping patterns and hormone production. Eyes use light to reset your biological clock through a mechanism that is separate from your ability to see. The findings suggest that people who have trouble sleeping or seasonal depression may be having a malfunction that is contributing to their inability to detect light, which in turn may adversely affect their biological clocks.

Study – Suicidal Tendencies among Defense Personnel Wives

2008-05-21T23:15:00.001-07:00

Study – Suicidal Tendencies among Defense Personnel Wives
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1807
May 20th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly, Chandigarh, 20th May, 2008:Recently study conducted in the Army which found an increased trend to attempt suicide amongst wives of serving defense personnel. Hence there is urgent need for intervention focusing on the risk factors for suicide related with wives of military personnel.

Kids and Computers

2008-05-21T23:14:00.001-07:00

Kids and Computers
Kids and Computers (Physical Problems) - I
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1795
May 20th, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:Since computers were first introduced to young children three decades ago, there has been a certain amount of fear and controversy voiced over technology’s “harm” to this young population. In the 1980’s many critics thought computers would isolate children and affect their social skills in negative ways. Today the criticism is even more profound and, through the Internet, publications about computer use are reaching a wide audience.
Kids and Computers (Eyes Problems) - II
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1794
May 21st, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:Many eye doctors believe that heavy computer use among children puts them at risk for early myopia. They point to several recent studies as evidence that computers can have a negative impact on a child’s vision:

Implants for Beauty Enhancing - Side-effects

2008-05-21T23:13:00.001-07:00

Implants for Beauty Enhancing - Side-effects
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1823
May 21st, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:Beauty is natural and artificial flowers have no fragrance. One can glance better through cosmetic surgery but damage his health in long run.

Attitudinal Change towards Notions of Gender and Sexuality – South Asia

2008-05-21T23:11:00.000-07:00

Attitudinal Change towards Notions of Gender and Sexuality – South Asia
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1827
May 21st, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:South Asian region is going through an attitudinal change towards notions of gender and sexuality. In a recent democratic development in South Asia, Nepal became the first country elect an openly gay man working for the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender and intersex (LGBTI) people as its representative in the Constituent Assembly.

Capacity Building Workshop to strengthen the service delivery on of

2008-05-21T23:10:00.000-07:00

Capacity Building Workshop to strengthen the service delivery on ofRCH - II and NRHM through MNGOs in Haryanahttp://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1833May 21st, 2008Dr. Avnish Jolly:Five day long Capacity Building Workshop to strengthenthe service delivery on of Reproductive and Child Health (RCH) - II andNational Rural health Mission (NRHM) on the following issues i.e.baseline Survey, RCH service delivery Issues and Conducting FGDs forQualitative Data was organized by Regional Resource centre MAMTA,Chandigarh from 12th to 17th May, 2008 at Hotel KC Residency, Sector 35-B, Chandigarh.

Study - Doubts Teen Sex-life in U.S. “Technical Virginity”

2008-05-21T23:09:00.000-07:00

Study - Doubts Teen Sex-life in U.S. “Technical Virginity”
http://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1829
May 21st, 2008
Dr. Avnish Jolly:The Guttmacher Institute, New York studies sexual and reproductive health issues related to teen’s .The researchers conduced a survey examining sexual practices of U.S. teens.

Sex, Competition, Parents: problems for city teens Using Alcohol, Drugs for enhanced Love Life

2008-05-11T18:49:00.000-07:00

Sex, Competition, Parents: problems for city teens Using Alcohol, Drugs for enhanced Love Lifehttp://www.theindiapost.com/?p=1552
Sunday, May 11th, 2008 Chandigarh,11 May:My experience through different studies I conducted and interaction with teens and young adults in City Beautiful – Chandigarh. They are drinking alcohol and taking drugs for sexual pleasure and prefers regular nightlife. Also, a substantial number suffer from emotional disturbances and poor social adjustment. They had little knowledge about their physical and sexual growth, resulting in experimentation on themselves, which further created problems in their physical and sexual growth.They drink alcohol to increase their chances of sex,while cocaine, ecstasy and cannabis are used to enhance sexual arousal/ gratification or prolong sex.Mostly started consuming alcohol for fun and project them adult and tasted first drink or puff when they were in early teens. Even though many believed alcohol and drugs offered sexual "benefits – excuse for advances", I found that drunkenness and drug use were strongly associated with an increase in risk-taking behavior and feelings of regret about having sex while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Those who’had been drunk in the previous six months were more likely to have had sex partners, sex without a condom, and to have regretted sex after drink or drugs in the past year. Similar consequences were noted in those who’d used cannabis, cocaine or ecstasy. Even they feel condoms are hindrance in ultimate pleasure of love life. They use flavored and vibrating condoms for experiment and new experience.
Who used alcohol, cannabis, cocaine or ecstasy during adolescent period were much more likely to have had sex before that age. This was especially true for girls; their boy friends brought drugs for them and make them feel top of the world. The girls are not in position to buy drugs due to shortage of money andsocial taboo hence their pal bring the stuff for them. Even the girls are emotionally dependent upon their pals and don’t wants to lose them, so they developintimate relations before marriage and anteing adulthood. They are not aware of problems occur due teen sexual life. More surprising for me as a doctor they don’t know they become pregnant in single sexual encounter. Still – A Virgin is shameful in peer group.
Most of young pregnant girls suffer alone during premarital pregnancy at physical, emotional, economical and religious level. They are not aware of their reproductive and sexual rights and duties. The sexual activity is not planned and most of the girls disclose when they went with their boy friend for sex she finds other friends of his pal there and she was forced to have sex with all of them without their wish.Many youngsters now take drugs and drink in ways that alter their sexual decisions and increase their chances of unsafe sex or sex that is later regretted.
Yet despite the negative consequences, they found many are deliberately taking these substances to achieve quite specific sexual effects.Sexual activity accompanied by substance use is not just incidental, but often sexually motivated; Interventions addressing sexual health are often developed, managed and implemented independently from those addressing substance uses, and vice versa.
However, young people often see alcohol, drugs and sex all as part of the same social experience, and addressing these issues requires an equally joined-up approach.Personally I feel that adolescents are highly emotional in nature and do not have a free hand to develop their social and moral values which is why they are generally assertive, explorative and revolt for simple things, thus facing invisible crisis in their tender age. Anxiety and negative approach results in stress and even drug addiction. Most of students reveal that failure to adjust properly with competitive education system results in mental harassment among them. Adolescent period is a period of stress and strain, strife and strong emotionality and suggestibility, daydreaming and adventurous, intense affections.
Adolescents have various needs and problems in their changing life style. It is the duty of parents and teachers to play constructive roles in their lives.Even the latest technology and media played a negative role in their lives because it gave them education without direction. They expressed that the problems being suffered by the adolescents were mainly due to uneducated parents and lack of interaction with them. In response related to their teachers, the adolescents felt that it could be made positive in nature if parents’ interaction was included in their relationship with the teachers.
Nuclear families with smaller space at home with no interaction would have problems of emotional disturbances and mental adjustment with adolescents.It is necessary to have adolescent education at school-level so that children should be well informed for their holistic development and mental changes intheir lives.

Young Adults Using Alcohol, Drugs for Better Sex

2008-05-09T21:00:00.000-07:00

Young Adults Using Alcohol, Drugs for Better Sex
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/09/AR2008050902095.html
FRIDAY, May 9 (HealthDay News) -- Many teens and young adults inEurope are drinking alcohol and taking drugs for sexual purposes,according to a survey of more than 1,300 people who are regularnightlife-goers.The results showed that a third of males and a quarter of femalesaged 16 to 35 drink alcohol to increase their chances of sex, whilecocaine, ecstasy and cannabis are used to enhance sexual arousal orprolong sex.Nearly all of the respondents reported alcohol use, with most havinghad their first drink when they were 14 or 15 years old. About three-quarters had tried or used cannabis, and about 30 percent had atleast tried ecstasy or cocaine.Even though many respondents believed alcohol and drugs offeredsexual "benefits," the survey found that drunkenness and drug usewere strongly associated with an increase in risk-taking behavior andfeelings of regret about having sex while under the influence ofalcohol or drugs.For example, those who'd been drunk in the previous four weeks weremore likely to have had five or more sex partners, sex without acondom, and to have regretted sex after drink or drugs in the pastyear. Similar consequences were noted in those who'd used cannabis,cocaine or ecstasy.Respondents who used alcohol, cannabis, cocaine or ecstasy before age16 were much more likely to have had sex before that age. This wasespecially true for girls, who were nearly four times as likely tohave had sex before the age of 16, if they drank alcohol or usedcannabis before that age.The findings were published in the journalBMC Public Health."Trends in recent decades have resulted in recreational drug use andbinge drinking becoming routine features of European nightlife," leadauthor Mark Bellis, of Liverpool John Moores University, said in aprepared statement. "Millions of young Europeans now take drugs anddrink in ways that alter their sexual decisions and increase theirchances of unsafe sex or sex that is later regretted. Yet despite thenegative consequences, we found many are deliberately taking thesesubstances to achieve quite specific sexual effects.""Sexual activity accompanied by substance use is not just incidental,but often sexually motivated," noted co-author, consultantpsychiatrist Amador Calafat. "Interventions addressing sexual healthare often developed, managed and implemented independently from thoseaddressing substance use, and vice versa. However, young people oftensee alcohol, drugs and sex all as part of the same social experience,and addressing these issues requires an equally joined-up approach."More informationThe U.S. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism has moreabout alcohol-related risk behaviors among youth.http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/Resources/DatabaseResources/QuickFacts/Youth/default.htmSOURCE: BioMed Central, news release, May 8, 2008

India children's health 'ignored'

2008-05-09T20:59:00.001-07:00

India children's health 'ignored'
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/south_asia/7389283.stm
Indian girls are more likely to die than boys

More than half of Indian children under the age of five do not getthe health care they need, according to a report by Save theChildren.It ranks India alongside Ghana when it comes to providing basichealth care to its children under five years of age.The annual report looks at whether developing countries aredelivering health care effectively to children.It found the Philippines was performing best with almost 69% ofchildren able to get access to health care.Ethiopia ranks last - only 16% of children under five get health carewhen they need it.'Basic measures'The report, called State of the World's Mothers, says girls die atmuch higher rates in India than most countries.Although India has cut child its mortality rate by 34% since 1990,Indian girls are 61% more likely than boys to die between the ages ofone and five.Inequity of health care among male and female children is responsiblefor this situation, the report says.The report says experts predict that over 60% of the nearly 10million children who die every year could be saved by deliveringbasic health services through a health facility or community healthworker."A child's chance of reaching its fifth birthday should not depend onthe country or community where it is born," said Jasmine Whitbread,Save the Children's chief executive."We need to do a better job of reaching the poorest children withbasic health measures like vaccines, antibiotics and skilled care atchildbirth," she said.

"Racial discrimination has different mental health effects"

2008-05-09T20:57:00.000-07:00

"Racial discrimination has different mental health effects"
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/008200805100303.htm

Washington: The first national study of Asians living in the UnitedStates shows that for some individuals, strong ties to theirethnicity can guard against the negative effects of racism. Forothers, strong ties to ethnicity can actually make the negativeeffects of discrimination worse. And the mental health effects ofsuch discrimination may shift over a lifetime as Asian-Americanscontinue to examine their ethnic ties, say researchers.Anti-Asian racism is prevalent in the United States but research intothe psychological ramifications of those experiences is scarce, saidlead author Tiffany Yip, PhD, of Fordham University. Using the firstnationally representative sample of Asian adults in the UnitedStates, Yip, Gilbert C. Gee, PhD, of the University of California LosAngeles, and David T. Takeuchi, PhD, of the University of Washington,examined whether ethnic identity protected a person against thenegative effects of discrimination and whether age and birthplacealso played a role.These findings are published in the May issue of DevelopmentalPsychology, published by the American Psychological Association.Data came from the National Latino and Asian American Study, ahousehold survey conducted between 2002 and 2003 that included 2,047Asian adults 18-75 years old. The interviews were conducted at theparticipants' homes in a variety of languages, including Cantonese,Mandarin, Tagalog and Vietnamese.The participants were questioned about any negative feelings they mayhave had in the previous 30 days. Participants were also asked abouttheir perceptions of racial and ethnic discrimination. They wereasked how often they felt discriminated against because of their raceand how close they felt their ideas and feelings were to other peopleof the same racial and ethnic descent.The researchers controlled for socioeconomic status, gender, age atimmigration and where the participants lived. Overall, theresearchers found that discrimination was associated withpsychological distress; respondents said they felt depressed moreoften if they had been discriminated against.The analysis uncovered an unexpected result when the researcherslooked at age and whether the participant was born in the UnitedStates. For those born outside the United States, embracing one'sethnic identity did not guard against the negative effects ofdiscrimination on psychological wellness. However, for Asians born inthe United States, ethnic attachment did affect whetherdiscrimination made people feel more distressed, and its effectvaried by age. "Among adults in their 40s, feeling strongly abouttheir own background can counteract the negative effects ofdiscrimination," said Yip.Surprisingly, more analysis showed that U.S.-born participants intheir 30s and those above the age of 50 who described themselves ashaving a strong ethnic identity had more mental distress fromdiscrimination than those participants with a weaker ethnicattachment. "This may be because people in their forties, who areentering middle age, cope more effectively with stress and are betterable to deal with emotional reactions to negative events, such asracism," said Yip. However, research has suggested that as peopleenter their 50s, they are actively trying to maximize happiness andminimize unhappiness, so experiencing discrimination during this timemay be especially harmful for people who have a strong sense ofconnection to their ethnic background.The researchers acknowledge that much more work needs to be done tounderstand how discrimination influences psychological well-being. "Abetter understanding of these issues could help us create resourcesthat can protect against racial discrimination in this country,especially for those who are not born in the United States," saidYip.

Female foeticide more prevalent among the middle class: study

2008-02-16T04:33:00.000-08:00

Female foeticide more prevalent among the middle class: study
Khushboo SandhuPosted online: Monday , February 04, 2008 at 01:14:48Updated: Monday , February 04, 2008 at 01:32:11
http://www.expressindia.com/latest-news/Female-foeticide-more-prevalent-among-the-middle-class-study/268847/
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Chandigarh, February 3 Female foeticide is more prevalent among the middle class than in the economically weaker sections and the older women in the house take decisions in this regard.
This has been revealed by a study conducted by Renu Gandhi, Senior Project Officer from Centre for Adult, Continuing Education and Extension, Panjab University and Dr Avnish Jolly.
The researchers claimed to have interviewed women from more than 90 families in the city. The women were in the age group of 15 to 35 years.
According to the study, female foeticide is more prevalent among the middle class where, at times, even both the partners were working.
The study found that contrary to popular opinion, families belonging to the economically weaker sections are bigger.
In many cases, couples in such families have 3 to 4 children. In middle-class households, where the size of the family has to be restricted, cases of female foeticide were more.
“The middle classes are more aware of scientific advancements. They don’t hesitate to go to the doctor for sex determination tests. They want to keep the size of the family small. Especially in families where the first child is a girl, they want the second one to be a boy,” says Gandhi.
The study has also found that it is usually the older women in the house who influence the vital decision.
“It is a tragedy that women, whose lives are most battered by frequent child birth, are hardly allowed to take decisions.
“Quite a few of them die every year from maternity-related problems, through afflictions that are entirely preventable. The husbands of women belonging to the lower classes also do not use birth control measures and these are left to the women to take care of,” says Gandhi.

Chilean Prostitute Auctions Sex For Charity

2007-12-03T09:45:00.000-08:00

Chilean Prostitute Auctions Sex For Charity
http://www.americanchronicle.com/articles/viewArticle.asp?articleID=44351
Robert Paul Reyes
December 2, 2007

"A Chilean prostitute has auctioned 27 hours of sex to raise money for the country's largest charity during an annual fund-raising campaign.

Maria Carolina became an overnight celebrity in the conservative Roman Catholic country, making news headlines and appearing on talk shows since she made her unusual donation...."

If prostitution is legal is a conservative Roman Catholic country, there is no reason it shouldn't be legal in a secular democracy like the United States.

In Nevada, where prostitution is legal in some municipalities, working girls are required to practice safe sex and to be tested for AIDS and other STD's on a regular basis. It's safer to have sex with a prostitute from a bordello in Nevada than to have a one-night stand with a girl you pick up in a bar.

Twenty seven hours of sex is enough to last me for the rest of my life -- with many hours left over. Maria Carolina is drop-dead gorgeous; it's no wonder the winning bid was $4,000.

Maria is a very rare individual: A prostitute with a heart of gold. I applaud her for raising so much money for a charity that benefits poor and disabled children.

KENYA: HIV-positive and still sexy

2007-11-26T09:15:00.000-08:00

KENYA: HIV-positive and still sexy
http://www.plusnews.org/PrintReport.aspx?ReportId=75357

Photo: Zanzibar International Film Festival "You can have your sexuality...you don't have to lose it because you have HIV"

MOMBASA, 16 November 2007 (PlusNews) - People tend to think that contracting HIV can spell the end of their sex lives, but HIV-positive Africans of all ages are now being urged to reclaim their sexuality and live healthy, normal lives.

"I got this [HIV] through sex, so [I thought] my sexuality was gone and I felt I needed to stop dressing attractively and wait to die," Florence Anam, 28, an information officer at the Kenya Network of Women with AIDS, told IRIN/PlusNews.

Anam said when she first revealed she was HIV-positive, many men avoided her, believing she was out to infect them; she herself had no interest in sex for several months after she was diagnosed. However, she has since discovered she can continue having and enjoying sex, despite being HIV-positive.

"My take on this is that you can have your sexuality ... you don't have to lose it because you have HIV, you just have to be responsible," she said, adding that sex "has to be good or I'm not having it".

At a recent workshop by the Africa Regional Sexuality Resource Centre (ARSRC), at its Sexuality Institute in Kenya's coastal city of Mombasa, participants heard that there was a need to rethink sexuality in the context of disease, particularly chronic infections such as HIV.

"HIV as a condition is highly moralised; people face stigma because they are perceived by society to have been sexually immoral," said Richmond Tiemoko, director of ARSRC.

"Women are particularly affected by this type of stigma because they are expected to be the keepers of society's morality, so contracting HIV is seen as a great failure on their part." He said it was important that people living with HIV recognised and claimed their right to sexuality and sexual intercourse.

The Sexuality Institute provides a forum for African health professionals to discuss ways of promoting more positive attitudes towards sexuality in the region.

"We believe that to reduce HIV and promote well-being, we need to adopt a positive discourse on sex and sexuality," said Tiemoko. "Discussing issues of sexual violence, stigma, self-esteem and HIV enables people to have a better understanding of their links with sexuality and to make them less taboo."

I am a human being with sexual needs and feelings, which need fulfilment without apologies to anyone. The workshop was attended by researchers, government workers and staff from local non-governmental organisations with a reproductive health or AIDS focus. They were encouraged to incorporate messages about healthy sexuality into their programmes for people living with HIV.

"When first diagnosed, I considered sex dirty and blamed it for my fate," Asunta Wagura, executive director of the Kenya Network of Women with AIDS, said in a recent interview with the Sexuality in Africa magazine, an ARSRC publication. "I suppressed this need for a long time, until I could suppress it no more and openly declared, 'I am a human being with sexual needs and feelings, which need fulfilment without apologies to anyone'."

Wagura, who has publicly declared her HIV status, caused controversy when she decided to have a child in 2006. Her son was born healthy and has so far tested HIV-negative.

"I was criticised all round ... the view is that people living with HIV/AIDS should not think along those lines, because having a baby involves sexual intercourse," she said.

Speaking at the workshop, Dr Sylvia Tamale, dean of law at Uganda's Makerere University, said there was a 'disconnect' between sex in a health or medical context, and sex in a pleasure context.

"There is a need to 'unlearn' and refine some of the lessons that society teaches us, and open people's minds," she said, adding that sexuality counselling could go a long way towards changing perceptions.

The ARSRC holds rotating workshops annually in Egypt, Kenya, Nigeria and South Africa. The Mombasa workshop was hosted in conjunction with their partner organisation in Kenya, the Population Council, an international non-governmental reproductive health organisation.

kr/he

See also, Florence Anam: "HIV hasn't stopped me from enjoying sex"and, South Africa: Positive Prevention Themes: (IRIN) HIV/AIDS (PlusNews), (IRIN) PWAs/ASOs - PlusNews
[ENDS] Report can be found online at:
http://www.plusnews.org/report.aspx?ReportId=75357

A Time to Rethink AIDS’s Grip

2007-11-25T00:48:00.000-08:00

A Time to Rethink AIDS’s Grip http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/weekinreview/25mcneil.html?ref=science
IN THE STORM An HIV support group walks past an AIDS ribbon in Lesotho, Africa, in 2005. By DONALD G. McNEIL Jr.

Published: November 25, 2007IGNORE the fuss over the news last week — the United Nations’ AIDS-fighting agency admits to overestimating the global epidemic by six million people. That was a sampling error, an epidemiologist’s Dewey Defeats Truman.

Look instead at the fact that glares out from the Orwellian but necessary revision of the figures for earlier years. There it is, starkly: AIDS has peaked.

New infections reached a high point in the late 1990’s — by the best estimate, in 1998.

There must have been such moments in the past — perhaps A.D. 543, when Constantinople realized it would survive the Plague of Justinian, or 1351 in medieval Europe, when hope dawned that the Black Death would not claw down everyone.

Eleven years ago, there was a milestone moment in AIDS history when Andrew Sullivan wrote an article in The New York Times Magazine titled “When Plagues End.” It argued that a new treatment, the triple therapy cocktail, meant it was finally possible to envision AIDS as a chronic illness, not an inevitable death sentence.

Naturally, he was, in his words, “flayed alive” by the AIDS establishment. An end in sight implied that vigilance could relax — although he hadn’t actually argued that.

Mr. Sullivan’s view was solipsistic. It celebrated hope for gay American men still reveling in their sexual freedom and barely mentioned the wider reality of newborn babies and faithful wives in Africa who were never to enjoy any freedoms and still were doomed to die miserably in numbers that would blast the exit doors off every gay bar in North America.

Now, out of the mists of the old data, another such moment has emerged, one for the worldwide stage.

The first thing experts are again quick to say is that it doesn’t mean anyone can relax.
More than three million annual new infections in 1998, or an estimated 2.5 million for 2007, “is not a particularly happy plateau,” said Dr. Robert Gallo, a discoverer of the AIDS virus.

Dr. Mark R. Dybul, the Bush administration’s global AIDS coordinator, added: “I don’t think it radically shifts our thinking, at least not for 5 to 10 years. We still need to prevent 2.5 million infections, we still need to prevent 2.1 million a year from dying.”

Nonetheless, the disease is at last giving notice that it will behave like other pestilences.
AIDS has always been maddening. It moves more slowly than anything that rides sneezes or coughs or rats or mosquitoes. It permits years of symptom-free infectivity and kills, like a torturer, at its leisure.

Classically, all epidemics first strike down those in the vanguard: the Genoese merchants who fled the siege of Caffa in 1347, bringing plague to Europe; the conquistadors who “discovered” syphilis in the New World. If an avian flu pandemic emerges, it will be among poultry farmers and kindergarten teachers, who both herd flocks of little vectors. In gay America, it was flight attendants and rent boys.

Then epidemics typically surge into pockets where conditions are perfect: ports teeming with rats; populations weakened by famine; flooded Bengali streets; Thai brothels.

Finally, inevitably, they begin to burn out. Hosts die faster than new hosts can be found. And, crucially, the hosts get smarter. They flee cities, drain swamps, invent vaccines or accept self-restraint and condoms.

Until now, AIDS had defied that paradigm. Its dark spiral seemed to just keep widening — central Africa was worse than America, southern Africa was worse than that, India would be worse, China was next

But it now appears that the burnout has been underway for years.

In the year 2000, I wrote an article for this section trying to calculate how much it would cost to contain global AIDS, which was said to infect 30 million people in poor countries. (Last week’s revision drops that closer to 23 million.)

Officials of Unaids, the United Nations’ agency, declined to be quoted saying so at the time, but in their policy decisions, they had written off all who were already infected.

The agency was seeking $2 billion a year for Africa — simply for prevention. Triple therapy cost $12,000 a year per patient. Cipla Ltd., the Indian generic-drug maker, had not yet offered to supply the drugs for $350, which set prices tumbling; they are now $150. The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria did not exist.

Undoubtedly, virtually all of those 23 million are now dead. Even now, most could not be saved — antiretroviral drugs reach only about one-tenth of those who need them.

But now we know that those falling legions were right at the cusp of the epidemic. Albeit imperceptibly at the time, things were improving. The sight of so many skeletons had scared a lot of Africans into changing their habits.

It’s still not clear why southern Africa was hit the hardest. There are theories — migratory mine labor, less circumcision, perhaps a still-undiscovered genetic susceptibility.

But the southern Africa explosion has not repeated itself as the virus moved on into Asia’s much greater populations. It has hit very susceptible pockets, like the red light district of Calcutta, but seems to have stalled in them.

“In the 90’s,” said Dr. Paul De Lay, director of monitoring and policy for Unaids, “we thought that if you had the crude signs that risky sex was going on, like brothels or refusal of condoms, then any country could erupt into a generalized epidemic. That’s not true any more. Now we’d never say China is likely to have an African-style epidemic.”

This does not mean that shrinking numbers are inevitable.

The disease is still rooting out new pockets; infections are rising in Vietnam, Uzbekistan and even Indonesia, the world’s fourth-most-populous country.

It can also lull its hosts into acting foolishly again; that has happened in San Francisco and Germany, Dr. De Lay noted, where new infections are ticking up again as young gay men revive the bar scene of the 1980’s.

And, Dr. Gallo warned, a mutation — a virus more easily transmitted or more drug resistant — could emerge. Epidemics traditionally move in waves; that could trigger a second.

Nonetheless, the new estimates mean the vision Mr. Sullivan had of the American epidemic is now possible for the global one: a day when AIDS is viewed as a chronic problem, another viral predator taking down the careless or weak members of the herd, as pneumonia takes down the old ones.

Also possible in the future — the very distant future, Dr. Dybul warned — is a day when the calculation I tried to do will have an answer that is actually affordable.

After all, even the Black Death is not dead. But it is cornered, and very cheaply. Its cause, Yersinia pestis, lives on in fleas and rodents, and there are about 2,000 cases each year, a handful of them in the American Southwest. But penicillin kills it.

Nothing yet kills AIDS. When that day comes, another rewrite of the epidemic’s history will begin.

A Bush Double-Cross on HIV Travel Ban

2007-11-22T09:33:00.000-08:00

A Bush Double-Cross on HIV Travel Ban
http://www.gaycitynews.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=19044628&BRD=2729&PAG=461&dept_id=568864&rfi=6

By: DOUG IRELAND
11/20/2007

President George W. Bush and Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff, under the guise of cutting read tape, are doing so to use that tape to further tie up prospective HIV-positive visitors and immigrants to the US.

The Bush administration is trying to pull a fast one rushing through draconian proposed new regulations that will restrict even further the entry of HIV-positive people into to the US, just one year after having promised to ease them. On November 6, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) issued stringent proposed new regulations for HIV-positive travelers coming here which are pretty regressive and extremely troubling, according to Nancy Ordover, assistant director for federal affairs and research at the Gay Mens Health Crisis (GMHC). But the 30-day deadline for public comment imposed by DHS means a cut-off date of December 6 for reactions to the new regs, leaving little time for the AIDS advocacy community to mobilize. That, Ordover told Gay City News, is a departure from standard practice for proposed new federal regulations; the time frame for public reaction is usually much longer, she said.

The US is one of only 13 countries that completely ban incoming travel across their borders by the HIV-positive. The others, according to a list established by the leading German AIDS service organization, Deutsche AIDS Hillfe, for the most part have undemocratic regimes. They are Iraq, China, Saudi Arabia, Libya, Sudan, Qatar, Brunei, Oman, Moldova, Russia, Armenia, and South Korea. A waiver to the ban is required for HIV-positive travelers to or through the US. Even when a travelers US stay merely involves changing planes, a waiver is needed. Last year on World AIDS Day, President George W. Bush pledged to issue streamlined new regulations with a categorical waiver that would make it easier for the HIV-positive to receive exemptions. Unfortunately, despite using the terms streamlined and categorical, in reality these regulations are neither, said Victoria Neilson, legal director of Immigration Equality, which works on behalf of LGBT and HIV-positive asylum seekers and immigrants. Neilson told Gay City News, This is a big disappointment, given the rhetoric of the Bush administration that the US was making it easier because the new regs simply add more heavy burdens for the HIV-positive traveler. Among other provisions, under the new rules proposed by DHS, a visitor would need to travel with all the medication he would need during his stay in the US; prove that he has medical insurance that is accepted in the US and would cover any medical contingency; and prove that he wont engage in behavior that might put the American public at risk. The maximum term for any waiver would be 30 days. The new regulations purport to speed up the waiver application process because consular officers would be empowered to make decisions without seeking DHS sign-off. However, by using this streamlined application process, waiver applicants would have to agree to give up the ability to apply for any change in status while in the US, including applying for legal permanent residence. The purpose of fast-tracking the new regs and setting a super-tight December 6 deadline for public comment before they take effect was to catch the AIDS community busy with preparations for World AIDS Day on December 1 unawares. To a certain extent, the ploy has worked. When Gay City News telephoned the usually well-informed Kate Krauss who has worked for several AIDS advocacy organizations and now coordinates the Health Action AIDS Campaign for Physicians for Human Rights to find out what she thought of the proposed new regs, she hadnt yet heard of them. Wow, they just flew right by me they havent been on my radar screen at all, she said. After having been provided by Gay City News with a copy of the proposal, Krauss was appalled. Under the proposed regulations, the US travel ban remains a cruel violation of human rights for people with AIDS, Krauss said, adding, People with HIV would be made to jump through even more hoops than before, and the rules would make it particularly difficult for people from very poor nations to visit the US, with requirements for wealth, medical care, medications, and documentation that the applicant is HIV-positive. Moreover, Krauss said, People could be penalized if they became sick while visiting the United States and, if found to be out of compliance with these regulations, barred from ever visiting the US again. If President Bush cares about the human rights of people with AIDS, he should just ask Congress to abolish the travel ban. Anything else is just rewriting an unjust policy. GMHCs Ordover pointed out, As written, the rule could leave individuals with HIV who obtain asylum in the US in a permanent limbo; forever barred from obtaining legal permanent residence, and therefore cut off from services, benefits, and employment opportunities. Ordover added, It seems very disingenuous that the government is claiming to make things easier for people with HIV, but its really compelling them to forfeit their rights. As a result of the hasty release of the proposed regs and the arbitrarily truncated time frame for public comment, only a few AIDS advocacy organizations have so far taken a critical posture, and this only began to happen at the end of last week. GMHC was the first organization to release a lengthy analysis of the new regs, which it did last Friday, and began preparing a sign-on statement protesting them which it will ask other AIDS advocacy groups and immigrant rights organizations to join. But things were fairly sluggish at AIDS Action Council, the largest Washington, DC AIDS lobby, which bills itself as the national voice on AIDS and represents more than 3,000 local service organizations. When Gay City News this Monday asked Ronald Johnson, AIDS Actions deputy executive director, for his organizations position on the new regs, he would only say, we are in the process of developing our comments and we are still looking at the fine print. Johnson added, Well probably follow GMHCs analysis. When this reporter suggested to Johnson that AIDS Action organize a national conference call with executive directors of AIDS advocacy organizations to mobilize them quickly against the harsh new regs, he said theyd think about it. Fortunately, GMHC is already in the process of organizing such a conference call for next week, Ordover told Gay City News. However, said Ordover, these regulations are in general a distraction what we really need to move forward on is getting the HIV-positive travel bar overturned completely. In addition to her other duties at GHMC, Ordover is co-coordinator of Lift the Bar, a coalition of HIV, immigrant, human rights, and LGBT service and advocacy organizations working to overturn the HIV ban. At a Congressional hearing last November, Ordover detailed the negative consequences of the travel ban. The HIV bar rarely makes the news, and when we do hear about it, its usually because someone trying to attend some major event or forum being held in the US cant get into the country, Ordover said. This is not unimportant the International AIDS Conference hasnt been held on US soil for 16 years and the HIV bar is the reason. Despite our efforts in the global fight against HIV and AIDS, our standing in the international community has been grievously compromised by this policy. Ordover, who noted that one-third of GMHCs clients are immigrants, also pointed out, Many people first learn they are HIV-positive after they get to the US. Many contract HIV here. Some find out their status when they get the results of their Immigration Service medical examination. Under the current DHS regs in force, she said, Visitors either are actively deterred from seeking HIV testing and treatment, or avoid contact with providers out of fear of putting their immigration status in permanent limbo or worse. If they are low-income or poor, they either dont have recourse to the full slate of public programs and services they need to stay healthy or may be unaware of what services they are entitled to. At GMHC we view this policy as a violation of human rights and a threat to public health inside and outside the US. The proposed new regs do nothing to change this. And, Ordover added, The truth is, the bar undermines public health and drives up the cost of health care. It forces HIV-positive immigrants to go underground, discourages immigrants who dont know their status from getting tested, from seeking preventive care, from seeking any care until they end up in the emergency room with full blown AIDS all things that undermine individual health, public health and that ultimately put more strain on the public coffers.

Individuals who wish to protest the harsh new DHS regs on HIV-positive travel may submit comments online at click - but to do so you must include the docket number of the proposed regs, USCBP-2007-0084. Organizations wishing to join in signing on to the statement GMHC is preparing in protest of the new regs should contact Nancy Ordover at nancyo@gmhc.org or 212-367-1240. Doug Ireland can be reached through his blog, DIRELAND, at click.

GayCityNews 2007

Early Puberty in Girls May Reflect Home Life

2007-11-16T22:12:00.000-08:00

Early Puberty in Girls May Reflect Home Life
Findings Suggest Link Between Family Stress, Early Sexual Development
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Health/ReproductiveHealth/story?id=3871218&page=1

New research suggests that for girls, a hostile home environment could have physical, as well as psychological, effects. (ABCNEWS) By DAN CHILDS
ABC News Medical Unit
Nov. 15, 2007

While a stressful family environment in childhood has long been blamed for various psychological effects later in life, new research suggests that hostile situations at home may also have big physical implications for young girls.

In a study released Thursday, researchers at the University of Arizona and the University of Wisconsin-Madison looked at families of 227 preschool children, following them as they progressed through middle school. Specifically, the researchers looked for the first hormonal signs of puberty in these children.

What they found was that parental support -- or lack of it -- may partially determine at what age young girls hit puberty. Specifically, young girls with families who were more supportive in preschool years tended to hit puberty later than their counterparts in less supportive family environments.

The research stops short of drawing a bold link between early stress and early puberty, as factors such as family income and other environmental factors may also be at play. But lead study author Bruce Ellis said that while it is still too early for parents to make solid conclusions based on the evidence, the findings hint at an interesting evolutionary link between sexual maturation and stress.

"Children adjust their development to match the environments in which they live," said Ellis, an associate professor in the Division of Family Studies and Human Development at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

"Children who grow up in environments that are dangerous and unpredictable tend to grow up faster," he said. "In the world in which humans evolved, danger and uncertainty meant a shorter lifespan, and going into puberty earlier in this context increased chances of surviving, reproducing and passing on your genes."

Julia Graber, associate professor of psychology at the University of Florida in Gainesville, said the study adds to a growing body of evidence linking early stress with the onset of puberty.
"It's an interesting topic, there has really been a lot of research coming out recently on this particular issue," said Graber, who was not affiliated with the research.

But she agreed with Ellis that too many unanswered questions still exist for definite conclusions to be drawn.

"As yet, there is no clear idea of why stress factors work in this way."

Consequences of Early Development

If one thing is certain, it is that early sexual development in girls is often a signal for other health consequences.

Past research has already shown, for example, that early puberty in girls increases the risk of various health problems, both physical and psychological.

"In today's world, early puberty in girls is a risk for many things, such as breast cancer, teenage pregnancy and depression," Ellis said. "Effective prevention strategies depend on understanding the factors that speed up puberty."

Graber said girls may be more susceptible to such environmental factors for the simple reason that, evolutionarily speaking, bearing children successfully goes hand-in-hand with favorable environmental conditions. Hence, she said, the female system is programmed to be more responsive to environmental cues.

Still, Graber added, the concept of stress leading to early puberty is in some ways puzzling.
"The body needs to be healthy in order to be pregnant, and stress seems to impact health negatively," she said. "What we're seeing is something that doesn't really fit in terms of what we'd expect."

Advice for Parents

So what should parents take away from this research? Ellis, for one, urged caution in overinterpreting the results.

"There are too many unanswered questions to translate this into a blueprint for parents," Ellis said.

But while Graber agreed that the findings are preliminary, they suggest that parents should take special care to ensure a nurturing environment for their children early on.

"The message for parents is that a stressful home environment really does impact children in many detrimental ways," she said.

"There will always be some minor conflicts between parents and children, but parents don't need to worry if there is still that warm, close relationship even as occasional issues come up.

But if these children are really in a stressful environment, it is really affecting their health."

Female condoms: Shifting the burden of safe sex to women?

2007-11-13T09:45:00.000-08:00

Female condoms: Shifting the burden of safe sex to women? http://www.infochangeindia.org/features457.jsp
By Rashme Sehgal
Hindustan Latex is all set to market the female condom, particularly to sex workers. NACO is partnering with 61 NGOs across six states to reach out to 60,000 female sex workers. Sex workers in Hyderabad, where the condom was tested, say it gives them a sense of control over their bodies The onus of responsibility for safe sexual behaviour has now shifted squarely onto the shoulders of women. NACO (National Aids Control Organisation) and the Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust (HLFPPT) have joined hands to promote the female condom as an alternative to the male condom, especially since there are innumerable cases being cited by housewives, sex workers and single women of male partners refusing to use condoms.

Hindustan Latex Ltd (HLL), a State-owned condom manufacturing company, is all set to market a female condom called ‘Confidom passion rings’. The 17 cm female condom is the same size as a male condom, but two flexible rings at both ends give it the appearance of a “basketball net”. That is how it was described by a sex worker in Hyderabad, who when she first saw it complained that the polyurethane condom with its large, lubricated pouch that is fixed to the vagina seemed much “too big and unwieldy”. Once the women were shown how it worked, however, they realised that it was not as difficult to use as it appeared.

Sex workers in Hyderabad, amongst whom the female condom was extensively tested, know that using it is their safest bet to prevent getting HIV/AIDS or sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Lakshmiamma, a sex worker, feels safe when she uses a female condom. “There are no more needless arguments with clients about using condoms. I have just learnt to protect myself,” she says.

In 2006, HLFPPT, the Chicago-based Female Health Company (FHC) and NACO carried out a social acceptability study on the use of condoms in Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Maharashtra, among three sets of target groups namely female sex workers, men who have sex with men (MSM) and eligible couples. The total sample size of users was 717, of which 337 were female sex workers.

The objective of the study, which was spread over a period of two months in 2006, was to analyse perceptions and initial acceptability of the female condom in terms of efficacy, reliability and ease of use. It was important also to identify enabling factors affecting initiation and negotiation, and to find out whether the condom helped foster communication between partners.

Some sex workers who were part of the sample study spoke candidly about their experiences with the female condom.

Pushpamma, who works in the old city of Hyderabad, pointed out that she was happy to use it because it helped protect her from HIV/AIDS. She said: “The main reason for using a female condom is disease-prevention rather than as a means of contraception.”

Rosy, another sex worker, felt the female condom has several features in its favour. “Some clients felt its lubrication helped enhance pleasure. It also provided an effective barrier against drunken clients who refused to use condoms.”

Married women responded in much the same way. The female condom, they said, was an alternative when their husbands refused to use condoms. But a Delhi-based teacher felt that the large size of the condom and the hardness of its inner ring caused too much discomfort during insertion.

Kavita Patturi, NACO’s national programme manager, admits that use of the female condom between eligible couples dropped from 94% to 89% during the final week of the survey, while for MSM it dropped to 94% in the eighth week. Problems cited in using it included its large size, slippery nature, and the fact that privacy was required in order to insert it.

“Regular and timely counselling on potential problems is a must in order to ensure regular usage,” says Patturi who admits that wherever outreach workers were able to provide effective interventions, barriers such as discomfort and pain were easily overcome.

But the majority of women covered under the study said they were willing to use the product as it was seen as being woman-initiated and would lead to their empowerment. Many MSM had even switched to the female condom because of its reliability. Unlike the male condom, it does not tear easily, thereby increasing safety.

G Manoj, CEO of the Hindustan Latex Family Planning Promotion Trust, says: “Women have to be taught how to use it. Demonstrations on its use were first conducted on vagina moulds by outreach workers associated with different NGOs working in the area of HIV/AIDS. Female condoms can succeed only as part of a social marketing campaign, not if they are sold as mere condoms. This has been the experience around the globe.”

The female condom does have its drawbacks however. It requires time and privacy to insert, and these are not always available to a sex worker. But Jayamma, who has helped 1,500 sex workers come together to form a Hyderabad-based cooperative called Chaitanya Mahila Mandal, says: “Prior to the female condom we used to be stigmatised for spreading HIV. That situation has now changed.” A government study has shown that 14% of India’s 5.1 million HIV-positive people are sex workers; female condoms are aimed specifically at them.

Female condoms were introduced in India after two years of research and test-marketing. Confidoms are being given to NGOs for Rs 3; they are then sold to sex workers for Rs 5. Although the price is higher than that of a male condom, female respondents of the survey said they did not mind spending more because of its reliability.

Jayamma said: “If we can spend money every day on biryani and a gajra, we can also spend on a female condom.”

Patturi says NACO is partnering with 61 NGOs across six states in order to reach out to 60,000 female sex workers. NGOs with whom partnerships have been forged include SAATHI, Sapid, Vimochana, Changes, Jawahar, KAWW, RCTC, SARANG, Sex Workers Forum, Saheli, Sambhavan, Udaan, Vijay Krida Mandal and Yuvak Pratishtan. “So far we have not come across a single case of a customer rejecting a sex worker because she is using a female condom,” Patturi points out.

The female condom is not expected to replace the male condom. Presently, the male condom programme in India extends to over 1.5 billion male condoms. NACO imported 500,000 female condoms in 2006; the figure has gone up to 1.5-2 million pieces in 2007-08.

“We would like to adopt a cafeteria approach to contraception, with the male and female condoms playing complementary roles,” says Manoj.

The Indian market holds the key to the success of the female condom. HLL is presently in talks with FHC for transfer of technology to indigenise production of the female condom to help bring down the retail price.

Infochange News & Features, November 2007

Herbal Sex Pills Not Quite Safe

2007-11-13T09:41:00.000-08:00

Herbal Sex Pills Not Quite Safe
http://www.efluxmedia.com/news_Herbal_Sex_Pills_Not_Quite_Safe_10596.html
by Anna Boyd 15:58, November 13th 2007

Pills marketed as safe herbal alternatives to prescription sex medication such as Viagra are not as innocuous as consumers may think, an investigation conducted by the Associated Press found.

Impotency products heralded as “all-natural” and bearing labels abundant in herbal ingredients also include unregulated versions of precisely the chemicals they are supposed to replace, the Associated Press reports.

These chemicals clash with nitrates millions of men around the world take in prescribed drugs for high blood pressure and heart disease, and often lead to a heart attack or stroke.

The AP says that its investigation emphasizes a growing public health concern that officials do not yet know how to track or ameliorate. This could prove difficult, as herbal impotency pills are much sought after – as sales worth approximately $400 million in 2006 prove.

At greatest risk are men who take nitrates and are well aware that prescription sex medication like Viagra, Cialis or Levitra is not recommended for them, should they wish to enhance their sexual performance.

James Neal-Kababick, director of Oregon-based Flora Research Laboratories, told the AP that about 90 percent of the hundreds of samples he has analyzed contained forms of patented pharmaceuticals. Some of these presented doses more than twice that of prescription erectile dysfunction medicine.

No deaths have been reported, yet all-natural sex pills have caused numerous emergency room visits, the AP notes.

Older men, more likely to have heart or blood pressure problems as well as erectile dysfunctions, are not the only ones that suffer unanticipated side effects of herbal pills.

The wire service reports that records of emergency room visits showed men in their 30s, in good health, nevertheless suffered after taking herbal sex pills, presenting side effects of the active ingredients in regulated impotency pharmaceuticals, such as difficulty seeing clearly or severe headaches.

Public health officials consider that these cases could be vastly underreported, with patients too embarrassed to share such experiences.

Sales of supplements marketed as natural sexual enhancers have been riding a good wave over the past years, rising $100 million since 2001, to an astounding $398 million last year, including herbal mixtures, according to estimates by Nutrition Business Journal, the AP reports.

Some encouragement comes from the fact that not all sellers advertising “magical” sexual enhancement are roaming freely on the Internet, where most “herbal” pills are sold. According to the AP, the U. S. Food and Drug Administration has been instrumental in eight recalls over the past year. The recalled products contained ingredients found in Viagra, Cialis or Levitra.

© 2007 - eFluxMedia

Emotional eaters most prone to regaining weight

2007-11-09T11:57:00.000-08:00

Emotional eaters most prone to regaining weight
http://www.ctv.ca/servlet/ArticleNews/story/CTVNews/20071109/emotional_eaters_071109/20071109?hub=TopStories
Updated Fri. Nov. 9 2007
CTV.ca News Staff

People who overeat when they are depressed or anxious tend to have the hardest time losing weight and keeping it off, finds a new U.S. study published in the journal Obesity.

The study, led by Heather Niemeier, an obesity researcher at The Miriam Hospital and The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, may explain why even those people who are able to lose weight often gain it all back during times of stress.

"We found that the more people report eating in response to thoughts and feelings, such as, 'When I feel lonely, I console myself by eating,' the less weight they lost in a behavioural weight loss program," Niemeier said in a statement.

"In addition, amongst successful weight losers, those who report emotional eating are more likely to regain."

Having the finding confirmed in their study is important, the authors note, because one of the greatest challenges facing the field of obesity treatment remains the problem of regaining weight after losing it.

"Participants in behavioural weight loss programs lose an average of 10 per cent of their body weight and these losses are associated with significant health benefits. Unfortunately, the majority of participants return to their baseline weight within three to five years," Niemeier says.

For the study, 286 overweight men and women were asked to participate in a behavioural weight loss program. Niemeier and her team analyzed responses to a questionnaire, called the Eating Inventory.

Specifically, Niemeier and her team focused on the "disinhibition" component of the Eating Inventory, which evaluates impulsive eating in response to emotional, cognitive, or social cues. Emotional cues would include eating when feeling lonely; cognitive cues would include using food as a reward; while social cues would include overeating at parties.

The participants were compared to a second group that included 3,300 members of the National Weight Control Registry, an ongoing study of adults who have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off for at least one year.

Results showed that in both groups, emotional and cognitive cues were significant predictors of weight loss over time. For the first group of participants, the more a person ate for internal reasons, the less weight they lost over time. The same was true for the second group.

Interestingly, external factors did not predict weight loss or regain in either sample at any time.

"Our results suggest that we need to pay more attention to eating triggered by emotions or thoughts as they clearly play a significant role in weight loss," Niemeier said, noting that many current treatments provide minimal assistance with eating in response to feelings.

Disclosing infertility doesn't cause women stress

2007-11-09T11:52:00.000-08:00

Disclosing infertility doesn't cause women stress
http://in.reuters.com/article/health/idINTON77772320071107?sp=true

Thu Nov 8, 2007

NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - For women undergoing fertility treatment, the decision over whether to tell their employer seems to have little effect on their general stress levels, a study suggests.

Researchers found that among 267 women undergoing treatment at the same fertility clinic, stress levels seemed to be unrelated to a woman's choice to tell her boss and co-workers about the treatment.

Going into the study, the researchers had hypothesized that such disclosure might help ease stress for some women. Fertility treatment is time-consuming and bound to require taking time off from work; keeping the reason for work absences secret might, in theory, generate added anxiety for some women.

On the flip side, some women might be stressed by having to tell an employer about such a personal matter.

However, the findings suggest that whatever women decide to do, it has little effect on their overall stress, the researchers report in the journal Fertility and Sterility.

Dr. Peter S. Finamore, of the UMDNJ-Robert Wood Johnson Medical School in New Brunswick, New Jersey, led the study, which included women undergoing treatment at the university's fertility clinic.

Of 267 women who responded to questionnaires, 43 percent said they had not told their employer or co-workers, while 32 percent said they had. The rest of the women were self-employed, not working outside the home or did not answer all the survey questions.

Whether the women informed their employer about the fertility treatments made no apparent difference in their reported stress levels, Finamore's team found.

Research suggests that stress, depression and anxiety may affect a woman's odds of having a successful pregnancy with infertility treatment. So it's important to understand the factors that either worsen or ease women's stress as they undergo treatment, according to Finamore's team.

"However," the researchers write, "results of this survey suggest that disclosure of one's infertility status is not a significant factor in either increasing or diminishing personal stress."

Instead, they add, the decision seems to be a matter of a woman's personal values, and appears to have few implications for treatment.

SOURCE: Fertility and Sterility, October 2007. © Reuters2007All rights reserved

Study: The Sexier the Walk, the Less Fertile the Woman

2007-11-09T11:25:00.000-08:00

Study: The Sexier the Walk, the Less Fertile the Woman
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,309417,00.html
Thursday, November 08, 2007

A sexy sway of the hips, long-believed to be a sign seduction from women, actually may mean back off, according to a new study.

A woman with a sexy walk is unlikely to be ovulating, which is typically when single women seek out male partners, according to a new Canadian study, French news service AFP reports.

A team at Queen's University in Ontario, Canada, dressed female volunteers in suits which had light reflectors placed on the joints and limbs and filmed them walking in order to analyze their gait. Saliva samples were taken from the women to test their hormone levels.
Click here to read the AFP report

Researchers said women who were most fertile walked with smaller hip movements and with their knees closer together. The study is published in the journal Archives of Sexual Behavior. A report appears in Saturday's issue of the British weekly, New Scientist.
Click here to view the full study

Forty male volunteers were shown the footage of the women and asked to rate their sex appeal. The men rated the least fertile women as having the sexiest walks.

Despite the baffling results, the researchers said there was no contradiction to the findings because women who are most fertile are much more upfront with their desires to find a mate.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,309417,00.html

'Britons have unsafe sex abroad'

2007-11-09T11:15:00.000-08:00

'Britons have unsafe sex abroad'
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i9SIT31NtbF-mM6i6H3X5viVs1aA

Around a fifth of young Britons claim to have had sex with at least one new partner abroad over a five-year period, a research has shown.

The survey suggests that many young people in their teens and early 20s are throwing caution to the wind when it comes to holiday romance. Almost a quarter of men and one in six women between the ages of 16 and 24 said they had experienced sex with someone new while overseas.

Typically, men had two partners abroad in the five years covered by the survey, and women one. A few unusually active men had as many as 13.

Half of those questioned said their holiday partners were British, and more than one in three had sex with a person from another European country. Choosing a British or European partner was thought to minimise the chances of HIV infection, researchers were told.

But the young people were seemingly unaware of the risk of picking up other sexually transmitted diseases.

The findings emerge from interviews with a random sample of 12,000 men and women aged 16 to 44 who took part in the 2000 National Survey of Sexual Attitudes and Lifestyles (NATSAL).

Just under 14% of all the men questioned between May 1999 and February 2001 and just over 7% of the women said they had had sex with a new partner abroad in the previous five years.

This type of liaison accounted for a 10th of all men's partnerships and one in 20 of all women's.

The researchers, led by Dr Catherine Mercer from the Centre for Sexual Health and HIV Research at University College London, reported their findings in the journal Sexually Transmitted Infections.

They wrote: "A substantial minority of young, unmarried people form new sexual partnerships abroad. Those who have new partners abroad are likely to have higher-risk sexual lifestyles more generally, and to be at higher risk of sexually transmitted infections."

Hosted by Copyright © 2007 The Press Association. All rights reserved.

Diwali, the festival of prosperity and wealth

2007-11-09T08:29:00.000-08:00

Diwali, the festival of prosperity and wealth
http://www.newstrackindia.com/newsdetails/1413
By Binita Tiwari
Nov 08: Diwali, ‘the festival of light, prosperity and wealth’ is celebrated in the entire country along with some other parts of the world. Though it may be known as some different names but the celebration purpose is always same. To celebrate this festival in the name of joy, wealth and happiness, though there is also a scientific reason behind it to clean up the home after the end of rainy season, which becomes the major cause of the growth of insects and several microorganisms.

Diwali also known as Deepawali is a one of the major festival of Hindus, but it is also celebrated by Jains, Sikhs and several other communities irrespective of their faith. It is one of the social festivals of India like Holy, Eid, Christmas Day and Baishakhi. Besides India it is also celebrated in Nepal by the name of Tihar, in Malaysia, it is known as Hari Deepawali, Singapore and Sri Lanka celebrates it by the name of Deepawali and beyond the Asian subcontinent. Deepawali is celebrated by lighting diyas (Earthen lamp) with diyas. When all the diyas enlighten on the earth, the stream of light shows that a new sun rises on the horizon. The enlightened diyas express the spirit of fighting with the darkness despite of ‘Amavasya’ the darkest night of the month. Deepawali shows the victory of ‘good’ over ‘evil’, ‘light’ over ‘darkness’ and ‘knowledge’ over ‘unawareness’.

The mighty hurricanes we suppress in our heart welled up during night as festival is also about meeting and enjoying with our loved ones. In this day all the rival melts in the heat of the light and the people celebrate it with their hearts forgetting all the austerity.

Story behind this festival

This festival is celebrated to commemorate the returning of Rama in Ayodhya (the kingdom of Lord Rama), after 14 years of exile; the people of Ayodhya welcomed him back by lighting up the diya.

According to some other views, it is celebrated as the day when Lord Krishna defeated the demon Narakasura and also as a victory celebration of Rama over Ravana. According to Jainism, on this day Lord Mahavira acquired ‘Nirvana’.

The Five days festival Day 1: Dhanterus: The celebration begins from the day of Dhanteras, two days before Diwali that bring good fortune and prosperity. Dhanteras is regarded as the origin day of god Dhanvantari, who originate during the churning of the great ocean by the gods and the demons. Dhanterus means Dhan+terus, in which Dhan denotes money and terus is the thirteenth day of the month. It is also known as Dhanvantri Jayanti or Dhantrayodasi because of the origin day of god Dhanvantri, the god of health and ayurveda. On this day people buy utensils and jewellery for performing tradition, as it is believed a symbol of fortune.

Day 2: Naraka Chaturdashi: The second day of Diwali is known as Narak Chaturdashi, the fourteenth day of the month on which demon Narakasura was killed. It signifies the victory of good over evil and light over darkness. It is the prime day of the festival in south India. The people perform puja of Lord Sri Krishna or Lord Sri Vishnu. The people enlighten the ‘Diya’ (earthen lamp) before the main door of their homes on this day. This day is also known as Roop Chaturdashi.

Day 3: Lakshmi Puja: In the north India, the third day of this festival is the most important day on which the goddess of wealth, Lakshmi and God of fortunate, Ganesha been worshipped across devotees. People enlighten the earthen lamp across the streets and homes, and pray for their prosperity and well-beings. Children play fireworks and massive crackers are fired to express their joy on this day.

Day 4: Govardhan Puja : The day after the prime day of Diwali is known as Govardhan Puja or Annakut. On this day Lord Krishna defeated Indra by lifting Govardhan Mountain on his little finger. On the other hand, Annakut denotes a mountain of food that is decorated as a symbol of Govardhan Mountain. The people present gifts to their wives on this day.

Day 5: Bhaiduj (also Bhayyaduj, Bhaubeej or Bhayitika) : The last day is for an auspicious relationship of brothers and sisters, especially married brothers and sisters. Brothers and sisters express their love and affection for each other by tying a thread. This festival is very similar to the festival of Raksha Bandhan.

Scientific Significance: The festival of Deepawali always celebrated in October or November, when the rainy season completely finishes off. The rainy season becomes the cause of various insects and microorganism that are killed of earthen lighting, house cleaning and fireworks and provide us a healthy new winter season.

Importance of Deepawali for the small shopkeepers and businesspersons

According to Hindi Calendar (Vikrami Samvat), the day of Lakshmi pujan (Worship of goddess Lakshmi) is the last day of financial year. The businesspersons ended the account on this day and calculate the profit or loss. A new account begins from the next day for the next financial year.

Finally I along with our NewstrackIndia family wish you a happy and prosperous Diwali.
May this Diwali illuminates your life ….
Comfort your tears..Promises a new beginning
Lighten up your way…and gives you hope
Here is a wishing from the bouquet of NewstrackIndia
Wishing you a very happy Diwali….

Maternal Health Donations Overflow Bush Blockade

2007-11-08T12:37:00.000-08:00

Maternal Health Donations Overflow Bush Blockade http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3378/context/archive

Date: 11/08/07 By Kara Alaimo
WeNews correspondent

A U.N. agency shunned by the Bush administration is one beneficiary of a major fundraising push behind maternal health initiatives. New online tools give citizens a personal handle on the progress and invite them to join the effort. (WOMENSENEWS)--On the heels of a major maternal mortality conference in London last month and a heightened international focus on women's health issues this year, foreign governments and large foundations are marshalling greater funding commitments for maternal health initiatives.

The U.N. Population Fund, for instance, picked up more than $200 million in new commitments over five years from the United Kingdom at last month's Women Deliver conference, which drew participants from 109 countries to harness support and resources to improve the health of women and infants. Since 2004, the U.K. has allocated more than $40 million per year to the fund.

Contributions to the U.N. Population Fund are voluntarily allocated at the discretion of 180 U.N. member nations. The fund received $269 million in contributions in 2001, $389 million in 2006 and projects contributions of $411 million in 2007.

The money is flowing into an organization that since 2002 has been shunned by the administration of George W. Bush. The White House withholds funding via a policy loophole that had its genesis in 1985 during the presidency of Ronald Reagan. Congress passed an amendment giving the president discretion to withhold funding from any group or agency involved in coercive abortion or sterilization. Since then, GOP administrations and the U.N. Population Fund have battled over whether the U.N. agency matches that description.

The White House has refused to release funding for the agency that was appropriated by Congress. The amount withheld now totals $204 million, according to the U.S. Agency for International Development; $34 million has been authorized in funding each year since 2002.
The withheld U.S. funding since 2002 would have allowed the U.N. Population Fund to prevent 244,000 maternal deaths, help 68 million women delay pregnancy and prevent 2.4 million women from suffering adverse health effects during pregnancy and childbirth, said Anika Rahman, president of New York-based Americans for UNFPA. The group formed in 1998 to generate support for the U.N. agency and help cushion the effects of the U.S. de-funding
Online Citizen ConnectionsAt the same time as other nations and foundations are increasing donations, private citizens are being encouraged to support the U.N. Population Fund through a new Web service designed to assist Western women in relating more directly to the agency's mission.

Developed by the advocacy group Americans for UNFPA, the Web service Lifelines allows a user to enter information about her schooling, work, relationships and children with the idea that women around the world can begin to compare their common experiences.

For example, when a 45-year-old married woman in the United States logs on to Lifelines to check on her statistical counterpart in Uganda, she will find some stark contrasts. She marrried at age 39 to someone she chose and had 17 years of education, starting at age 5, as well as paid work starting in high school. Her counterpart has not attended school or ever worked outside her home. She is married and will have been chosen by her husband. She had her first of 10 children at age 18.

"When we see the reality of women's lives around the world, we begin to see the role each of us can take to make a difference," said Rahman of Americans for UNFPA.

Another new online tool to better connect Westerners to the developing world is the MDG Monitor Web site, launched Nov. 1 by the United Nations along with technology giants Google, based in Mountain View, Calif., and Cisco, in San Jose, Calif.

The site uses data to track progress in meeting the U.N. millennium development goals, established by international leaders in 2000 to eradicate global poverty by 2015. Improving women's status is a keystone of the targets. Visitors can quickly check global comparison of data that include maternal mortality rates and girl-boy ratios of school enrollments. A Google Earth map locates ongoing projects to improve women's health, pulling up information with a click on the map.

Criticism Linked to ChinaThe Bush administration contends that because the U.N. Population Fund provides financial and technical resources to China's National Population and Family Planning Commission, it supports the Chinese government's program of coercive abortion and involuntary sterilization.

Sarah Craven, chief of the Washington office of the U.N. Population Fund, says the agency's program in China promotes a voluntary approach to family planning and does not fund coercive abortions. Last year, the agency spent $3.69 million in China.

Abortions declined by 18 percent between 2003 and 2005 in the counties in China where the U.N. Population Fund worked, according to a study by the Southampton Statistical Sciences Research Institute at the University of Southampton in England and other groups.

At least 200 million women worldwide lack access to the contraceptives they desire in order to plan their families or space their children, according to the U.N. Population Fund. The agency also says reproductive health conditions are the leading cause of death and illness among women of childbearing age, with one woman dying every minute due to lack of adequate care during pregnancy and childbirth.

The agency works in 154 nations providing maternal and reproductive health services, distributing contraceptives, implementing HIV-AIDS prevention services and advocating for women's rights and gender equality. Demand for family planning services is expected to increase by 40 percent over the next 15 years.

Maternal Health PledgesOther major donors who attended the Women Deliver conference and the U.N. General Assembly meeting in September promised to devote more than $1.4 billion to the overall cause of reducing maternal mortality.

The funding push comes amid a growing recognition that progress has been too slow for the world to meet the millennium development goal that calls for reducing maternal deaths.
The Seattle-based Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which in 2006 received a gift of $31 billion from money manager Warren Buffett and has so far pledged $563 million to maternal health, vowed to take further action. Over $486 million has already been paid out.

The Chicago-based John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation pledged $11 million in new technology to Pathfinder International, a reproductive health organization in Watertown, Mass., to fight blood loss after childbirth in Nigeria and India.

Japan promised to focus prominently on global health when it hosts the Group of Eight economic summit in Hokkaido Toyako in July 2008.

The David and Lucile Packard Foundation, the International Labor Organization, the United Nations Foundation, UNICEF, Exxon/Mobil and GlaxoSmithKline all pledged to take some form of unspecified action as well.

At the U.N. General Assembly meeting in September, Norway pledged $1 billion for the Global Campaign for the Health Millennium Development Goals to improve child and maternal health and reduce disease; the Netherlands pledged $178 million for gender equality and maternal health; and Denmark pledged $21 million for reproductive health and HIV-AIDS.

Kara Alaimo is a New York-based writer.
Women's eNews welcomes your comments. E-mail us at editors@womensenews.org.

Precautions for Nepali Women in Foreign Employment

2007-11-04T18:27:00.000-08:00

Precautions for Nepali Women in Foreign Employment
http://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/HL0711/S00088.htm
Monday, 5 November 2007, 1:59 pmColumn: Mohan Nepali

Precautions for Nepali Women in Foreign Employment
by Mohan Nepali

“Agents in Saudi Arab trade women from other countries; housemaids are mostly exploited,” spoke a Nepali man working in Saudi Arab for more than 10 years in a discussion program co-sponsored by the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM) and Samanta (an NGO working for social and gender equity). Now on leave in Nepal, he added, “People generally assume that private employers did not pay their workers for several months in Saudi Arab, but the major truth is that agents who trade human beings take five or six month’s remuneration of the concerned workers. This is the main reason why employers refuse to pay illegal workers for several months.”

Women organized under a social institution Pourakhi trained by the UNIFEM and Samanta conducted the discussion program Friday in Lalitpur with special reference to foreign employment and HIV-AIDS. “Precautionary awareness is required before going abroad for employment,” said Manju Gurung, the Chairwoman of Pourakhi (a social institution working for the awareness of Nepali women going to different countries for employment). She stressed on the need to understand legal procedures regarding pre-departure, during-departure and post-departure stages. “Many are victimized as they are uninformed about the exact procedures,” she added. Referring to her own experience as a worker in Japan, she said many women sexually victimized in foreign countries do not like to expose their sufferings due to the patriarchal-conservative structure of society. “Even male workers are prone to sexual exploitation in a closed society such as Saudi Arab,” Gurung added. She blames on the Nepalis’ culture of silence for not being able to expose innumerable incidents of human rights violations against the Nepali workers in Arab and other countries. She said both male and female workers in foreign countries need to follow prescribed guidelines for safer sex and protection from the HIV-AIDS.

Another speaker in the discussion program Nirmala Bhattarai from the Pourakhi expressed her views that women compared to men are at a higher risk in foreign employment due to patriarchal mindset, state’s discriminatory laws, illiteracy and poverty. She said, “Many Nepali women departing for foreign employment do not know that they have been supplied to a sex market against a proposed normal labor market,” Bhattarai said. She referred to an estimated data that 13,000 Nepali women have been sold in Malaysia alone. She, therefore, emphasized on precautionary awareness.

Many participants in the discussion program agreed on the point that there are various women-selling channels in Nepal and it starts from the channels of women’s own relatives. Participants pointed out that most of the Nepali women are not directly flown to Arab countries but are taken through India with the help of their own relatives. In so many cases women’s relatives themselves are either victimized or are involved in illegal business themselves.

The participants of the discussion program concluded that those interested in foreign employment should have an orientation course to be familiar with the likely circumstances and possibilities in their target countries. There was consensus among the participants that people should go for foreign employment only through legal channels with all legal records so that violations of labor laws could be exposed and compensations and workers’ security sought. However, their emphasis was on having proper awareness on HIV-AIDS as a growing number of Nepali women and men are returning to Nepal with the HIV positive.

"Punjab: The enemy within" documentary screened at Chandigarh Press Club

2007-11-04T09:49:00.000-08:00

"Punjab: The enemy within" documentary screened at Chandigarh Press Club
Punjab Newsline Network
http://www.punjabnewsline.com/content/view/6388/38/

Sunday, 04 November 2007 CHANDIGARH: A documentary film "Punjab: The Enemy Within" was Sunday screened to an select audience including few journalists. Majority of media was kept away from the show.

The documentary takes the rampant menace of drug by horns. This documentary was first premiered in Los Angeles in 2006. Without blaming anyone the aim of movie, is to generate awareness in minds of addicts, police officials, couriers of drugs, vendors who have set up stalls. It is also meant to sensitize the general population of Punjab as to how drugs are all set to wipe out generations and leave youth virtually crippled.

It features people from all walks of life associated with the problem – addicts, state police, people working on de-addiction and those creating awareness at the grass root level. The movie calls upon for an integrated approach of all three states – Punjab, Haryana and Rajasthan.

Editor-in-chief, HK Dua was the chief guest at occasion. He called for a multi-pronged approached to solve the problem. He said that sensitizing youth was need of hour, which can save generations to come.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion. Panelists included Tejinder Walia (a self-confessed drug addict for 23 years, who is on path of de-addiction for last eight years), Dr Jitendra Jain (DIG Bathinda working extensively on this issue), Dr Deepinder Singh (has worked with UNODC projects on addiction), Prabhjot Singh (bureau chief The Tribune) and the filmmaker Reema Ananad.

All experts of the view as to catch the young children, who can be saved from getting into clutches of this menace. It was also emphasized that an addict cannot be changed without bringing a change in atmosphere that surrounds him or her. Need for inculcating values in children right from the beginning.

Even the Punjabi songs, aired on TV, were held responsible for glorifying the drug addicts and sending messages that addicts get the best in world from car to relation.

Panelists were of the view that when national policies for AIDS, education and other issues have been drafted, why not have a national policy to counter drug abuse. Audience opined that forthcoming MP elections in Punjab will witness a heavy inflow of drugs and both addicts and peddlers will have a busy time. They proposed special check on inflow of this thing in Punjab.

AIDS can be a ground for divorce, Court says

2007-11-04T09:38:00.000-08:00

AIDS can be a ground for divorce, Court says
http://mangalorean.com/news.php?newstype=local&newsid=57114

NEW DELHI Nov 2: Marriage without sex is 'anathema' and an AIDS affliction in a life partner could be a valid ground to grant divorce to the spouse seeking it, a local court has held.

Observing that a person cannot live 'happily' with a HIV positive spouse, the court granted divorce to a man from his wife suffering from the dreaded disese saying her ailment had prevented him from leading a 'happy married life'.

"The disease being sexually communicable, therefore, the petitioner(husband) cannot be reasonably expected to live with the respondent (wife) and lead a happy married life," Additional District Judge Rajnish Bhatnagar said while passing the judgement in favour of the husband who had sought divorce.

The Court further said that sex was an integral part of marriage and the husband was deprived of that enjoyment as the wife was suffering with the communicable disease.

"The HIV status of the wife no doubt resulted in non enjoyment of sexual intercourse between the parties and marriage without sex is anathema," the court said.

In this case the couple belonging to Kerala got married seven years ago in October 2000 and moved to the national capital.

Five months after their marriage the wife was found HIV positive in a medical test conducted during her pregnancy.

The husband, however, was found HIV negative when he underwent the test.
PTI

You Might Lose Your Job If You Smoke or Eat Junk Food

2007-11-04T09:26:00.000-08:00

You Might Lose Your Job If You Smoke or Eat Junk Food
http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2007/11/03/you-might-lose-your-job-if-you-smoke-or-eat-junk-food.aspx

In an effort to reduce health care costs, employers are beginning toscrutinize the lifestyle habits of their employees -- even those thathappen outside of business hours.

It's commonplace for insurance companies to question clients abouttheir smoking habits, weight, or other health issues. However, a newtrend has employers screening employees and new job applicants forthese same factors. The following factors could now put your job onthe line:

1. Smoking
2. Blood pressure
3. Blood glucose levels
4. Body mass
5. Bad cholesterol levels

Currently only a small portion of U.S. employers have taken actionagainst what they deem unhealthy behaviors, but the list is growing.For instance, in September 2007 The Cleveland Clinic began screeningpotential employees for nicotine. If any is found in their systems,they're denied employment.

In 2009, another company, Clarian Health, plans to start chargingemployees $5 per paycheck if they are found using tobacco or to haveabnormal levels of cholesterol or high blood pressure.

Meanwhile, employees at Weyco Incorporated can be charged $50 feesper paycheck not only if they smoke, but if their spouse smokes aswell.

Privacy advocates are concerned that these monitoring trends will getout of hand, with employers charging fines for eating fast food orvisiting a tavern. Most experts believe, however, that as health carecosts continue to rise, employers will continue to enact penaltiesfor unhealthy behaviors.

Sources:The Business Shrink September 27, 2007

Mangalore: Well-known HIV/AIDS Activist Veenadhari is No More

2007-11-03T00:15:00.000-07:00

Mangalore: Well-known HIV/AIDS Activist Veenadhari is No More
http://www.daijiworld.com/news/news_disp.asp?n_id=39814&n_tit=Mangalore%3A%20Well-known%20HIV%2FAIDS%20Activist%20Veenadhari%20is%20No%20More

Daijiworld Media Network – Mangalore (VM)

Mangalore, Nov 2: Well-known social worker and an ardent activist for the rights of HIV infected, Veenadhari passed away on Friday evening in Bangalore.

After a brief term of illness, the Mangalorean former school teacher, a HIV +ve herself, breathed her last in Manipal Hospital, Bangalore.

Veenadhari, who followed and advocated the ayurveda and naturopathy approach to living with HIV/AIDS, was in news when she led a mega drive against the ‘stigmatizing of persons with HIV’ using the red ribbon symbol.

By dedicating her life to the cause of persons with HIV and fighting a daily battle against a society which ostracizes HIV-infected, Veenadhari’s great achievement was the Karavali Positive Women’s and Children’s Network.

Having voiced the concerns of persons with HIV/AIDS at thousands of forums and in national and international seminars, Veenadhari who hailing from a rich family, led a simple life by choice. A full time social worker, Veenadhari was instrumental in identifying women who are infected with HIV and providing them help.

Veenadhari broke up with her husband who unknowingly had passed on the HIV virus to her. When her husband's health deteriorated and he was diagnosed as HIV +ve, it was a deadly blow to Veenadhari. She soon found out that she too had contracted the disease.

The medical fraternity and sections of the government machinery was unhappy with her campaign against the commercialization of the Anti-Retroviral Drug.

"I am HIV +ve, does that make me a lesser human being?" questioned Veenadhari as people pointed fingers at her when she boldly revealed her HIV status.

During her life time, she worked day-and-night offering emotional and psychological support to thousands of persons infected with HIV.

Crossing all boundaries of social secrecy and stigma, Veenadhari with the infrastructure and support from Valored, a social service organization, was responsible for forming numerous groups of medical practioners, advocates, social workers and journalists working for the rights of persons with HIV/AIDS.

A great loss to the society and to the HIV/AIDS awareness movement, Veenadhari’s death has shocked al those who have interacted and known her work.

Also read exclusive story on Veenadhari:
"I AM HIV +VE, DOES THAT MAKE ME A LESSER HUMAN BEING?http://www.daijiworld.com/chan/exclusive_arch.asp?ex_id=16

Estranged women turn HIV+

2007-11-02T00:00:00.000-07:00

Estranged women turn HIV+
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Estranged_women_turn_HIV/articleshow/2510416.cms

2 Nov 2007, 0202 hrs IST,Roli Srivastava,TNN

HYDERABAD: So far, promiscuous men have been held largely responsible for fuelling the HIV epidemic in India, but HIV/Aids experts now say men alone cannot be blamed.

Promiscuity among women is on the rise, they say, with an increasing number of women reporting to be HIV positive while the status of their spouses is negative.

Doctors working closely with HIV/Aids patients at government hospitals say they are seeing more HIV positive women among discordant couples (where one is positive and another negative). Statistics of such cases from state-run maternity hospitals in Hyderabad are perhaps not only a social indicator but also confirm the trend.

"In discordant couples, women are HIV positive in around 30 per cent cases and the husbands are negative," says Dr G Shailaja, superintendent of the Government Maternity Hospital, Koti, who has been studying the issue closely.

These cases started coming to light over the past two to three years when expectant mothers started undergoing HIV tests. Dr Shailaja says such a high number of HIV positive women among discordant couples was "unexpected." The average age of the infected women is around 30 years.

Doctors also note that most women cite "blood transfusion" as the reason that led to the infection. Globally, 80 per cent of the women are infected with HIV through their spouses or life partners. "But now we are told there are more reported cases of discordant couples with women positive and their partners negative," says K Padmavathi, deputy director of the Andhra Pradesh State Aids Control Society.

Those working in the field of HIV/Aids say such cases are not really city-specific. Doctors working with HIV/Aids cases for over a decade note that if earlier, the percentage of HIV positive men was 90 per cent (among couples who approached them), the percentage has dropped to 65 per cent now.

"It may have dropped further," says Dr P Balamba, obstetrician and gynaecologist and former additional superintendent of Osmania General Hospital.

She says the while the trend has been there for some time now, the numbers have started increasing only over the past few years.

Dispelling a myth before it takes form, Dr Balamba says the trend is not as prevalent among working women but is being reported from all walks of life across social classes.

"From workers to the highly educated," she says, her observations based largely on her experience at the Government Maternity Hospital, Nayapul and now from her private practice.

"Promiscuity is increasing among girls not just in urban but even in rural areas," she says, adding that perhaps this was being brushed under the carpet and is now coming forth with HIV statistics as the indicator.

Another gynaecologist, who did not wish to be named, said women were more susceptible to the infection (compared to men) given that the concentration of the virus is higher in semen.

Interestingly, doctors observe that families and husbands in particular have been "considerate and supportive" of their HIV positive wives, but they point out this observation is not really applicable to the more educated class where some cases have ended in divorce. However, in most cases families have been supportive, doctors say.

India bank aids prostitutes-Many hope that investing will end a cycle of poverty

2007-10-27T05:20:00.000-07:00

India bank aids prostitutes-Many hope that investing will end a cycle of poverty
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/world/5249975.html

By RAMOLA TALWAR BADAM
Associated Press Oct. 27, 2007,
MUMBAI, INDIA — In the heart of Mumbai's red light district, several prostitutes sit on brown plastic chairs in a narrow room waiting to do something many have never been able to do before: deposit their savings in a bank.

The small bank is the initiative of the sex workers and aims to help them break the vicious cycle of poverty and exploitation that keeps them indebted to brothel owners.

The simple act of squirreling away some money was previously out of reach for many customers of the Sangini Women's Cooperative Bank.

Prostitutes are often shunned by regular banks or lack residence documents or birth certificates officially required to open an account in India.

Now, for the last three months, they have been able to enter the bank daily to deposit an average of 10 to 20 rupees (25 to 50 cents) and dream of things they will do as their savings grow.

"We may not have house papers, but we also dream," said Indra Jai, 40, who was lured from a southern village 20 years ago with promises of a job in Mumbai and then forced into prostitution. "We should get respect; our money is also good."

Jai said she dreams of buying a small house and a tailor shop in her village and paying for her 19-year-old son's college education.

The government estimates there are 3 million prostitutes in India, many of whom start as children lured by traffickers. Others are teenagers sold by impoverished family members to brothel owners.

They spend up to five years working for free in dingy, airless rooms to repay the brothel owner's investment. To survive they often turn to moneylenders charging exorbitant interest rates and drive themselves further into debt and dependence.

Thoughts of breaking the cycle drive the bank's more than 900 customers.

"If we fall ill who will look after us? We must save when we are still earning," said Jai, a founding member of the bank.

The bank — three narrow rooms that also house a cooperative store — is filled with women, some queuing up in front of a teller, others shopping for soap, food, grains and condoms.

Mumbai's prostitutes began a women's cooperative group two years ago with support from PSI, a Washington-based nonprofit organization.

The bank and store were launched with $40,000 in funding from PSI.

"We thought it would take a year to get 100 customers, but we opened more than 100 accounts on day one," said Shilpa Merchant, PSI's Mumbai director.

Guided by PSI, the bank invests daily deposits totaling 25,000 rupees ($625) in fixed savings schemes with state-run banks earning 9.5 percent interest per year.

The women say entering the bank every day helps them hold onto their dreams.

"Sometimes I think my life is a waste," said Gulabja Sheikh, 35, who was sold at 15 by her parents. "But now I have my house to work for."

India's gay prince appears on Oprah show

2007-10-26T09:59:00.000-07:00

India's gay prince appears on Oprah show
http://www.rediff.com/news/2007/oct/26look1.htm
October 26, 2007

Manvendra Singh Gohil, scion of the Rajpipla royal family from Gujarat, sure has come a long way.

In 1995, he got married with fanfare but it soon ended owing to his homosexuality. Manvendra Singh faced confusion, personal pain and tensions within his family, and even had a nervous breakdown.

On October 24, he was a guest on the Oprah Winfrey Show, talking about his past.
Manvendra's traditional, conservative and feudal background made his personal story interesting and eye-catching. Oprah would have never heard of Manvendra but for his 'royal linage'. Till 2002-03, he was a quite unknown, fearful, and shy but sensitive homosexual trying to do his bit for gays in India, largely to help himself.

Surprisingly, he could not name his sexual urge for almost three decades. Unbelievably, he claims that in Mumbai during the 1980s and early 1990s, where he was a student, he could not find useful information or literature for gays.

He agreed to marry a princess from Jhabua, Madhya Pradesh, because, he claims, "I thought after marriage I will be alright because I never knew and nobody told me that I was gay and [that] this is normal. Homosexuality is not a disease. I tremendously regret for ruining her life. I feel guilty."

He even took up yoga to pacify his agony. In the library, he read about homosexuality in a book under the heading of `sexual deviation.' In the book, it was described as a mental disorder. A few years after the painful divorce, he came across a column by gay activist Ashok Row Kavi. He bought Kavi's magazine for gays Bombay Dost and quickly got in touch with Kavi. Through him and the magazine Manvendra met many likeminded people. He got deeply involved in a social network to help gays in Gujarat.

"In America I have been interviewed five times, including [by] The New York Times, The Washington Post and Los Angeles Times because I am from a former royal family, and Westerners have respect for people like us," Manvendra says. He says ABC made a film on him and his trust Lakshya, (Gay prince to form sexual minorities forum http://www.rediff.com/news/2006/dec/07prince.htm

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Manavendra Singh Gohil, a member of the Rajpipla royal family, who is known as the 'gay prince' for his outspoken stand on his sexual orientation, is planning to form a national forum for the sexual minorities.

The non-governmental organisation chaired by Gohil, Lakshya Trust, has recently won the 'UNAID Civil Society Award 2006' for its contribution in preventing HIV/AIDS among homosexual men.

The front, which will be known as India Forum for Sexual Minorities, will bring several issues faced by the sexual minorities at the national level, Gohil said.

Lakshya Trust is engaged in spreading AIDS awareness in Vadodara, Surat and Rajkot.
The organisation is also planning to extend its activities to other cities in Gujarat like Porbandar, Jamnagar and Vapi, with the support of Gujarat State AIDS Control Society.) which works for HIV/AIDS awareness among the gays of Gujarat.

Rajpipla, where his ancestors were kings, is in the lap of the Saputara range of hills in south Gujarat. To reach the green and beautiful Rajpipla town -- with a population of 75,000 -- one has to cross either the Narmada river or its tributary Karjat. In this tribal district area, Manvendra is known as Yuvraj Shri Manvendra Singhji Raghubir Singhji Sahib. He is into organic farming and selling manure made of earthworms. His father Raghubir Singh's beautiful 35-room pink palace has been converted into a heritage hotel.

"I belong to a very conservative and traditional family," says Manvendra. "It was difficult to be gay in my family. The villagers worship us and we are role models for them. My family didn't allow us to mix with ordinary or low-caste people. Our exposure to the liberal world was minimal. Only when I was hospitalized after my nervous breakdown in 2002 did my doctor inform my parents about my sexuality. All these years I was hiding my sexuality from my parents, family and people. I never liked it and I wanted to face the reality. When I came out in the open and gave an interview to a friendly journalist, my life was transformed. Now, people accept me."

But his mother Rukmini Devi has still not come to terms with her son's sexual preference. Mother and son hardly talk. Father Raghubir Singh has reconciled after seeing his son's work in the field of HIV-AIDS awareness. Lakshya has reached 17,000 gays on Gujarat and won a 2006 UNAIDS award. Manvendra plans an exclusive nursing home for HIV/AIDS patients in Rajpipla.

But, his "people" -- the tribal people and villagers -- want "yuvraj" (prince) to have an inheritor to the "throne of Rajpipla," claims Manvendra. He is thinking of adopting a son. Before granting him a divorce, his wife told him, `Never do this to any other woman.' He has vowed not to marry again under family or public pressure.

Text: Sheela Bhatt Photograph courtsey: The Oprah Winfrey Show

Woman With AIDS Virus Sent to Prison

2007-10-21T10:26:00.000-07:00

Woman With AIDS Virus Sent to Prison
http://www.missourinet.com/gestalt/go.cfm?objectid=B87C72D0-C49A-6718-7CE9FA2011255EA1
Friday, October 19, 2007, 8:34 AM
By Bob Priddy

A woman with the AIDS virus convicted of having unprotected sex with aboyfriend has been sent to prison for a decade. 27-year-old AngelaHarris could have been sentenced to prison for life if the boyfriendhad tested positive for HIV. But so far he's negative.

Police say Harris' mother has told them the woman had sex with as manyas 100 people. Harris' lawyer says that's not correct. Investigatorshave found at least three of Harris' partners. One has tested positive,but can't be sure he got it from her.

Harris has known since she had a miscarriage at age 14 that she has thevirus.

Aids counsellor tried to rape me: student

2007-10-21T10:24:00.000-07:00

Aids counsellor tried to rape me: student
'I was surprised by the nurse's response'
http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=125&art_id=vn20071020085919413C235847
October 20 2007 at 11:25AM
By Nondumiso Mbuyazi

A young Durban student's routine visit to a clinic because she was not feeling well turned into a terrifying experience after she said an Aids counsellor there tried to rape her.

The 23-year-old woman, of Krans-kop, said she went to the clinic in Lancers Road, Umbilo, where she was advised to have an HIV test.

After taking her blood sample, the counsellor told her to wait in his office while he fetched her results. "He then came back and locked his office door. I thought this was strange but then thought maybe he didn't want other people to hear my results. He then asked me whether I knew how to use a condom," she said.

She told him that she did know how to use one since she was studying through Unisa to become a social worker, but it seemed the counsellor was adamant on showing her how to use the condom.

"I was shocked when he pulled down his pants and demanded I show him how a condom is used. I declined because I know the rules of being a social worker or a counsellor and they definitely do not include you or a counsellor doing a physical or practical demonstration," the woman said.
What frightened her even more, she said, was when the counsellor told her to get on the bed so he could show her how people contracted Aids. "I refused to do this.

"By now I could see he was getting annoyed and that's when we got into a tussle. I kept on demanding he open the door and let me out but he wouldn't hear of it until I gave in to his demands," she said.

A case of attempted rape has been opened against the counsellor, although a senior nurse at the clinic advised her not to. "I was surprised by the nurse's response when I told her what had happened in the counsellor's office.

"She told me to calm down and she would sort everything out, but she pleaded with me not to report the matter to the police because the man could lose his job," she said.

The traumatised woman said she still did not know how she managed to push her way out of his office and escape because she could see that the counsellor "meant business" and was not going to let her go.

Police confirmed that a case had been opened against the counsellor, but nobody had been arrested.

Consultation of PLHA, Law and Media for Obtaining Positive Outcome of NACP-III for Sustainable Development of the Community - Chandigarh

2007-10-18T11:03:00.000-07:00

Consultation of PLHA, Law and Media for Obtaining Positive Outcome of NACP-III for Sustainable Development of the Community - Chandigarh
Chandigarh Network of People Living With HIV, 18th October 2007,
at CYP Asia Center, Sector 12, Chandigarh , India
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/loveandaids/message/5006

On October 18, of this month Drop-in-centre has completed two years of existence. Past few years were successful years in terms of achievements and obtaining results pertaining to Advocacy, IEC activities and issues related to care and support. On the advent of NACP-III, PLHA thought that participatory approach of including important stakeholders can help the community obtaining positive outcomes of NACP III objectives.

One day workshop on ‘Consultation of PLHA, Law and Media for Obtaining Positive Outcome of NACP-III for Sustainable Development of the Community - Chandigarh’ was conducted by Chandigarh Network of People Living with HIV on 18th October, 2007 at the CYP Asia Centre. Last year State Consultation on ARV Treatment Access, Care, Support and Rights of PLHA – Chandigarh was organized by INP+ and CNP+ on 18th and 19th October, 2006 at the CYP Asia Centre, Chandigarh, India for detail report visit:
http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/aids/comm_update/res-0 6-191006-02.doc

This year also we initiated the same and invitations for participation and Facilitation were sent to different organizations and individuals in Chandigarh. Around 40 PLHA and their family members from Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, they were facilitated by trained facilitators who were actively working in the field. This workshop was well received by the media. All the participants appreciated the arrangements made for the conduct of this Workshop and participated in various sessions of Workshop and deliberated on the Consultation of PLHA, Law and Media for Obtaining Positive Outcome of NACP-III for Sustainable Development of the Community. The key issues, suggestions and commendations on different issues are described below.

PLHA, Medical Professionals, Para Medical, lawyers, social activists, NGOs, academicians and others took part in this Workshop. The Workshop was open to all, by way of information through invitation.

The participants, facilitators and others were welcome to workshop by Commonwealth Youth Ambassador for Positive Living Ms. Pooja Thakur, President CNP+ and she shared that with regular initiative the members of network have 178 member families of the PLHA and a majority of them are struggling to get employment. Moreover, they are unable to find jobs, which are easier on their fading health and the network also supports 72 children and has been requesting the UT Administration to give them space to build a hostel for thechildren. Children who are on Anti-Retroviral Treatment need special care. They have to be given nutritious diet and regular medicines. Most of them, however, live with their relatives, who cannot take care of the children this way, Pooja focused. The members of network are from Punjab, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh and Chandigarh. She added the increasing awareness about HIV/AIDS, however, has not helped the PLHA to lead a normal life. They still face discrimination in society and many have lost their jobs due to the disease, and an expensive second-line treatment that majority of them cannot afford. Moreover, there is no concrete policy for HIV/AIDS orphans in the city

The workshop was inaugurated by Mr. Raj K. Mishra, Regional Director, CYP Asia Centre. He exhorted the participants to organise themselves, and work for the development of the Community. This can be done by first empowering themselves through education and skill building. After the inauguration Mr. Nawendu Jha highlighted the Objectives of the Consultation and Brief on Agenda of Workshop was also discussed.

PLHA had come from far off areas like Punjab, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh along with them were their HIV positive children — some who have been on treatment at the PGI for as many as seven years and have been healthy.

The technical sessions were conducted by different facilitators Mr. Raj K. Mishra, Regional Director, CYP Asia Centre - Understanding NACP-III, Dr. Vinita Gupta, Jt. PD, SACS, Chandigarh - Role of SACS for Strengthening PLHA with Reference to NACP-III , Dr. Kavita Chawan – Goals of NACP-III on Rehabilitation, Care and Support, Strategies of SACS for Positive Out Comes, Dr. Avnish Jolly – Understanding PLHA , Dr. Archana Singh, Department of Mass-communication, Panjab University, Chandigarh- Role of Media in context to PLHA and Mr. Raman Chawla, Lawyers Collective, New Delhi - HIV /AIDS Bill. Open Discussion on Economic Empowerment of PLHA was also conducted by Mr. Nawendu Jha, Project Coordinator, Drop-In Center, Chandigarh.

Sessions on Group Discussion / Initiatives, Issues and problem Sharing and Role Play were conducted by Anil Kumar, Member CNP+. Panel Discussions and Different Questionnaires were in detail discussed in interactive sessions by Ms. Meena Vij, Founder and Former President, Chandigarh Network of People Living With HIV.

Throughout the workshop the speakers discussed in detail with the participants the skills required to be good peer educators. They were advised how to form network in their areas and villages, and how the members could derive the maximum benefit from them. The participants were also empowered on different health related issues and different guidelines and home remedies were discussed with them in length to cope-up with stress, maintain their activity of daily life and whom to contact during illness.

The workshop was concluded by Ms. Meena Vij with hope that the public can show love to PLHA and not only allow them to rebuild their lives in the community but work upon GIPA.

“Together we stand’, to symbolise unity in challenging HIV/AIDS stigma. Stigma, ‘a powerful and discrediting social label that radically changes the way individuals view themselves and are viewed as persons’, can be felt (internal stigma), leading to an unwillingness to seek help and access resources, or enacted (external stigma), leading to discrimination on the basis of HIV status or association with someone who is living with HIV/AIDS.

Because stigma has an impact on prevention and care it is important to address it directly. However, stigma-mitigation practice has not been well informed by theory and research. An urgent need was identified for indicators of stigma, which can be used to develop interventions and measure their success.

Drop-In Center - CNP+ Project (Funded by SACS, Chandigarh under NACO Scheme) thus aims to pave the way for a stigma-mitigation process by developing well-researched indicators of HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. The project has focused on three key areas essential to HIV/AIDS:

Faith-based organisations and communities as important sources of support to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs)
National government departments as workplaces committed to dealing with stigma through good policy and practice
The relationship between PLHAs and the media as an example of how empowered individuals can impact positively on perceptions and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS.

A comprehensive review, two consultative workshops and the establishment of reference groups in the focus areas of the project ensured that a diverse range of opinions and experiences were reflected.

The project consists of six aspects:

A literature review to provide a theoretical understanding of stigma
The development of indicators of internal and external stigma through this fieldwork and in consultation with experts in the field
The documentation of promising practices which mitigate HIV/AIDS stigma
A qualitative study of stigma experiences and perspectives through focus-group discussions and key-informant interviews across the community.
A media scan to contextualise and locate the fieldwork in a particular time and place
The development of guidelines to assist those who wish to develop interventions to impact positively on HIV/AIDS stigma.

It is very important to address HIV/AIDS stigma in order to improve the quality of the lives of people living with HIV/AIDS and to address prevention effectively. Powerful negative metaphors related to HIV/AIDS reinforce stigma and create a sense of otherness. Bothering occurs when blame and shame are assigned to people living with HIV/AIDS. This sets a moral tone that contributes towards people conceptualizing PLHAs as different, and guides thinking toward a ‘them’ and ‘us’ division. When this division occurs, a person is less likely to identify with the other group, in this case PLHAs. For example, metaphors those refer to HIV/AIDS as a plague – and PLHAs by association as the carriers – present PLHAs in a dehumanizing and alien light. The consequence of bothering is that certain groups may feel that they are immune to the risk of HIV infection. Stigma also influences how we respond to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Instead of using resources and energy effectively to provide a caring, compassionate response, PLHAs, people representing risk groups, and people affected by HIV/AIDS have become targets for blame and punishment. This has only heightened their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS and pushed them into a vicious cycle of stigmatization and discrimination.

As part of the qualitative exploration of HIV/AIDS stigma, collected many personal experiences of people living with HIV/AIDS who have started to heal emotionally because of supportive and non-stigmatizing environments. PLHAs mentioned particularly the value of proper pre and post test HIV counseling, the provision of factual information about the virus and opportunistic diseases, and counseling about disclosure. PLHAs highlighted the importance of acceptance by their family, faith group, friends and colleagues in helping them to overcome the initial shock of discovering their status. Acceptance also helped them to accept their status and to live positively. Where PLHAs have not been able to find such support, they have also been more likely to internalize societal stigma.

These guidelines highlight the importance of such an accepting environment – not only for the healing of PLHAs, but also for creating an environment that allows open discussion and disclosure. It also reduces the sense that HIV/AIDS is somebody else’s problem.

These guidelines were developed to provide leaders of PLHA organizations with user-friendly recommendations on training for PLHAs, to strengthen their media advocacy roles in HIV/AIDS stigma-mitigation. Additional sets of guidelines are available for the faith and national government workplace sectors. The guidelines are not exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with other guideline documents on HIV/AIDS and stigma within the three sectors.

The purpose of these guidelines is:

To share the findings of in a user-friendly way
To provide recommendations on training for PLHAs to strengthen their media advocacy roles in stigma mitigation.

“Acceptance is the key to many doors. And acceptance is probably one of the keys to the stigma door too.” Ms. Pooja Thakur, President CNP+

The National AIDS Control Programme Phase III aims to go beyond the high risk behavior groups covered by Targeted Interventions. This would entail extension of interventions to populations.

Objectives of the Social Assessment

· To undertake a comprehensive Social Assessment that documents the prevalence and risk of HIV/AIDS,
· To understand their levels of knowledge, social and behavioural causes and consequences of HIV/AIDS (including stigma),
· To assess current strategies used for PDTC of HIV/AIDS in order to ensure appropriate programme design and implementation to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and improve its management.
· To provide information for pre-project stakeholder consultations and to design continuous stakeholder consultations in the programme.

Assessment Methodology

· Review of literature
· Primary assessment among tribal population; and programme implementers and service providers
· Relevant literature survey
· Analysis of the various policy documents
· Analysis of NACO Project documents and assessment reports available

Basic Information

The following are the salient findings regarding behavioral and other practices that are relevant to the programme planners:

· Low awareness and knowledge regarding STI/HIV/AIDS
· Widely varying sexual practices (high level of pre-marital and extra marital sexual practices) and contact with external high risk population make them vulnerable
· Specific communication strategy designed to suit the needs and culture of the target group in local dialects would be necessary. The choice of medium for communication would also be critical. Folk media, Inter Personal Communication and messages through influencer groups could be main choices
· Non-availability and/or lack of access to health care facilities were one of the main factors discouraging health seeking. Trust in faith healers and non qualified private practitioners and easy accessibility made them rely on these sources for seeking treatments for illnesses. Role of such providers in referral needs to be reckoned in programme design
· Gender bias towards males for health care seeking needs to be addressed
· Knowledge regarding STI and symptoms are low and misconceptions that exist
exasperates this situation
· High level of stigma associated with STI and HIV/AIDS is a challenge that needs to be addressed
· Youth are emerging as a highly vulnerable group in these areas

Policy Environment

The following some of the policies have been examined and analyzed for their implications on the Prevention-
· National HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Policy
· National Health Policy 2002
· National Population Policy 2002
· National Rural Health Mission-Vision Document
· National HIV/AIDS Bill
· Manipur State Level Policy on HIV/AIDS
· The National RCH and RNTCP Program Documents

Institutional Issues

· A special function at the National and State level needs to be created and positioned to deal with issues relating to policies, coverage and implementation of interventions among the tribal population and other socially disadvantaged sections of the population who are vulnerable to HIV.
· The district level planning envisaged during NACP III needs to identify the vulnerable and socially disadvantaged populations as well as the tribal population that need to be covered in the different districts of each state.
· The Governing Board and Executive Committee of each SACS can be expanded to include members from the Social Welfare Board and Tribal Development departments for better understanding of the requirements of the populations and appropriately plan for intervention and services in those areas.
· The convergence with RCH II especially in the areas of Tribal Plan, Rural, Urban Poor and the approaches to mainstreaming gender and equity can be attempted in order that the service availability and service provision can be linked. The policy and goals can be studied and the same be tied up with in the state PIP for serving the tribal population and other marginalized and socially excluded population.
· Behavioral studies using a ethnographic approach need to be carried out in different tribal and rural belts to better understand the risk and vulnerability factors of the specific population in order to design programme and interventions for these populations.
· Capacity building of the NACO and SACS staff on the Social Development issues, gender, equity and Social Exclusion needs to be provided in order that the staff are sensitized and appreciate the necessity to include and mainstream such aspects into the programme.
· District level structures need to be created for planning the district level HIV/AIDS intervention with evidence for planning and capacity needs to be built on different aspects of programme planning and management

Recommendations

· Review of laws and policies and make them specific to tribal population
· Policy on specific interventions to be taken up with the tribal population and the necessity for the state and the district plans to reflect these over the initial period of NACP III
· Provision of clear budgetary allocation for working with the tribal population to emphasize the importance
· Convergence as a strategy with other programmes needs to be worked out in order that cost-effective interventions can be initiated
· Introducing a function of social development within NACO and train and sensitize staff of NACO on these issues in order that it can be mainstreamed
· Inter-sector collaboration with ministries such as Environment & Forests, Tribal
Development, Social Welfare and Tourism to arrive at certain common minimum
programme
· Constitute a working group at the national level for identifying strategies to work with the tribal population
· Initiate mapping exercise at the state level in order to prioritize
· Expand the Governing Body and The Executive Committee at the state levels to include representatives of tribal development and social welfare
· Develop communication material in the local dialects and languages with a clear focus on changes that are intended to be brought about
· In states strengthen the NGO advisor with a support unit to effectively handle such Interventions
· Develop appropriate structure at the district levels to implement HIV/AIDS programmes and also plan for priorities at the district level
· To have mechanisms to generate the disaggregated information regarding tribal population at the district level at different service provision centers
· Research studies to establish the relationship between migration and tribal risk factors needs to be initiated for evidence to plan for these
· Initiation of training programmes for service providers to sensitize them to issues of tribal population in order that their attitudes are conducive to the tribal population
· Carry out a detailed assessment of the private sector organizations that are working in the tribal areas and plan for their involvement through consultations
After understanding NACP-III insight on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights are very important. For many years since the advent of HIV/AIDS, various intergovernmental, non-governmental and governmental bodies have recognized the important connection between the protection of human rights and effective responses to HIV/AIDS.
The most valuable document on Consultation on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights (Geneva, 23-25 September 1996) Report of the Secretary-General which advocates Public health interests do not conflict with human rights. On the contrary, it has been recognized that when human rights are protected, less people become infected and those living with HIV/AIDS and their families can better cope with HIV/AIDS; A rights-based, effective response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic involves establishing appropriate governmental institutional responsibilities, implementing law reform and support services and promoting a supportive environment for groups vulnerable to HIV/AIDS and for those living with HIV/AIDS. According to it there are many steps that States can take to protect HIV-related human rights and to achieve public health goals. The 12 Guidelines elaborated by the Consultation for States to implement an effective, rights-based response are summarized below.

Guideline 1: States should establish an effective national framework for their response to HIV/AIDS which ensures a coordinated, participatory, transparent and accountable approach, integrating HIV/AIDS policy and programme responsibilities across all branches of Government.
Guideline 2: States should ensure, through political and financial support, that community consultation occurs in all phases of HIV/AIDS policy design, programme implementation and evaluation and that community organizations are enabled to carry out their activities, including in the field of ethics, law and human rights, effectively.
Guideline 3: States should review and reform public health laws to ensure that they adequately address public health issues raised by HIV/AIDS, that their provisions applicable to casually transmitted diseases are not inappropriately applied to HIV/AIDS and that they are consistent with international human rights obligations.
Guideline 4: States should review and reform criminal laws and correctional systems to ensure that they are consistent with international human rights obligations and are not misused in the context of HIV/AIDS or targeted against vulnerable groups.
Guideline 5: States should enact or strengthen anti-discrimination and other protective laws that protect vulnerable groups, people living with HIV/AIDS and people with disabilities from discrimination in both the public and private sectors, ensure privacy and confidentiality and ethics in research involving human subjects, emphasize education and conciliation, and provide for speedy and effective administrative and civil remedies.
Guideline 6: States should enact legislation to provide for the regulation of HIV-related goods, services and information, so as to ensure widespread availability of qualitative prevention measures and services, adequate HIV prevention and care information and safe and effective medication at an affordable price.
Guideline 7: States should implement and support legal support services that will educate people affected by HIV/AIDS about their rights, provide free legal services to enforce those rights, develop expertise on HIV-related legal issues and utilize means of protection in addition to the courts, such as offices of ministries of justice, ombudspersons, health complaint units and human rights commissions.
Guideline 8: States, in collaboration with and through the community, should promote a supportive and enabling environment for women, children and other vulnerable groups by addressing underlying prejudices and inequalities through community dialogue, specially designed social and health services and support to community groups.
Guideline 9: States should promote the wide and ongoing distribution of creative education, training and media programmes explicitly designed to change attitudes of discrimination and stigmatization associated with HIV/AIDS to understanding and acceptance.
Guideline 10: States should ensure that government and private sectors develop codes of conduct regarding HIV/AIDS issues that translate human rights principles into codes of professional responsibility and practice, with accompanying mechanisms to implement and enforce these codes.
Guideline 11: States should ensure monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to guarantee the protection of HIV-related human rights, including those of people living with HIV/AIDS, their families and communities.
Guideline 12: States should cooperate through all relevant programmes and agencies of the United Nations system, including UNAIDS, to share knowledge and experience concerning HIV-related human rights issues and should ensure effective mechanisms to protect human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS at international level.

GUIDELINES ON HIV/AIDS AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Preamble

This document contains guidelines adopted at the Second International Consultation on HIV/AIDS and Human Rights, held in Geneva from 23 to 25 September 1996, to assist States in creating a positive, rights-based response to HIV/AIDS that is effective in reducing the transmission and impact of HIV/AIDS and respectful of human rights and fundamental freedoms.

The elaboration of such guidelines was first considered by the 1989 International Consultation on AIDS and Human Rights, organized jointly by the United Nations Centre for Human Rights and the World Health Organization. (1) The United Nations Commission on Human Rights and its Sub-Commission on Prevention of Discrimination and Protection of Minorities have repeatedly reiterated the need for guidelines. (2) Increasingly, the international community has recognized the need for elaborating further how existing human rights principles apply in the context of HIV/AIDS and for providing examples of concrete activities to be undertaken by States to protect human rights and public health in the context of HIV/AIDS.
The purpose of these Guidelines is to translate international human rights norms into practical observance in the context of HIV/AIDS. To this end, the Guidelines consist of two parts: first, the human rights principles underlying a positive response to HIV/AIDS and second, action-oriented measures to be employed by Governments in the areas of law, administrative policy and practice that will protect human rights and achieve HIV-related public health goals.
The Guidelines recognize that States bring to the HIV/AIDS epidemic different economic, social and cultural values, traditions and practices - a diversity which should be celebrated as a rich resource for an effective response to HIV/AIDS. In order to benefit from this diversity, a process of participatory consultation and cooperation was undertaken in the drafting of the Guidelines, so that the Guidelines reflect the experience of people affected by the epidemic, address relevant needs and incorporate regional perspectives. Furthermore, the Guidelines reaffirm that diverse responses can and should be designed within the context of universally recognized international human rights standards.

It is intended that the principal users of the Guidelines will be States, in the persons of legislators and government policy-makers, including officials involved in national AIDS programmes and relevant departments and ministries, such as health, foreign affairs, justice, interior, employment, welfare and education. Other users who will benefit from the Guidelines include intergovernmental organizations (IGOs), non-governmental organizations (NGOs), networks of persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs), community-based organizations (CBOs), networks on ethics, law, human rights and HIV and AIDS service organizations (ASOs). The broadest possible audience of users of the Guidelines will maximize their impact and make their content a reality.

The Guidelines address many difficult and complex issues, some of which may or may not be relevant to the situation in a particular country. For these reasons, it is essential that the Guidelines are taken by critical actors at the national and community level and considered in a process of dialogue involving a broad spectrum of those most directly affected by the issues addressed in the Guidelines. Such a consultative process will enable Governments and communities to consider how the Guidelines are specifically relevant in their country; assess priority issues presented by the Guidelines and devise effective ways to implement the Guidelines in their respective contexts.

In implementing the Guidelines, it should be borne in mind that achieving international cooperation in solving problems of an economic, social, cultural or humanitarian character and promoting and encouraging respect for human rights and for fundamental freedoms for all, is one of the principal objectives of the United Nations. In this sense, international cooperation, including financial and technical support, is a duty of States in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and industrialized countries are encouraged to act in a spirit of solidarity in assisting developing countries to meet the challenges of implementing the Guidelines.
Among the human rights principles relevant to HIV/AIDS are, inter alia:
· The right to non-discrimination, equal protection and equality before the law
· The right to life
· The right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
· The right to liberty and security of person
· The right to freedom of movement
· The right to seek and enjoy asylum
· The right to privacy
· The right to freedom of opinion and expression and the right to freely receive and impart information
· The right to freedom of association
· The right to work
· The right to marry and found a family
· The right to equal access to education
· The right to an adequate standard of living
· The right to social security, assistance and welfare
· The right to share in scientific advancement and its benefits
· The right to participate in public and cultural life
· The right to be free from torture and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment
· The rights of women and children.

The application of specific human rights in the context of the HIV/AIDS epidemic
Examples of the application of specific human rights to HIV/AIDS are illustrated below. These rights should not be considered in isolation but as interdependent rights supporting the Guidelines elaborated in this document. In the application of these rights, the significance of national and regional particularities and various historical, cultural and religious backgrounds must be remembered. It remains the duty of States, however, to promote and protect all human rights within their cultural contexts.
1. Non-discrimination and equality before the law
2. Human rights of women
3. Human rights of children
4. Right to marry and found a family and protection of the family
5. Right to privacy
6. Right to enjoy the benefits of scientific progress and its applications
7. Right to liberty of movement
8. Right to seek and enjoy asylum
9. Right to liberty and security of person
10. Right to education
11. Freedom of expression and information
12. Freedom of assembly and association
13. Right to participation in political and cultural life
14. Right to the highest attainable standard of physical and mental health
15. Right to an adequate standard of living and social security services
16. Right to work
17. Freedom from cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

After understanding these we must understand the following issues and work accordingly for betterment:
Institutional responsibilities and processes:
States should establish an effective national framework for their response to HIV/AIDS which ensures a coordinated, participatory, transparent and accountable approach, integrating HIV/AIDS policy and programme responsibilities, across all branches of Government.
Depending upon existing institutions, the level of the epidemic and institutional cultures, as well as the need to avoid overlapping of responsibilities, the following responses should be considered:
· Education
· Law and justice, including police and corrective services
· Science and research
· Employment and public service
· Welfare, social security and housing
· Immigration, indigenous populations, foreign affairs and development cooperation
· Health
· Treasury and finance
· Defence, including armed services
Supporting community partnership:
States should ensure, through political and financial support, that community consultation occurs in all phases of HIV/AIDS policy design, programme implementation and evaluation and that community organizations are enabled to carry out their activities, including in the fields of ethics, law and human rights, effectively.
Public health legislation:
States should review and reform public health legislation to ensure that they adequately address the public health issues raised by HIV/AIDS, that their provisions applicable to casually transmitted diseases are not inappropriately applied to HIV/AIDS and that they are consistent with international human rights obligations.
· The HIV-positive person in question has been thoroughly counselled
· Counselling of the HIV-positive person has failed to achieve appropriate behavioural changes
· The HIV-positive person has refused to notify, or consent to the notification of his/her partner(s)
· A real risk of HIV transmission to the partner(s) exists
· The HIV-positive person is given reasonable advance notice
· The identity of the HIV-positive person is concealed from the partner(s), if this is practically possible
· Follow-up is provided to ensure support to those involved, as necessary.
Criminal laws and correctional systems:
States should review and reform criminal laws and correctional systems to ensure that they are consistent with international human rights obligations and are not misused in the context of HIV/AIDS or targeted against vulnerable groups.
· The authorization or legalization and promotion of needle and syringe exchange programmes;
· The repeal of laws criminalizing the possession, distribution and dispensing of needles and syringes.
Anti-discrimination and protective laws:
States should enact or strengthen anti-discrimination and other protective laws that protect vulnerable groups, people living with HIV/AIDS and people with disabilities from discrimination in both the public and private sectors, that will ensure privacy and confidentiality and ethics in research involving human subjects, emphasize education and conciliation and provide for speedy and effective administrative and civil remedies.
A national policy on HIV/AIDS and the workplace agreed upon in a tripartite body
Freedom from HIV screening for employment, promotion, training or benefits
Confidentiality regarding all medical information, including HIV/AIDS status
Employment security for workers living with HIV until they are no longer able to work, including reasonable alternative working arrangements
Defined safe practices for first aid and adequately equipped first-aid kits
Protection for social security and other benefits for workers living with HIV, including life insurance, pension, health insurance, termination and death benefits
Adequate health care accessible in or near the workplace
Adequate supplies of condoms available free to workers at the workplace
Workers' participation in decision-making on workplace issues related to HIV/AIDS
Access to information and education programmes on HIV/AIDS, as well as to relevant counselling and appropriate referral
Protection from stigmatization and discrimination by colleagues, unions, employers and clients
Appropriate inclusion in workers' compensation legislation of the occupational transmission of HIV (e.g. needle stick injuries), addressing such matters as the long latency period of infection, testing, counselling and confidentiality.
Non-discriminatory selection of participants, e.g. women, children, minorities
Informed consent
Confidentiality of personal information
Equitable access to information and benefits emanating from research
Counselling, protection from discrimination, health and support services provided during and after participation
The establishment of local and/or national ethical review committees to ensure independent and ongoing ethical review, with participation by members of the community affected, of the research project
Approval for use of safe and efficacious pharmaceuticals, vaccines and medical devices.
Regulation of goods, services and information:
States should enact legislation to provide for the regulation of HIV-related goods, services and information, so as to ensure widespread availability of qualitative prevention measures and services, adequate HIV prevention and care information and safe and effective medication at an affordable price.
Legal support services:
States should implement and support legal support services that will educate people affected by HIV/AIDS about their rights, provide free legal services to enforce those rights, develop expertise on HIV-related legal issues and utilize means of protection in addition to the courts, such as offices of Ministries of Justice, ombudspersons, health complaint units and human rights commissions.
Women, children and other vulnerable groups:
States should, in collaboration with and through the community, promote a supportive and enabling environment for women, children and other vulnerable groups by addressing underlying prejudices and inequalities through community dialogue, specially designed social and health services and support to community groups.
· The role of women at home and in public life
· The sexual and reproductive rights of women and men, including women's ability to negotiate safer sex and make reproductive choices
· Strategies for increasing educational and economic opportunities for women
· Sensitizing service deliverers and improving health care and social support services for women
· The impact of religious and cultural traditions on women.
Changing discriminatory attitudes through education, training and the media
States should promote the wide and ongoing distribution of creative education, training and media programmes explicitly designed to change attitudes of discrimination and stigmatization associated with HIV/AIDS to understanding and acceptance.
Development of public and private sector standards and mechanisms for implementing these standards
States should ensure that Government and the private sector develop codes of conduct regarding HIV/AIDS issues that translate human rights principles into codes of professional responsibility and practice, with accompanying mechanisms to implement and enforce these codes.
State monitoring and enforcement of human rights:
States should ensure monitoring and enforcement mechanisms to guarantee HIV-related human rights, including those of people living with HIV/AIDS, their families and communities.
International cooperation:
States should cooperate through all relevant programmes and agencies of the United Nations system, including UNAIDS, to share knowledge and experience concerning HIV-related human rights issues, and should ensure effective mechanisms to protect human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS at the international level.
· Support translation of the Guidelines into national and minority languages
· Create a widely accessible mechanism for communication and coordination for sharing information on the Guidelines and HIV-related human rights
· Support the development of a resource directory on international declarations/treaties, as well as policy statements and reports on HIV/AIDS and human rights, to strengthen support for the implementation of the Guidelines
· Support multicultural education and advocacy projects on HIV/AIDS and human rights, including educating human rights groups on HIV/AIDS and educating HIV/AIDS and vulnerable groups on human rights issues, and strategies for monitoring and protecting human rights in the context of HIV/AIDS, using the Guidelines as an educational tool
· Support the creation of a mechanism to allow existing human rights organizations and HIV/AIDS organizations to work together strategically to promote and protect the human rights of people living with HIV/AIDS and those vulnerable to infection, including through implementation of the Guidelines
· Support the creation of a mechanism to monitor and publicize human rights abuses in the context of HIV/AIDS
· Support the development of a mechanism to mobilize grass-roots responses to HIV-related human rights and implementation of the Guidelines, including exchange programmes and training among different communities, both within and across regions
· Advocate that religious and traditional leaders take up HIV-related human rights concerns and become part of the implementation of the Guidelines
· Support the development of a manual that would assist human rights and AIDS service organizations in advocating for the implementation of the Guidelines
· Support the identification and funding of NGOs and ASOs at country level to coordinate a national NGO response to promote the Guidelines
· Support, through technical and financial assistance, national and regional NGO networking initiatives on ethics, law and human rights to enable them to disseminate the Guidelines and advocate for their implementation
For more details
http://www.hri.ca/fortherecord1997/documentation/commission/e-cn4-1997-37.htm#CONTENTS#CONTENTS
The acronym “GIPA” was first orated during the preparatory meetings for the Paris AIDS Summit, held in December 1994. GIPA stands for the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS coming directly from the text of the Declaration[1]. The text suggests an initiative to strengthen the capacity of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), networks of PLHA and community based organisations to participate fully at all - national, regional and global - levels, in particular stimulating the creation of supportive political, legal and social environments.

In particular it described the 1983 Denver Principles which are the first documented words of PLHA seeking greater respect and involvement. The exact principles are as follows:

· A refusal to be “victims”.
· A request for support from all people.
· A plea against stigma and discrimination.
· A call to arms of all people with HIV to choose:
ü To be involved at all levels of decision-making.
ü To be included in all AIDS Forums.
ü To be responsible for their own sexual health and to inform their partners of their HIV status.
The Denver Principles further to identify and demanded the following five human rights:
· A full and satisfying sexual and emotional life.
· Quality medical treatment and social service provision.
· Full explanations of medical procedures and risks and the right to choose or refuse treatment.
· Privacy and confidentiality of medical records and disclosure.
· To die and live in dignity.

The specific objectives were as follows:

To generate an operational understanding of the GIPA principle.
To share experiences of various mechanisms of enhancing GIPA.
To explore opportunities and obstacles related to the implementation of GIPA activities.
To explore future perspectives and mechanisms for enhancing GIPA
PLAN OF ACTION
The overall Plan of Action is outlined in the section on Objective 4. Beyond these key strategic areas of Stigma and Discrimination; Communication and Information Sharing; GIPA at Institutional and Policy Levels; Empowerment of PLHA and Groups of PLHA and Advocacy, a few additional areas to focus action on are listed below.

· Survival: The strong will to survive leads to people being involved.
· Success: Successes that have been seen on the ground encourage people to go further.
· Self-determination.
· Networking through the internet and other electronic means.
· Donors have the power to influence policy and programmes and they should try to impact positively on national level programmes through encouragement of GIPA.
· The opportunity to address the environment for safe disclosure through GIPA must not be missed.
· UNAIDS, through GIPA, should include PLHA in high level press briefings and meetings with Presidents and other national level leaders.
Declaration of the Paris AIDS Summit - Important to understand the GIPA visit: http://www.unaids.org/whatsnew/conferences/summit/index.html
PLHA and their Children shared their experiences and concerns on issues that ranged from social isolation, being orphaned, denial of services, access to education, emotional distress and their dreams and aspirations for the future.

The group recognized that Treatment, care and support were addressed comprehensively and key activities and indicators developed in programs providing care, support for children infected and affected with HIV and AIDS ensures improving the quality of lives. While the document deals with most of the key components relating to children affected by AIDS, it is suggested the following issues can be incorporated to make it comprehensively responsive to the needs of PLHA and their family members while collecting different data for

Advocacy paper for PLHIV issues
http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/aids/resource/res-01-250607-02.doc http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/aids/resource/res-01-250607-01.doc

The guideline was developed in several phases:

First, an analysis was conducted of the findings of focus-groups and key informant interviews with an overall focus on enabling factors for stigmamitigation, and the relationship between PLHAs and the media.
Next, there was broad consultation with reference-group members and participants in a consultative workshop. All participants involved in these processes had a wealth of HIV/AIDS knowledge and experience. Participants were representatives of the three chosen sectors – the workplace sector, faith organisations, and PLHAs with media experience.
The third phase drew on the experience of PLHAs who had interacted with the media. In different focus groups were held and involving participants. An effort was made to have gender-specific and race-specific groups, although this was not always possible.
A draft guideline document was developed and the document was circulated amongst selected key HIV/AIDS experts for comment. Their feedback is reflected in this final set of guidelines.

The workshop and other interactions advocate the following components for effective implementation of NACP-III:
policy
leadership
interventions
partnership.
follow-up

Interactions between PLHAs and the media

According to the focus- group participants who were living with HIV/ AIDS, the media lack a sufficient number of empowered PLHA voices. PLHAs felt that they should be consulted to assist with awareness messages and storylines for television and radio programmes. PLHA participants in the focus - groups believed that the media perpetuate certain perceptions of

“If they hear it from the horse’s mouth, then they listen. It’s much better than to just read a story. I think that’s where the media can improve – they [television media] all have the opportunities to do that.” Ranbir Singh, Vice President, CNP+ (Siti Cable Chandigarh – AIDS Day, 2005)

HIV/AIDS and Label PLHAs.

Specifically, PLHAs were represented as sick and dying, ‘immoral’ and/or as only women. Some PLHA focus-group participants had had empowering interactions with the media, while others had had disempowering experiences. According to some PLHAs, media practitioners have selected only aspects of their stories in order to make their reports more newsworthy, or to make the story fit into their perspectives. Most PLHAs mentioned that they were asked inappropriate questions, such as:

• “Who infected you?”
• “Since when have you been positive?”
• “Are you on ARV?”
• “What about your Children and who is caring them?”
• “What was your reaction when you came to know about your HIV status?”
• “Since when have you been positive?”
• “Have you been sleeping around?”
• “Does your partner know that you are HIV positive?”
• “How does it fees when you sleep with someone?”

Recommendations that emerged from the Consultation of PLHA, Law and Media for Obtaining Positive Outcome of NACP-III for Sustainable Development of the Community – Chandigarh are following;

Capacity building and involve PLHAs for effective implementation, monitoring and improvement of NACP-III at organizational level:

Definitions of Core Groups, Bridge, Status etc.,
Develop strategy for enabling environment and effecting sustained behaviour change.
Linkage with BCC, STI, Condoms, Migration trafficking and enhancing rural.
Outreach including Slum population
Develop strategies to empower target communities:
Emerging issues of IDUs.
Sub group for MSMs
Design strategies for convergence and sustainability of interventions.
Convergence between social sectors, Health and Development.
Technical assistance, Capacity Building to NGO, SACS
Sub group on Monitoring and Evaluation of Targeted Interventions
Enabling Environment Sub group
Community Mobilization and Empowerment
Mainstreaming and Partnerships
Human Rights and Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS
Surveillance
Research
Programme Management
Resource Mobilization, Planning and Resource Management
Programme Organization
Coordination and Institutional Arrangements
Decentralization
Monitoring, Evaluation and Implementation Tracking
Involvement at all levels

Involve PLHAs in the media:

People living with HIV/AIDS should be involved in the media to a greater extent. PLHAs have unique experiences and expertise, which could be used as a resource. By involving PLHAs, credibility can be given to HIV/AIDS programmes and reporting.

PLHAs could also be effective spokespersons for stigma-mitigation. The principle of the Greater Involvement of People living with HIV/AIDS commonly referred to as the GIPA principle, encourages organisations to involve PLHAs in addressing the pandemic and so enable PLHAs to act as HIV/AIDS advocates for positive living.

“It is high time that our voices are heard. Let us not have other people telling us what they think should happen to a person who is living with HIV when we are here and know what it is like.” Narayan Dass, Founder and Former Coordinator, Kiran (Knowledge for Information, Rights, Advocacy and Network) Help Line, Chandigarh

Specifically, PLHAs could be involved in the:

• Development of guidelines for media practitioners
• Development of television and radio programmes that are HIV/AIDS stigma-sensitive
• Development of HIV/AIDS educational materials that are HIV/AIDS stigma-sensitive
• Training of media workers on HIV/AIDS and stigma-related issues
• Monitoring of the codes of conduct.

Although HIV/AIDS affects some groups disproportionately because of preexisting social inequalities, recognition of this fact should not be at the cost of stigmatizing such groups and creating the perception that HIV/AIDS only affects these groups, with others perceived as immune to the disease. The media may be able to show that HIV/AIDS affects us all by ensuring a broader representation of PLHAs in terms of demographics such as race, gender, age and geographic location.

Empower PLHAs to interact with the media in an assertive manner

In order for PLHAs to become more actively involved in media advocacy to reduce stigma, effort needs to be made to build the capacity of PLHAs. It is suggested that the training of PLHAs include:
• Raising awareness of PLHAs’ rights
• Improving awareness of good practices for media interacting with
PLHAs, including codes of conduct
• Developing awareness of good media practices for representing
PLHAs – this should include using empowering language and images
• Enhancing awareness of possibilities for redress
• Developing skills for good communication and for sustaining good relationships with the media
• Developing skills in effective public disclosure of HIV status
• Creating a supportive environment among PLHAs involved in working with the media
• Improving skills for handling; leading questions, sensitive questions and difficult questions
• Sensitizing to issues of stigma
• Consent regarding the implications of working with the media. Participating PLHAs gave this advice to PLHAs who intend to interact with the media:
• PLHAs need to first come to terms with their HIV-positive status and past experiences.
• PLHAs need to be prepared for possible stigmatisation and discrimination, which may also affect those related to or associated with the PLHA.
• PLHAs need to be prepared for possible shock reactions of their family and friends in response to public disclosure.
• PLHAs need to be assertive when interacting with media practitioners to ensure that their story is told in the way they intend it to be.

Advocate that media regulatory bodies accept ethical guidelines

PLHA organisations could play an active role in advocating for the integration into the existing media ethics. Following manuals are milestones:

HIV/AIDS in News-Journalists as Catalysts published by UNDP India and Population Foundation of India in 2005.
HIV/AIDS- Media Manual India -2007 published by The EU-India Media Initiative on HIV/AIDS
Mass Communication in prevention and control of AIDS- Strategies for Adolescents written by Dr. Archana, Rakesh Singh, Department of Mass Communication, Panjab University, Chandigarh.

PLHA organisations could approach editors and sub-editors of different Media Houses and Development of guidelines for media for the advocacy in all the languages.

Produce HIV/AIDS stigma-mitigation messages

One way in which a PLHA organisation or others can mitigate stigma is through the production of stigma-mitigating messages using various forms of media – print, television and radio. Some positive examples of stigma-mitigation messages in the media include:
My Brother Nikhal and Phir Milaga are two very useful movies for masses to understated different issues related with HIV/AIDS.
Living Openly – a book highlighting the lives and experiences of People living with HIV/AIDS in India, commissioned by the NACO News letter.
Jina Kada Na Mani Har (Positive Living of HIV+ People) – A weekly article in Punjabi Tribune on Positive Speakers by Dr. Avnish Jolly from December 2006 to March 2007.
Soul City – television, radio and print media campaigns are researched to ensure that the information and messages they broadcast are sensitive and correct.
Bush Radio’s daily Positive Living show, which is presented by a PLHA
Steps for the Future (a range of short documentaries addressing HIV/ AIDS which have been aired on television, in cinemas and are available on video)
Beat It and Positive – both television programmes with a stigmamitigation message and presented by PLHAs

Address stigma with members of PLHA organizations

PLHA organisations can target stigma directly by addressing the topic with members and running training courses on the topic. Knowledge of the nature and effects of stigma can enable members of PLHA organisations to effectively address the topic with others in their own capacity.

Dr. Avnish Jolly

Hundreds Celebrate Gay Prince's Birthday

2007-10-07T21:24:00.000-07:00

Hundreds Celebrate Gay Prince's Birthdayby
http://www.365gay.com/Newscon07/10/100707india.htm
365Gay.com Newscenter Staff
Posted: October 7, 2007 - 4:00 pm ET

(Vadodara, India) Hundreds of people from high and low social stations gathered on the grounds of the royal palace in Gujarat state to celebrate the birthday of India's openly gay prince.
Prince Manvendra Singh Gohil turned 42 on Sunday. A leading figure in India's small LGBT civil rights movement and a vocal supporter of people living with HIV, Prince Manvendra invited gays and PWAs from all over India to celebrate his birthday at a party that featured gay musicians and artists.

It is the 10th birthday that the prince has celebrated this way, brightening the faces of hundreds of people who regularly suffer from discrimination.

Homosexuality is illegal in India, punishable by imprisonment and people living with HIV/AIDS are frequently shunned by their families.

For the prince the occasion allows people to interact and be visible. The two day party was extensively covered by the Indian media which usually treats gays with derision.

Although Prince Manvendra had been out to his family for years - almost as long as he had quietly been involved in gay and HIV groups - he did not speak publicly about his sexuality until last year.

After he granted the Times of India an interview in which he discussed being gay, his family fearing reprisals from the public disowned him.

He was stripped of his title, inheritance, and all rights. Manvendra learned of the decision by his father only be reading announcements placed in local newspapers by the Royal Family. (story)
In a follow-up interview with The Times of India the prince said that he was not altogether surprised.

He told the paper that he had come out to his family in 2002. "However, they may not have expected that I would go public with the issue."

This month his father, one of the richest men in India, softened his stance. (story)

"I was in an awkward situation and didn't know how do deal with it. Relatives from all over the country called me up. Rajpipla is a conservative place. Women still cover their heads with a pallu; sex is a taboo topic to talk about. I was in the line of fire," Raghubir Singh Gohil told the Times.

Manvendra is Raghubir's only son and within weeks they were reunited and the prince's titles restored.
©365Gay.com 2007

Trucks keep alive Bhagat legacy

2007-10-03T10:05:00.000-07:00

Trucks keep alive Bhagat legacy
http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Trucks_keep_alive_Bhagat_legacy/articleshow/2410362.cms

28 Sep 2007, 0305 hrs IST,Khushwant Singh,TNN CHANDIGARH: No one else has perhaps spread the name of revolutionary Bhagat Singh more than Punjab's truck and taxi drivers. Be it in the form of bumper stickers, sketches or windshield screens, the iconic freedom fighter still appeals to this lot more than any other leader before or after India's independence.

"He is our hero," said Sital Singh, a truck driver from Moga. Sital, who was eating his lunch at a dhaba near Ropar and had Bhagat Singh's image painted brightly on the rear bumper of his vehicle explained that for the likes of him "who encounter corrupt traffic officials everyday" Bhagat Singh's legacy was the only inspiring story. "India needs a revolutionary like Bhagat Singh to inspire people to fight corruption. Politicians will just celebrate his birth anniversary (on Friday) and forget about him. But for us, he lives forever."

Not surprisingly, the freedom fighter's image is what is demanded most from the state's painters. "When we visit a painter, Bhagat Singh's sketch is the first option we are offered,"said Kulwinder Singh, another truck driver who traverses the entire length and breadth of the country. There is another sub-option: a turbaned Bhagat Singh and the one in a hat. His moustache, though, has to be perfect, turban or hat. "At least give us credit for spreading his name," said Lakhmir Singh, who was carrying apples from HP to Chandigarh. "Usually we are only charged with spreading AIDS and other sexual diseases."

Incidentally, it’s not only truckers who are inspired by Bhagat Singh. The man who went to the gallows fighting the British is a hit with young Punjabi taxi drivers as well. "He’s my role-model," announced 32-year-old Iqbal Singh, a taxi driver from Hoshiarpur. He said the Bhagat Singh tale got into his head and heart after repeated rendition of it by his late grandfather.

Karnataka police formulate a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS

2007-10-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

Karnataka police formulate a workplace policy on HIV/AIDS
http://www.infochangeindia.org/features447.jsp

By Deepanjali Bhas

The Karnataka State Police has become the first state police department in India to formally unveil a comprehensive and detailed Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS. But will it work on the ground?

Even as debates rage on the actual number of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in India, the Karnataka State Police (KSP) became the first state police department in India to formally unveil a comprehensive and detailed Workplace Policy on HIV/AIDS, in April 2007.

The guiding principles of this policy are:

Employees living with HIV/AIDS have the same rights and obligations as all staff members, and they will be protected against all forms of discrimination based on their HIV status.

Minimise the possibility of HIV infection and transmission among staff members and their families.

The policy document adds that no person with HIV or AIDS will be unfairly discriminated against within the employment relationship or within any employment policy or practice, including with regard to recruitment procedures, advertising and selection criteria, appointments and the appointment process, job classification or grading, remuneration, employment benefits and terms and conditions of employment, welfare schemes, the workplace and facilities, occupational health and safety, training and development, performance evaluation systems, promotions, transfers and demotions, disciplinary measures short of dismissal, and termination of services.

The formulation of this policy is a commendable step that could prove to be a model for police departments in other states as well; Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra , Manipur and Nagaland have already shown an interest in drafting a similar policy. And yet, when police personnel from police stations in Bangalore were randomly quizzed about their own department's policy, they did not have a clue! Will this be yet another example of a good effort on paper that fails to be implemented on the ground?

Although the Mumbai police department announced a one-page policy in 2004, the KSP document is the first extensive document clearly laying out the guiding principles, rights of personnel diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, and grievance redressal mechanisms. As S T Ramesh, ADGP (Prisons), who, as ADGP (Recruitment and Training) last year was instrumental in forging a consensus on developing a policy, says: “The experience was new and marked a realisation of the high levels of risk that police personnel face in their job.”

An International Labour Organisation (ILO) study, conducted in four Indian states by Networks of People Living With HIV/AIDS, noted that discrimination at the workplace could be higher than the reported 6.1%, considering that many PLWHA do not disclose their status for fear of losing their job. The study noted that HIV-positive people are often compelled to leave their jobs on account of harassment such as denial of promotions, forced voluntary retirement, and ostracisation by co-workers.

As work profiles go, police department staff are at extremely high risk of contracting HIV/AIDS. Exposure to blood is routine for constables and officials, and this, coupled with high-risk behaviour through unsafe sexual practices and long periods of time spent away from home increases their risk.

The first case that brought the issue of Stigma and Discrimination (S&D) in the police department into focus in Karnataka was when Constable Ramesh Rao from Shimoga district was diagnosed HIV-positive in 1999. Rao was dismissed from the force after having secured an appointment. This was in accordance with a 1994 state police department circular stating that the department could not hire persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. Rao approached the Karnataka Administrative Tribunal (KAT) with a petition demanding reinstatement, which too was initially rejected. He got his job back only after a seven-year-long legal battle when the KAT ruled, in August 2005, that he should be reappointed and paid for the seven-year period.
Rao says that being told that he would not be appointed constable due to his HIV-positive status was a double blow. After being dismissed he was forced to take up work in a private organisation.

Rao's problems did not end here. The police department, citing the Karnataka Pay and Promotion Policy, decided to pay him only his basic salary for the seven years, minus travel and dearness allowance which constituted his full salary. Lawyers Collective has drafted a reply to the police department pointing out that this is not in keeping with the KAT order that stated that Rao should receive his full salary for the seven-year period.

As Rajkumar, advocacy officer, Lawyers Collective, the organisation that has been fighting Rao's case since 2004, says: “This was not just about the legalities of a case, it was about the dignity of a person.” He points out that even in an area as sensitive as the concerns of PLWHA, petitions like Rao's are considered acts of indiscipline within the police force.

It was Constella Futures that, as part of its Essential Advocacy Project, took the lead in initiating meetings and discussions on the need for a workplace policy in the KSP. In association with other organisations working with HIV/AIDS -- the Karnataka Health Promotion Trust, Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society, Karnataka Network of Positive People, UNAIDS, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation -- a working group was formed with representation from the KSP that included Constable Rao.

Sumathi Subramaniam, head of advocacy, Constella Futures, says: “Getting a formal commitment like this policy is like getting a window to this space of fighting S&D.”

There were several complications, however, one of them being the issue of pre-recruitment testing. After clarifications were obtained that this was of no consequence to other fitness requirements and was discriminatory, the need for the clause was dismissed. Subramaniam notes that the process of drafting the KSP policy marked a shift in mindset and was a big leap for officers who realised the role the police department has to play in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Gaps and concerns: From ensuring confidentiality to the challenge of implementation
Under the policy, a nodal officer of the rank of superintendent of police has been appointed in all districts of Karnataka for grievance redressal. Training and sensitisation of staff and faculty is also currently underway.

Although the policy, which is drafted along international lines, is a step in the right direction, a number of serious issues remain. The most obvious is the challenge of implementation, a concern echoed by several police officers and experts in the field.

S Mohammed Afsar, t echnical specialist (HIV/AIDS), South Asia, and national programme coordinator, ILO, appreciates the fact that the KSP policy is in keeping with the ILO's principles, and that there has been a recognition of the vulnerability of the police force to HIV/AIDS as well as its responsibility. But, he points out, its translation from theory into practice will be difficult.
He admits that the fact that the director general of police has signed the policy is an advantage, as it is then considered binding. But for any policy to be effective there has to be a core committee to review its implementation. This has not yet been done.

As some KSP officials say, a major drawback is that as of now there is no provision for medical claim reimbursement for HIV/AIDS, whereas expenses incurred for tuberculosis- and cancer-related testing can be claimed. In this context, confidentiality itself becomes difficult to ensure, for when medical claims are sent for approval there is an entire chain of people who see the files which have the names clearly mentioned. Maintaining confidentiality then, and preventing S&D, will be impossible unless the current system is modified with employee number codes.

Afsar, who supports the drafting of such polices in corporate houses and the public sector, says that two-thirds of people do invariably get to know about an HIV-positive co-worker's status. Ensuring absolute confidentiality is difficult as it has to be balanced against care and support needs. “This makes it a ‘shared confidentiality', which is why sensitising people at all levels in an organisation is important, not just at the shop floor or middle-rung level,” he says. The ILO is now commissioning a study to assess the implementation of policies in organisations where they are in place, and identify bottlenecks.

Further, in the absence of a state government policy to prevent S&D against PLWHA, the KSP policy's effectiveness on the ground is debatable. As KSP officials say, the department is a part of the government and cannot function in isolation. Afsar notes that in the case of PSUs and government departments, legislation in this regard could provoke stronger action.

There is also a strongly held view among senior police officers that awareness levels on HIV/AIDS must be boosted across the board, from officers of the highest rank to the lowest. This in itself is a challenge, given that it will bring sex and sexuality issues out into the open.
The existing stigma and disinterest is so great that the actual number of people infected with HIV/AIDS in the KSP has not yet been documented. Media reports in 2004, quoting a senior police officer, stated that nearly 400 of the 40,000-strong Mumbai police force are HIV-positive.

Sector experts and police officers say that the police force is, in a sense, more conservative than society at large; it tends to have a more rigid viewpoint on most issues. The disciplined nature of the force makes even issues like pre-recruitment testing for HIV/AIDS subject to heated debate, be it in the KSP or Mumbai where NGOs, in 2004, condemned a move by the Mumbai police to make HIV testing mandatory.

Police officers say that it is likely that, on hearing about such a policy, there will be some initial confusion in the ranks that would require clarification. They hope the proposed training sessions will help clear doubts. Rao admits that most of his colleagues in the constabulary do not know much about HIV/AIDS; even among the senior officers there are some who are insensitive to the needs of PLWHA.

A dissemination process is currently underway, with copies of the printed policy dispatched to all districts in Karnataka. It will soon also be on the KSP website.

Interestingly, the last six-seven years have seen a lot of activity on the HIV/AIDS workplace policy front in India , says Afsar. While most corporate houses have been emulating global best practices, PSUs like Steel Authority of India Ltd, BEST, Mumbai Port Trust and Goa Ship Yard have also joined the ranks. He notes that, compared to most countries in Asia, India is doing much better in this regard but, given the sheer size of the country's working population, more advocacy efforts are required to boost these initiatives.

Towards a more inclusive audience

Training and sensitisation are keywords in the battle against stigma and discrimination, a continuous effort to dispel myths and increase awareness about HIV/AIDS. Organisations working in the sector plan regular training sessions for those who are perceived to be the most important decision-makers, at the highest level and on the ground. But, experts say, training alone does not translate into actual attitudinal change.

While Sumathi believes that the biggest challenge in framing the policy was getting a formal commitment to this first-of-its-kind document, and that the support of the leadership environment in the KSP was a big advantage, how attempts at behavioural change actually play out on the ground is a concern. Constella Futures is working for change in the police training curriculum, which will happen gradually, so that HIV/AIDS gets into the framework of training at the recruitment stage. Among others, an HIV/AIDS training course for the staff and faculty at the Karnataka Police Academy , Mysore , was conducted in June 2007, and an intensive Training of Trainers (ToT) module will be taken up in the next few months. The KSP's Unicef-funded Gender Sensitisation and People-friendly Police Project will also incorporate a module on HIV/AIDS.

Nevertheless, lawyers like Rajkumar sound a more cynical note. He believes the entire criminal justice system in India has to be overhauled. Attitudinal change is crucial, and while change can be seen at higher levels of government it is seriously lacking at the crucial middle and lower levels. Rajkumar points out that administrative-level personnel, who are mostly ignored in the sensitisation programmes, are often the most prejudiced and judgmental, blocking the provision of essential services to PLWHA . Across-the-board sensitisation is clearly the need of the hour.
In light of this, organisations working in the HIV/AIDS sector and advocating the rights of PLWHA need to go beyond regular training and sensitisation modules, creating new avenues and a more inclusive audience for sensitisation.

(Deepanjali Bhas is a development communications specialist who was previously a journalist with The Times of India)

InfoChange News & Features, September 2007

Need for effective policies and programmes for the elderly

2007-10-01T11:09:00.000-07:00

Need for effective policies and programmes for the elderly
http://www.ippmedia.com/ipp/guardian/2007/10/01/99506.html
2007-10-01 08:41:07 By JOYCE BAZIRA

Today is the International Day for Older Persons whose theme focuses on need for countries to put in place good and effective policies for the elderly so as to improve the quality of life they are now leading.

The day, which was declared by United Nations General Assembly in 1990, is dedicated to honour, respect and care for the world�s elderly.

Our staff writer, focuses on this day and efforts being made worldwide to make sure that the elderly enjoy a decent life just like any other members of the society.

FOR the first time in history, the celebrations of the International Day for Older Persons, which is commemorated on October 1 every year, will today take a new turn when older people around the world unite to demand improvements in ageing policies and practices in their countries.

As part of this campaign, the first ever global coordinated action to bring about change, older people`s organizations and groups from more than 25 countries will meet their government representatives and present a memorandum which contains important issues which affect older people and therefore, need urgent interventions.

In Tanzania, HelpAge International Country Programme Director, Abdul Jetha, said a delegation of older people had planned to meet the Minister for Health and Social Welfare in Dar es Salaam while other delegations planned to meet District Commissioners for Magu and Shinyanga Rural in Lake zone.

In the memorandum, older people demand free access to government health facilities, backed by identity cards, establishment of a revolving fund at district level to facilitate livelihood schemes as well as older men and women being supported in their roles as carers for people living with HIV/AIDS and their orphaned grandchildren.

Also older people are calling for mainstreaming of ageing issues into district development plans and budgets and operationalisation of the National Ageing Policy of 2003.

In their statement, older people`s organizations in Tanzania urge the government to ensure that voices of older men and women are heard and represented in the development policies and practices, particularly in National Ageing Policy and the poverty alleviation strategy (MKUKUTA) of 2005.

According to Jetha, at the Second World Assembly on Ageing in April 2002, representatives of 159 governments including Tanzania signed the Madrid International Plan of Action on Ageing (MIPAA) to respond to the opportunities and challenges of population ageing in the 21st century and promote the development of a society for all ages.

`That`s why HelpAge as an international organisation is launching a worldwide campaign to raise awareness of the unique problems faced by older people and to ensure governments meet the goals of the Madrid pact,` he says.

He adds that MIPAA calls for the inclusion of older people in the Millennium Development Goal of halving the proportion of people living in extreme poverty by 2015.

He says, `To achieve this objective, older people around the world are calling for a package of social pension, affordable health care and anti-discriminatory legislation and practice.`

Older people in Tanzania feel that the government, with support from international aid, where necessary, should establish universal non-contributory pensions and establish primary health care facilities which are accessible to all.

Enactment of legislation offering the most vulnerable older people effective physical security and protection of property rights should also be taken into account.

Besides, support of international donor community is necessary so that the government can provide social protection, offer older carers support to access the existing services.

Globally, older people are calling for recognition of their vital role in society and a package of universal non-contributory pensions, health care focused on the unique needs of older men and women and anti-discriminatory legislation for all older persons worldwide.

`Whether is a grandmother in Africa caring for her grandchildren after their parents have died of AIDS or a grandfather in India continuing to work to support his extended family, the vital role of older person is seriously underestimated by governments and others all around the world,` says Richard Blewitt, HelpAge International`s Chief Executive Officer.

Today there are around 600 million persons aged 60 years and above worldwide and this total is expected to double by 2025 and by 2050 the number is projected to rise to two billion whose majority would be in developing world.

Older people will increasingly play a critical role -through volunteer work, transmitting experience and knowledge, helping their families with caring responsibilities and increasing their participation in the paid labour force.

At the moment, older persons already make major contributions to the society.

For instance, throughout Africa and elsewhere millions of adult Aids patients are cared for at home by their parents.

At their deaths, orphaned children left behind (currently, 14 million under the age of 15 in African countries alone) are mainly looked after by their grandparents.

It is not only in developing countries that older persons� role in development is critical.

In Spain for example, caring for dependent and sick individuals (of all ages) is mostly done by older people (particularly older women)

Such contributions to development can only be ensured if older persons enjoy adequate levels of health, for which appropriate policies need to be in place.

So it is upon the government and all Tanzanians to support the efforts aimed at uplifting the standards of life of the elderly so that they manage to deliver their important roles without jeopardizing their health and well being.

SOURCE: Guardian

Consequences of gender discrimination

2007-09-30T10:35:00.000-07:00

Consequences of gender discrimination
Badiul Alam Majumdar
http://www.thedailystar.net/story.php?nid=5935

Gender discrimination is all pervasive. Beginning from the dawn of civilisation, it has been continuing over centuries. Although it shows up in different forms and manifestations in different cultures, it exists in every society. It encompasses every segment of the society, irrespective of economic condition and social standing. Discrimination exists throughout the entire lifecycle of women, beginning from conception to death, and it has ominous consequences.
Feticide and infanticide

Gender discrimination begins early, even before the birth of a girl child. Modern diagnostic tools make it possible to determine a child's sex in the earliest phase. In many societies, these techniques are often misused for female feticide. Although there is no conclusive evidence to confirm it, birth histories and census data reveal an unusually high proportion of male births and male children under-five in China and India, indicating sex-selective feticide and infanticide in the world's two most populous countries, despite commitments to eradicate these practices in both countries. Fortunately, these are not serious problems in Bangladesh.

The early years

A principal priority for the early years of childhood and adolescence is ensuring access to, and completion of, quality primary and secondary education. With some exceptions, it is mostly girls who are deprived of educational opportunities.

Primary education: For every 100 boys out of school worldwide, there are 115 girls in the same situation. Though the gender gap has been increasingly closing over the decades, nearly 1 out of every 5 girls who enrolls in primary school in developing countries does not complete the primary education. Lack of primary education deprives a girl of the opportunity to develop to her fullest potential. Studies have shown that educated women are less likely to die in childbirth and are more likely to send their children to school. Evidence indicates that under-five mortality rate falls by about half for mothers with primary school education.

Secondary education: Recent Unicef estimates show that, on an average, 43 percent of girls of the appropriate age in the developing countries attend secondary school. There are many reasons for this low attendance rate. Because of greater emphasis on universal primary education, many developing countries have neglected to allocate adequate resources to increase enrolment and attendance in secondary education. Childhood marriage is another reason. Parental inability to meet educational expenses due to poverty is also a reason.

Secondary education has many benefits. It is most effective in delaying the age at which a young woman first gives birth, and it can enhance freedom of movement and maternal health. It strengthens women's socioeconomic and political participation, and also enhances their status both in the family and in the larger society.

Adolescence

Among the greatest threats to adolescent development are abuse, exploitation and violence, and the lack of vital knowledge about sexual and reproductive health, including HIV/AIDS.

Child marriage and premature parenthood: Globally, 36 percent of women aged 20-24 were married or in union before they reached their 18th birthday, and most such marriages take place in South Asia and sub-Saharan Africa. This problem is serious in Bangladesh. Parents often consent to child marriages out of economic necessity, or because they believe that marriage will protect girls from sexual assault.

Premature pregnancy and motherhood are inevitable consequences of child marriage. An estimated 14 million adolescents between 15-19 give birth each year. Girls under 15 are five times more likely to die during pregnancy and childbirth than women in their twenties. If a mother is under 18, her baby's chance of dying in the first year is 60 percent higher than that of a baby born to a mother who is older than 19. Even if the child survives, he/she is more likely to suffer from low birth weight, under nutrition, and late physical and cognitive development.

Sexual abuse, exploitation and trafficking: The younger girls are when they first have sex, the more likely it is that intercourse has been imposed on them. According to a World Health Organisation study, 150 million girls and 73 million boys under the age of 18 experienced forced sexual intercourse or other forms of physical and sexual violence in some countries during 2002.
An estimated 1.8 million children are involved in commercial sex work. Many are forced into it, either by being sold into sexual slavery by desperately poor families or being abducted and trafficked into brothels or other exploitative environments. Children exploited in the commercial sex industry are subjected to neglect, sexual violence, and physical and psychological abuse. In Bangladesh, sexual exploitation and trafficking are serious problems. For example, every year, an estimated 20,000 women and children are trafficked from Bangladesh. During the last 30 years, more than a million women have been trafficked to India, Pakistan, and the Middle East.

Sexual and reproductive health: Because unprotected sex carries the risk of pregnancy and sexually transmitted diseases, including HIV, knowledge of sexual and reproductive health is essential for the safety of young people. Although information alone cannot provide protection, it is certainly a first step. Nonetheless, adolescents around the world continue to have limited knowledge of reproductive health issues and the risks they face.

HIV/Aids: By 2005, nearly half of the 39 million people with HIV were women. In parts of Africa and the Caribbean, young women (aged 15-24) are up to six times more likely to be infected than young men their age. One reason is physiological -- women are more than twice as likely as men to become infected with HIV during sex. The other crucial factor is social -- gender discrimination in patriarchic societies denies women the right to say "no" to men's demands for sex. Promiscuous behaviour of men is also a factor. High rates of illiteracy among women prevent them from knowing about the risks of HIV infection and possible protection strategies. A survey of 24 sub-Saharan countries reveals that more than two-thirds of young women lack clear knowledge of HIV transmission. Even though it is not yet a serious problem in Bangladesh, we face potentially serious risks because of high rate of HIV/AIDS in neighbouring India.
The dramatic rise in infection among women increases the risks for children. Infants become infected through their mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, or breastfeeding. In 2005, more than 2 million children aged 14 years or younger were living with HIV.

Motherhood and old age

Two critical periods in many women's lives, when the pernicious effects of both poverty and inequality can combine, are motherhood and old age.

Maternal mortality: It is estimated that each year more than half a million women -- roughly one woman every minute -- die as a result of pregnancy related complications and childbirth. About 99 percent of all maternal deaths occur in developing countries, with over 90 percent of those in Africa and Asia. Two-thirds of maternal deaths in 2000 occurred in 13 of the world's poorest countries. The same year, India alone accounted for one-quarter of all maternal deaths. In Bangladesh, maternal mortality is 360 per 100,000. One out of every 16 sub-Saharan African women dies as a result of pregnancy or childbirth, compared to just 1 out of every 4,000 in industrialised countries. Moreover, motherless newborns are between 3 to 10 times more likely to die than newborns whose mothers are alive. Many of these women's lives could be saved with access to basic health care services, including skilled birth attendants, and emergency obstetrics care.

Women in old age: Elderly women often face double discrimination because of both gender and age. Women tend to live longer than men, and they generally lack control of family resources and face discrimination from inheritance laws. Many older women are forced into poverty at a stage of life when they are most vulnerable. Only a few developing countries have safety nets for older people in the form of non-contributory or means-tested pensions. Bangladesh also has no such scheme.

Grandmothers in particular possess a great deal of knowledge and experience related to all aspects of maternal and child care. They are often a mainstay of child care for working parents. Experience has shown that children's rights are advanced when programs initiated to benefit children and families also include elderly women.

It is clear that women face discrimination from the period of being conceived until death. Women of all ages have to pay for such inequalities, often with their lives. The consequences of the prejudice are very serious for an economically backward country like Bangladesh. For example, the endemic malnutrition that prevails in the society due to deprivation of women saps the productivity of the population, creating serious obstacles for the progress of the nation. To overcome such obstacles, discrimination against women throughout the lifecycle must be ended, and opportunities created for them. This will, in turn, require ending of patriarchy, and the National Girl Child Day is celebrated every year on September 30 to create awareness about it.

Dr. Badiul Alam Majumdar is President, The Girl Child Advocacy Forum. This article is based on The State of the World's Children 2007.

Drug-haul cover-up?

2007-09-29T10:34:00.000-07:00

Drug-haul cover-up?
http://www.hardnewsmedia.com/portal/2007/09/1223

The Narcotics Control Bureau is sitting tight on an important investigation even as illegal drug use in the country shows an upward trend
Akash Bisht Delhi

On the day when the BJP leader Pramod Mahajan was shot dead by his brother, another news item was jostling for the headlines. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) seized 200 kgs of cocaine, worth Rs 500 crore, tucked inside a container that had come from Hong Kong to the Jawahar Lal Nehru Port, Mumbai. While the Mahajan saga continued to occupy prime space on television and in newspapers, the record drug haul story mysteriously disappeared.

More than ten months later, this drug haul is being discussed in hushed tones in political and enforcement circles. Suggestions of shady Indian companies pulling strings to rescue the cocaine from the maalkhana (police storehouse) are going around. There are even rumours that crooks are replacing the cocaine with talcum powder.

Even though this allegation may be far-fetched, the truth is that the enforcement agencies have not really tried to get to the bottom of the cocaine haul. There is no clarity as to who sent it and for whom. The NCB claims that the ship, after leaving Ecuador, stopped at Japan, Shanghai and Hong Kong ports, before reaching Mumbai. Although sources say the drugs were eventually headed for Spain, the NCB has refused to comment on their likely destination. According to an NCB official, "No investigation was done after the seizure. No official was sent to Ecuador to find out about the people involved in this. Since the consignment was not meant for India, not much investigation was needed." But no answers are forthcoming to the disturbing question about why this sensational seizure is being hushed up.

It took the NCB 15 years to zero in on Kanoui Julian, a French national who is a notorious drug supplier and has been on the most wanted list for a long time. Julian was finally caught by the NCB in New Delhi earlier this month. Documents pertaining to a container that was sent to Belgium were recovered from his possession. Julian, in his statement made during interrogation, also revealed that he has been shipping more than five containers of hashish worth crores of rupees, every year, from India to various European destinations.

In spite of these dramatic disclosures, NCB officials insist that India is no longer a transit point for drug traffickers, because of the fencing of the LoC between India and Pakistan. "The drug trafficking in Asia has been taken over by Albanians and now most of the drugs from Afghanistan are first sent to Albania and then to Russia, from where they enter Europe," said Shankar Rao, head of the Delhi zone of the NCB.

If the NCB is to be believed, most of the drug cartels operating in India have already been busted and only small time peddlers remain. Officials from the agency say the north-eastern states are witnessing a downward trend in heroin abuse, mainly due to the AIDS scare and the traumatic withdrawal symptoms experienced by addicts deprived of the drug.

However, there is an upward trend in the consumption of pharmaceutical drugs, especially cough syrups, in the same region. Cities like Ludhiana and Chandigarh and the countryside in Punjab are also witnessing massive cocaine abuse while Goa and Mumbai continue to show a high degree of party drugs consumption. Cocaine, ecstasy and vile are the drugs of choice for high-profile celebrities — especially those from the fashion fraternity. "Mumbai and Goa are famous for rave parties where a lot of these so-called party drugs are used. These posh parties are held secretly and it is difficult to know about their whereabouts. A lot of teenagers from influential families have started to experiment with these drugs and their numbers are growing," emphasised Rao.

However, the NCB’s claims of busting drug cartels and decreased drug use in India are not being treated seriously by the US government’s Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA). The DEA has reservations about the Indian government’s drug enforcement programme and the continuing export of poppy and its derivatives from licit areas of cultivation. Even reports from the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare suggest that the problem of drug addiction in the country is very serious.

No hatred so common

2007-09-29T10:09:00.000-07:00

No hatred so common
By Russell Working
September 30, 2007
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-antisemitism_thinksep30,0,2533445,full.story

Imagine you're walking down Michigan Avenue when a madman in soiled pajamas and a tinfoil Viking hat strides up. He hands you a photocopied cartoon of an ogre with a Star of David on his chest. The creature is devouring a baby. You speed up. So does your new friend. He mutters: Hey buster, listen up. See, it's all their fault. These wars? They're to blame. The Holocaust? They bought it on. The bake the blood of children into matzos. They use "Tom and Jerry" cartoons, Lions Clubs and AIDS to dominate the world. You know who I mean: The Jews.

So how to deal with this fellow? A) Secure him a professorship at a leading university. B) Hire him to produce a television series. C) Appoint him to a position of power and allow him to deliver policy speeches to UN agencies. D) All of the above.

If you answered "D," you are on to something. Or so one is tempted to conclude when considering the resurgence of the ancient madness known as anti-Semitism.

In its scope, anti-Semitism is rare among Earth's infinite hatreds. Hutus exterminated Tutsis in Rwanda, Christians are targeted in China and Iraq, and Muslims see persecution in many lands, from India to France to the U.S. Discrimination is a daily fact of American life, not just for blacks but for Asians, Latinos and Native Americans.

But few hatreds unite such a vast range of establishment voices worldwide. The perfidy of the Jews is espoused by Syrian authors, Lebanese TV anchors, Italian cartoonists, Egyptian newsmen and heads of state from Malaysia to the Mediterranean. And it is coming home to roost once again in Europe.

Matthias Kuentzel, a German scholar who has traced the influence of Adolf Hitler in the Muslim world, says Judeophobia is at its worst level since the Nazi era. The Middle East conflicts fuel anger at Israel, but this is more than just frustrated people blowing off steam.

It is a demonology that encompasses all Jews, wherever they live or whatever their stand on Israel. It is an "infrastructure of the soul" for those who embrace it, Kuentzel says.

Consider: The madman's tirade above was based on real sources:

Editorial cartoons across the Middle East and Europe portray Israelis as ogres who devour babies, drawing on medieval and Nazi imagery.

The Irish News—following the lead of many other media—published a cartoon last year depicting an Orthodox Jew controlling Pentagon policy.

A store on Devon Avenue in Chicago sells books by a Turkish author who argues that Zionist leaders cooperated with the Nazis in organizing the Holocaust against their own people.

In 2003, a Lebanese television series dramatized Jews kidnapping and murdering Christian children and draining their blood to make matzos. In a translation by the Middle East Media Research Institute, a rabbi munches the unleavened bread and observes, "This one is tastier and holier because it was kneaded with pure blood, the blood of Joseph." Similar claims routinely circulate in the Islamic world.

The Hamas charter blames Jews for evils dating to the French Revolution. The document also may be history's first revolutionary manifesto that lists, as a cause for war, an imaginary plot by Jews to control the world through Lions and Rotary clubs.

Egyptian and Jordanian newspapers have reported that Jews were selling drug-laced gum. Other accounts blame the spread of AIDS on Jewish doctors purposely infecting children with HIV.

A cultural adviser to the Iranian Education Ministry went on state television last year to explain that "Tom and Jerry" was part of a Jewish plot to improve the image of rodents, because Jews are, after all, regarded as "dirty mice."

It's not just the Islamic world in which bigotry threatens. The Community Security Trust, a British group that helps Jewish organizations set up security, tracked 412 attacks on Jewish targets outside Israel in the 25 years following 1968.

Stores were bombed in Paris; Lima, Peru; and Melbourne, Australia. In 2003, bombs at two synagogues in Istanbul killed 25 and wounded more than 300. A bomb outside a kindergarten in Vienna in 1982 failed to go off. It takes a certain level of indoctrination to conclude that 5-year-olds pose a danger so grave they must be eradicated with TNT.

The United States tends to be a safe part of the world for Jews, but it takes only one nut to endanger others. Last year a gunman offered his contribution toward the liberation of Palestine by forcing his way inside a Seattle Jewish center with a gun in the back of a 14-year-old girl. He then wounded five women and shot another dead, police said.

The man has pleaded insanity. How that distinguishes him from other anti-Semites is another issue.

(A word here on terminology: Arabs often say that because they are Semitic peoples, it is absurd to call an Arab "anti-Semitic." But the term traditionally has been defined as an animus toward the Jewish people, and that is how it is used here.)

Some people, including many Jews, who decry anti-Semitism as very real and extremely ugly trace its worsening to Israel's occupation of Palestinian land. It can be a tricky topic, holding Israel accountable for its actions toward Palestinians without condoning anti-Semitism.

"You don't want to say it's Jews' fault that there are anti-Semites," said Jesse Bacon of Jewish Voice for Peace-Chicago. "But it's more a question of what could we concretely do in keeping with our own values to lessen this problem. And I would suggest that would be reaching a solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict."

In Britain last year, attacks on Jews and other anti-Semitic incidents reached their worst level on record, according to the Community Security Trust. A parliamentary report last fall concluded that anti-Semitism is going mainstream in the United Kingdom, and that "has contributed to an atmosphere where Jews have become more anxious and more vulnerable to abuse and attack than at any other time for a generation or longer."

Studies in the European Union and Russia have drawn similar conclusions.

Among the British victims was Jasmine Kranat, a north London Jewish girl who went with a friend to buy fruit and yogurt to make smoothies for a sleepover last summer. On the bus home, a group of Asian and black teenage girls boarded the bus.

"One girl asked me, 'Are you English or Jewish?' " said Jasmine, who was 12 at the time, in a phone interview.

She answered, "I'm English," but the girls attacked her. Ignoring her friend, who was wearing a crucifix, the teens beat and stomped Jasmine, fracturing her eye socket and knocking her out. Jasmine's friend dragged her off the bus, and Jasmine was hospitalized.

The turning point in the resurgence of anti-Semitism was a UN-sponsored anti-racism conference in South Africa in 2001, said Rabbi Abraham Cooper, associate dean at the Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Los Angeles-based group that battles bigotry worldwide.

That week, Iranians stormed a Wiesenthal news conference and turned over tables. Thousands of Muslim trade unionists demonstrated against Israel, some waving signs that read "Hitler was right." Police said they couldn't guarantee Cooper's safety if he left his hotel. And delegates voted to strike a condemnation of anti-Semitism from the conference's final statement.

As Cooper and about 30 other Jewish delegates walked out, some 3,000 people purportedly committed to battling racism worldwide hooted and jeered.

"The script for what it is we are struggling against was consecrated at that conference," Cooper says.

Last month, planning began on a follow-up gathering to the 2001 anti-racism conference in Durban. Jewish groups are already bracing for Durban II in 2009, fearing it will bring more anti-Semitic bashing of Israel.

An inventory of recent oral and written attacks on Jews by people of power and stature is as long as it is appalling.

Abd Al-Rahman Al-Sudayyis, imam and preacher at the Grand Mosque in Mecca, beseeched Allah to annihilate the Jews, reported the Middle East Media Research Institute. After all, he said, they are "the scum of the human race, the rats of the world, the violators of pacts and agreements, the murderers of the prophets, and the offspring of apes and pigs." Imagine the riots if Pope Benedict XVI spoke this way about Muslims.

In April, the acting speaker of the Palestinian Legislative Council prayed this about Jews and Americans: "Allah, count them and kill them to the last one and don't leave even one."

Surveying the intra-Palestinian fighting in Gaza, Egyptian liberal author Kamal Gabriel recently wrote that the battle with Israel had transformed from hatred of Zionism to a loathing of all Jews. And that "culture and psychology of violence," once unleashed, threatens Palestinians too.

"It starts with the Zionist enemy who is occupying the Holy Land, and then the violence and the hatred spread dangerously, like fire, in the psyche of the one over which [the violence and hatred] have gained mastery," Gabriel wrote. These destructive tendencies "consume everything around them—and the first thing they consume is the light of reason."

Try telling that to the guy in the tinfoil hat.
rworking@tribune.com

Indian Poet Named Ambassador for Good Will World Peace Treaty

2007-09-29T10:05:00.000-07:00

Indian Poet Named Ambassador for Good Will World Peace Treaty
http://www.prweb.com/releases/2007/9/prweb557158.htm
Poet and three-time world record holder Nikhil Parekh is now elected as Good Will Ambassador for the Good Will World Peace Treaty.

Ahmedabad, Gujarat (PRWEB) September 29, 2007 -- Nikhil Parekh, a 30 yr old poet from India has been elected Ambassador for the Good Will World Peace Treaty. This treaty, a brainchild of Celebrity Consultant and Inspirational Author Bryant McGill is aimed at spreading peace, good will, compassion and a sense of humanitarian understanding amidst all across the planet. Creator McGill, who'd earlier been featured for his numerous poetic and humanitarian achievements on the front page of Wall Street Journal, passionately says this about his treaty, "The Treaty gives you a path of action, that if followed, will make a difference. Our intention is to have all people sign this treaty. It is further, our intention to have all people in positions of power and influence sign this treaty by hand. Every city mayor, governor, celebrity, entertainer, TV personality, major corporate director, activist, foreign dignitary, senator, congressman, and ultimately, all world leaders. Don't be the weak link, declare your intentions with us now, and be the difference!".

Parekh, now the Indian Ambassador for the treaty, revealed that he would be putting devoted number of hours each day to spread the treaty and get as many people as possible to sign the same. His efforts via the Internet would reach countless World Leaders, Organizations, Individuals, Forums, Groups, Blogs, News Channels and virtually every legitimately conceivable juncture to spread the treaty and apprize the whole world about signing it. Parekh already has 3 world records with India's number one Limca Book of Records for --'Writing most number of letters to and receiving most number of replies from World Leaders and World Organizations'-- 'Being 1st Indian to win an EPPIE Award for best poetry ebook'-- 'Being 1st Indian to be published in Commonwealth Newsletter for his poem on AIDS'. He now plans to set a new record in approaching the maximum number of people on earth and to have them sign the Good Will World Peace Treaty. This is one record he says he'd cherish the most as it aims at the dissemination of world peace; love and goodness. Ambassador Nikhil Parekh can be visited at nikhilparekh.com or authorsden.com/nikhilparekh for thousands of his poems, world records, various works, achievements and books.

The Good Will Treaty for World Peace can be signed electronically as well as can be downloaded to sign by hand and emailed back to the organization, from its website goodwilltreaty.org.
# # #

Daughter, Twin, Author

2007-09-29T10:02:00.000-07:00

Daughter, Twin, Author
Jenna Bush makes the case for safe sex in her new book about an HIV-positive mother in Latin America.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21047653/site/newsweek/

By Lorraine Ali
Newsweek
Oct. 8, 2007 issue - Ana and Jenna don't have much in common. Ana's father was a poor South American cabdriver who died before she hit puberty. Jenna's dad became the 43rd president of the United States the year she started college. But the two lives converged in 2006 when Jenna, a 25-year-old UNICEF intern, and Ana, a 17-year-old single mother with HIV, met during an AIDS workshop in Latin America. Out of that union came "Ana's Story: A Journey of Hope," a book by Bush for young teens that aims to raise awareness about poverty, AIDS and child abuse in developing countries. "In the U.S., we don't pay as much attention to these things, that people all over the world are living with these problems," says Bush. "The more you travel and talk to those affected by HIV, the more you know. But I'm still learning a lot, for sure."

Indian Court Denies HIV-positive Woman Custody of Daughter

2007-09-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

Indian Court Denies HIV-positive Woman Custody of Daughter
http://www.advocate.com/news_detail_ektid49447.asp

An Indian court has denied an HIV-positive woman custody of her 8-year-old daughter, a rights activist said Friday.

The woman, who was not identified to protect her privacy, married a soldier from northwestern Rajasthan state in the late 1990s without knowing that he was HIV-positive, said Kavita Srivastav, state convener of the People's Union for Civil Liberties, a private rights group.

Her husband died four years ago. After his death, her in-laws began treating the woman badly and took her daughter on the grounds that the mother had become HIV-positive, Srivastav said.

She moved to her parents' home and later approached a court in Jaipur, the capital of Rajasthan, for custody of her daughter.

The court rejected her plea earlier this week, ruling that she would not able to take care of her daughter because of her HIV-positive status, Srivastav said.

The People's Union for Civil Liberties challenged the verdict in an appeals court in Jaipur on Thursday. The court put the lower-court decision on hold and has agreed to hear the petition, according to the woman's attorney, Ajay Jain. (AP)

© 2007 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Girl Trafficking From Nepal on the Rise: UN

2007-09-25T20:36:00.000-07:00

Girl Trafficking From Nepal on the Rise: UN
http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0vfqzpba2Ua7wa.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20070926

Anil Giri

New Delhi, September 26At least 10,000 to 15,000 girls are being trafficked from Nepal to India, the data revealed by the UN Regional Office for South Asia for Prevention of Drugs and Crimes said.They are allured to India of good job and sold there, head of the regional office, Gary Lewis, said on Tuesday. He said illiteracy, poverty and Nepal's long armed conflict and other economic and social causes are behind it.The office, which stands as guardian of the UN protocol against the trafficking, has continued to provide training to the police who are working to check the human trafficking and other human crimes, he said.

"We are actively involved in the programmes like implementation of the laws, capacity building, rehabilitation of the victims in South Asia, including Nepal," he said.

According to the project coordinator of the office Ajit Roy, the number of displaced has surged in Nepal, problem of internal migration has worsened and Kathmandu has prospered as a centre of trafficking of women and children due to the long armed conflict."The women and teenage girls who come to Kathmandu in search of the jobs become soft targets for the pimps," Roy added.

Saying that AIDS and other sexual transmitted diseases were on the rise due to the trafficking, he said the recent study conducted by a US institution showed that 40 per cent of the sexual workers returning to Nepal from different Indian cities carried HIV/AIDS.

Our office is working with some NGOs in Nepal for rehabilitation of those returning to Nepal, he said.

In this context, a South Asia-level conference will be held in New Delhi from October 9 to October 11, he said.

Deaf and dumb AIDS patient raped and killed

2007-09-25T20:31:00.001-07:00

Deaf and dumb AIDS patient raped and killed
http://www.hindustantimes.com/StoryPage/StoryPage.aspx?id=033b1843-1e91-4db3-8e1d-306936251c9a&ParentID=7aba1965-7c57-4e70-acce-9f107384db42&&Headline=Deaf+and+dumb+AIDS+patient+raped+and+killed

Press Trust Of IndiaIndore, July 06, 2007

A deaf and dumb woman, also affected with AIDS was allegedly raped and killed by some unidentified persons in Indore on Friday, police said.

The victim was strangulated to death under mysterious circumstances, police said, adding it appears that she has been raped by the accused.

Her body was found near her house in the Devendra Nagar area, without proper clothing leading to suspicion that she was raped before being killed.

The victim's husband also died some time back and he too was an AIDS patient, police said, adding it has registered a case and further probe is on.

Indians’ sex life better than most: Survey

2007-09-25T20:15:00.000-07:00

Indians’ sex life better than most: Survey
Only Greeks and Mexicans are ahead of us
Tribune News Service

http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070926/main9.htm

New Delhi, September 25
Indian lovers are among the most open in the world about telling their partners what they like to do in bed and have one of the most exciting sex lives.

This inference has been drawn by a new global survey on sexual well-being. ‘In the bedroom’ is the second in the series of reports generated by the Durex global survey.

It says, “Almost three quarters (74 per cent) of Indians are comfortable with telling their partners what they like in bed — way above the global average of 58 per cent and the UK number of 49 per cent. We are beaten in this only by the Greeks (76 per cent) and Mexicans (80 per cent).”

Although Indians are very frank with their partners about their expectations in bed, 26 per cent are too shy with their lovers. More than a third of those interviewed in India said that their sex lives lack variety.

The survey has inferred that “Indians are very active with their partners and 71 per cent of Indian lovers have sex at least once a week with 19 per cent making love at least five times a week or more.”

Indians also indulge in a wide range of bedroom antics. “These include sensual massages and erotic materials for 55 per cent of us, with sexual fantasies (58 per cent) topping the menu for boosting our libido,'' says the report.

The findings of the survey are based on interviews with 26,000 people in 26 countries. Commissioned by Durex and carried out by Harris Interactive, the survey conducted online in August and September questioned respondents about all aspects of their sex lives, including what they do in the bedroom.

Almost half (45 per cent) of the Indian lovers interviewed expressed their desire to increase their knowledge about how they could please their partner.

The study found that masturbation is widely practised in India as almost nine out of 10 (87 per cent) Indians have masturbated at some time in their lives, compared to 83 per cent globally. More than four out of 10 Indians (41 per cent) masturbate once a week.

Indians have had fewer lovers than respondents in other countries. While Indian men on an average have six partners, women have two partners. In the UK, the figures are 16 and 10 respectively.

Almost six in 10 (57 per cent) Indians think it is acceptable for products aimed at improving sex lives to be available in mainstream stores. At present, only 9 per cent of Indians use vibrators compared to 21 per cent the world over. One-third of Indians use lubricants which is close to the global figure of 34 per cent. Compared to most other nations, Indians seem a little reluctant to experiment. “While 22 per cent of us would like to try massage oils, only nine per cent of Indians are interested in an orgasm-enhancing gel and only seven per cent would consider aphrodisiacs or pheromones,'' says the report generated by the survey.

Indian men feel less inhibited than women. While 51 per cent of Indian women say they feel self-conscious during sex, only 45 per cent of Indian men agree.

Sources in Durex say that the survey will enable them remain at the forefront in helping people fulfil their sexual desires and enjoy better sex. “The results will help us keep abreast of sexual attitudes and behaviour of people in India and across the globe.”

New York state isn't waiting to stop funding abstinence-only sex education programs.

2007-09-22T20:48:00.000-07:00

New York state isn't waiting to stop funding abstinence-only sex education programs.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/2007/09/21/2007-09-21_new_york_state_holds_out_on_abstinenceon.html

Officials announced this week that state money will now go solely to programs that offer more comprehensive information about preventing pregnancy and sexual health.

New York state Health Commissioner Richard Daines, in a statement on the department's Web site, stated that "The Bush administration's Abstinence-Only program is an example of a failed national health care policy directive, based on ideology rather than on sound scientific-based evidence that must be the cornerstone of good public health care policy."

Since 1998, the state had receieved up to $3.7 million annually in federal money earmarked for abstinence-only programs. An additional $2.6 million in state money was given to the programs on a yearly basis.

Starting October 1, the state money will be funneled into sex education programs that provide a full range of information about preventing pregnancy and disease.

State officials decided in July not to reapply for federal money, and the mainly religious organizations that provided the abstinence-based programs were told their fuding would not be renewed.

"We're very unhappy," said John Graham of Catholic Charities in Onondaga County, one of the organizations that received the federal funding. "We were having a pretty effective program with the families and children we were working with," he said. "And now, we’re not able to do that."

Health Department spokesperson Claudia Hutton said, "We want to invest in programs with a better track record, that will acknowledge that there are many viewpoints about sex."