Counselling Counsellors

Counselling Counsellors
http://www.tribuneindia.com/2007/20070810/ttlife1.htm#7
Saurabh Malik

Grave facts about HIV/AIDS have surfaced in a study carried out on 58 victims of the dreaded disease and the healthcare providers in Chandigarh and Punjab. It may be fatal to the claims of ‘good work’ made by so many government and non-government agencies, but the fact remains that even HIV/AIDS counsellors need counselling. Legal aid Right fellows! City-based researcher, Dr Upneet Lalli, and renowned physician Dr A. Jolly, have found out that half the number of healthcare providers talked to are simply unwilling to reveal their HIV status.
And the reason behind the phenomenon is not really hard to analyse. Though they are required to counsel HIV/AIDS victims, they themselves are tightlipped because of the stigma attached to the whole thing. “All this goes a long way to indicate that even the therapists need counselling in the matter right from day one,” says Dr Lalli.

Guys, Dr Lalli knows what she is talking about. For, this is not the first time she has carried out a detailed and a systematic study on issues related to human existence. Only recently Dr Lalli — also working as the Institute of Correctional Administration ‘s deputy director — submitted a report to the Punjab State Human Rights Commission on custodial deaths.

Her current study on the HIV/AIDS issue has already been discussed at the UN-AIDS forum. And the questionnaire used by them to reach the conclusions is being adopted by the Cameroon government. Just in case you do not know, The Republic of Cameroon is a unitary republic of central and western Africa and borders Nigeria to the west; Chad to the northeast. As she speaks at the release of a book on the subject Thursday afternoon, you realise that the young researcher has strived hard to understand the human dimension of the dreaded disease.

Giving details of the findings, she adds: “You may find it incredible, but people living with HIV still have complains of discrimination not just against the society, but particularly against the medical staff. No wonder, the fear of death is not the only factor weighing on their mind. Rejection and dependency too are predominant.”

And then, there is the pressing need for coming up with counselling services for the families of HIV affected. “Their emotional problems include deprivation and denial,” she says. Dr Lalli strongly agrees with the respondents when they say HIV testing should be mandatory for marriage purposes. Well guys, it makes a lot of sense! .

* Human Rights Law Network’s book, released in the city Thursday afternoon, provides free legal aid to HIV/AIDS victims. The two-volume book, HIV/AIDS and The Law, has been brought out by the Network in collaboration with The Love Life Society and Delhi Network of Positive People.

* It has been edited by advisor to HRLN Laya Medhini, senior lawyer Colin Gonsalves and his associate Dipika. The book deals with issues like gender vulnerability, employment and medical discrimination along with access to treatment.

* Each chapter contains explanatory text and case summaries with full reports on Indian and international cases. The book in English is expected to be soon published in Hindi and other six regional languages, including Tamil and Telugu.