CM Saha asks parents to fight against drugs
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As soon as CM rang the bell, teachers in all the classes start imparting awareness lesson on affect of drug, and spread of HIV/AIDS, and this will continue weekly in each school. He said Red Ribbon Clubs should be increased in schools and colleges to fight HIV/AIDS, because if everyone works together, Tripura can be made an HIV-free state. "Tripura ranks fourth among the eight states of the NE, and this position has become a matter of great concern," he said.
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The Hindu
7 hours ago
- The Hindu
Should HIV/AIDS testing be made mandatory before marriage?
In July, Meghalaya Health and Family Welfare Minister Mazel Ampareen Lyngdoh announced that the State may follow Goa in making HIV/AIDS test mandatory for all before marriage. The problem is multi-disciplinary; it is not merely a question of health, but also involves considerations of human rights, stigma, and free will. Should HIV/AIDS testing be made mandatory? N. Kumarasamy and Jahnabi Goswami discuss the question in a conversation moderated by Ramya Kannan. Edited excerpts: Is it possible to implement mandatory testing for HIV before marriage? What are the advantages of such a move? N. Kumarasamy: Regarding HIV, making anything mandatory is not acceptable. The HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017, clearly mandates counselling before testing, and testing only with the consent of a patient. As per the law of the land, once you do the testing, everything must be kept confidential. If they test positive, patients should be linked to the appropriate antiretroviral treatment centres. The next question will be whether they can get married — that has also been dealt with by the 2017 law. Today, based on science, we know that if a HIV-positive person is put on antiretroviral treatment, the viral load goes to an undetectable level within 2-3 months. Studies have shown that a person who has an undetectable level of viral load will not transmit infections sexually to their partners. The person will also not develop any HIV-related complications such as opportunistic infections, tuberculosis (TB), and various other comorbid conditions, and maintain a normal immunity level. Mandatory HIV testing without the consent of such a person will be a human rights violation. And doing so will also increase stigma. For all these reasons, mandatory testing cannot take place. HIV testing should be offered to as many people as possible — mainly to those who are at risk and also people who believe that they may be at risk. It should be offered. Consent is important. And testing, if done, should be done while maintaining appropriate confidentiality. Jahnabi Goswami: Yes, the viral load can be managed with drugs. But I still think HIV testing should be made mandatory before marriage. There are a number of cases we know where people who have been infected, but are not taking antiretrovirals regularly, get married because of family and societal pressure. The spouse finds out only later, or perhaps when she or he tests positive for HIV. The children are likely to be affected too. In India we believe in matching horoscopes before the wedding. Why not a HIV test, to see if the couple are compatible at all? Such a test will also ensure the health of the family. Will this move actually empower women? Jahnabi Goswami: My agenda is not women or male empowerment per se. In the north-east, specifically, there have been a number of cases where the (HIV positive) status was concealed. Injecting drug use is responsible for nearly 64% of HIV infections in the north-east. Men (injecting drug users) clean up for three months, get married and don't inform their wives. A few months later, they bring their wives too to test. Even today, we had such a case. This happens regularly. In fact, I believe that to safeguard women and girls, it is essential to go in for mandatory testing, with counselling. About confidentiality and consent, I want to point out that in practice, doctors are forcefully testing for HIV. Even if you go for a small dental procedure — sometimes they counsel, sometimes they don't, and force you to do HIV test. Sometimes it is good counselling and sometimes it is of bad quality. Will the HIV test, if it comes negative, provide a false sense of security? N. Kumarasamy: While you are doing appropriate testing, you are also counselling a patient to find out the duration of exposure. That also helps you determine the window period when testing should be offered. That is the reason you counsel someone. If you force someone to do a test, they may go to a lab and get it done. The test report can be negative but the person might really be positive (for HIV) leading to transmission of infection. If testing is done with appropriate consent, counselling, and confidentiality, I'm sure people are not going to refuse it. Goa also proposed mandatory testing some years ago, but it is still not a reality... N. Kumarasamy: Yes, it is not implemented in Goa. But there is wide testing happening in the State. There is no mandatory testing before a wedding. The thing is they cannot implement this because this will cause human rights violations. The same thing is happening in Meghalaya. If you look at the reports on rising infections, perhaps the State is ranked 5th or 6th where a significant number of infections is through injecting drug use and also through sexual contact. But I think it is possible to learn from other States, especially from southern India — Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Andhra Pradesh — as well as Maharashtra. The ideal way to contain this infection is to do appropriate HIV testing as much as possible in a variety of settings with proper consent and then link those tested people to the treatment. That will reduce infectiousness in the country and also lead to a reduction in new infections in Meghalaya. Jahnabi Goswami: I think it will definitely happen because the situation is quite different in Meghalaya. To understand it, you should understand the circumstances and people of the State. In Meghalaya, certain groups in the Christian community still think it is taboo to use a condom even if it is recommended by law. (The HIV Act promotes safe sex practices.) In fact, implementing the HIV/AIDS Act in Meghalaya is really difficult. Also, culturally and socially, they have provisions for extramarital affairs and living together. These are quite common among the youth. Simultaneously, HIV is a big discriminator in Meghalaya and no one has actually accepts HIV-positive men or women. How do we address the stigma that is still associated with HIV? N. Kumarasamy: Stigma started in India because it (HIV) was first detected in a commercial sex worker, so it was attributed to multi-partner sex. But this is not true, as we have seen. HIV is still an incurable disease. The way to address stigma today is to make sure that common people are aware that we now have treatment available. Even if it is not curable, it is permanently controllable. In our research studies in Chennai, we showed that treating one partner will prevent transmission if the viral load goes down. The message U=U (undetectable is untransmittable) does work. Such scientific messages can remove stigma from the community, so that as many people as possible will test and be linked to treatment. Someone who is already on treatment will do well, and not transmit infection to the others. Addressing stigma is not an easy thing. Over 30 years of taking care of people with HIV and their families at our centre here, we realise that each one is different. Much is based on their education, how they were raised, and whether they live in the village or city. All this will have to be wrapped up in several rounds of counselling. Jahnabi Goswami: As Dr. Kumarasamy has said, stigma is associated not with the disease, but with where the infection arises from. The impression is that people who are in sex work will get HIV; people who do drugs will get HIV. That is where the stigma comes from. We should constantly try to reduce stigma. The government, people who are infected, like me, and those working in the field should work hard to erode the stigma. If someone has cancer, they say without any hesitation that their family members died of cancer. If they are diabetic, they say they don't use sugar. And if they have hypertension, they don't mind asking you not to put salt in their food. But people who have HIV or people who have TB do not talk openly about it because these are seen as behavioral issues. We must remove the stigma and make it comfortable for HIV-positive people to talk about their status. I do believe we have to involve counsellors to tell people that they will not transmit because they are on treatment, that U=U; and involve more people with HIV as role models to reduce stigma and discrimination. The quality of counselling should be improved for sure. Listen to the conversation
Time of India
16 hours ago
- Time of India
Why men are more likely to die from common diseases: Insights from study
Despite significant advancements in healthcare, men still face higher mortality rates from many common diseases than women. This gap cannot be explained by biology alone. Behavioural factors such as higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and poor diet contribute significantly. Additionally, men are generally less likely to seek medical advice, attend regular health screenings, or follow treatment plans, which delays diagnosis and worsens outcomes. Lifestyle choices and lower engagement with healthcare services combine to increase the risk and severity of conditions like heart disease, diabetes, and respiratory illnesses in men, leading to a concerning gender disparity in health and longevity. Men at higher risk: Hypertension, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS linked to increased mortality and lower healthcare engagement A comprehensive study published in PLOS Medicine highlights that men are more susceptible to dying from chronic conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, and HIV/AIDS. The research indicates that men not only have higher disease rates and mortality but are also less likely to seek medical help or adhere to treatment plans. This underscores significant gender-based disparities in health behaviours and access to care. Diseases that put men at higher risk: 1. Hypertension Hypertension, or high blood pressure, is a major risk factor for heart disease and stroke. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo Men are more likely to develop hypertension at an earlier age and often have higher blood pressure levels than women. This condition is frequently asymptomatic, leading many men to neglect regular check-ups and lifestyle modifications. The lack of early detection and management significantly contributes to the higher mortality rates observed in men. 2. Diabetes Type 2 diabetes is another condition where men face higher risks. Factors such as higher rates of smoking, alcohol consumption, and lower levels of physical activity contribute to the increased prevalence of diabetes among men. Additionally, men are less likely to engage in preventive health measures, leading to late diagnoses and complications 3. HIV/AIDS While HIV/AIDS affects both genders, men are more likely to contract the virus and experience worse outcomes. This is partly due to higher rates of unprotected sex and lower rates of HIV testing among men. Moreover, societal stigma and reluctance to seek medical advice further exacerbate the situation, leading to higher mortality rates . Contributing factors to the gender mortality disparity Biological differences: Biological factors play a role in the gender differences observed in disease susceptibility and progression. For instance, women have higher levels of estrogen, which offers protective effects against heart disease. Conversely, men have higher levels of testosterone, which is associated with increased risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Lifestyle choices: Men are more likely to engage in high-risk behaviours such as smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, and physical inactivity. These lifestyle choices significantly increase the risk of developing chronic diseases and contribute to the higher mortality rates observed in men. Healthcare engagement: Studies indicate that men are less likely to seek medical advice, undergo regular health screenings, or adhere to prescribed treatments. This lack of proactive healthcare engagement leads to delayed diagnoses and poorer health outcomes. Recommendations for improvement 1. Promoting regular health screenings Encouraging men to undergo regular health check-ups can lead to early detection of conditions like hypertension and diabetes, allowing for timely intervention and management. 2. Encouraging healthy lifestyle choices Public health campaigns should focus on promoting healthy eating, regular physical activity, and the cessation of smoking and excessive alcohol consumption among men. 3. Enhancing healthcare accessibility Improving access to healthcare services and addressing the stigma associated with seeking medical advice can encourage more men to engage in preventive and therapeutic healthcare measures. 4. Gender-sensitive health policies Developing and implementing health policies that consider the unique needs and behaviours of men can lead to more effective health interventions and reduced mortality rates. Also read | Everyday lifestyle factors that could be raising your blood sugar "Get the latest news updates on Times of India, including reviews of the movie Coolie and War 2 ."
News18
18 hours ago
- News18
Arunachal minister stresses on collective action for drug-free state
Agency: PTI Itanagar, Aug 14 (PTI) Arunachal Pradesh Law and Justice and Social Justice, Empowerment and Tribal Affairs minister Kento Jini on Thursday stressed the need for collection action for a drug-free state. Speaking at the 5th anniversary of the 'Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan' (NMBA), the minister stressed that the ill effects of drugs and substance abuse demand a united response from all sections of society. He said that the Centre is implementing targeted measures to address the problem in vulnerable districts, including awareness campaigns, counselling, and treatment facilities, an official statement said here. Various agencies and committees at the central, state, and district levels are working to reduce drug demand, rehabilitate users, and counter the devastating social and personal consequences of addiction, he said and added that challenges such as stigma, discrimination, and securing sustainable rehabilitation funding continue to be addressed. Advising students to 'work hard and avoid addiction", Jini reminded them that there are no shortcuts to success and warned that substance abuse destroys lives and brings suffering to families. Earlier, SJETA Secretary Abu Tayeng explained that the NMBA has been running nationwide for five years, with grassroots awareness programmes, rehabilitation support, and community-led intelligence gathering. He announced the launch of a 31-day campaign to reinforce public participation and awareness, noting that the state's high prevalence of drug abuse makes collective action crucial. Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) deputy commissioner Toko Babu said about the efforts by the district administration and police to combat the drug menace, particularly in the capital area. Addressing the gathering, Femina Miss Arunachal Tadu Lunia said addiction is widespread, with 'each person I know in my life knowing at least one person who is addicted". She linked rising drug use to peer pressure, mental health struggles, and lack of guidance, and cautioned that it often leads to issues such as HIV. She urged action against drug peddlers who 'prioritise profit over the harm caused" and called on students to be role models, contributing to awareness and change. PTI UPL UPL RG view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
