Bangalore: People living with HIV/AIDS, sex workers, sexuality minorities and organisations and individuals working in the area of HIV prevention took to the streets here on Thursday to demand better facilities for HIV positive persons and access to treatment and nutrition to be provided by the Government.

Networks of HIV positive persons and 25 organisations working on the issue in Karnataka have come together under the banner of Bangalore HIV/AIDS Forum. They took out a rally from Makkala Koota in Chamarajpet to Banappa Park.

Treatment

The Global AIDS Week of Action observed by the HIV Positive networks and other organisations demanding access to affordable treatment and services began on Sunday with the candlelight vigil in Cubbon Park and the rally was part of this programme.

"Violence against women is very much linked with HIV. The isolation women face is very gender specific," ," said Usha B.N. of Hengasara Hakkina Sangha. 0HIV positive people should be considered as poor and all the schemes that were there for the poorest of poor should be provided to them, said Babu Mathews of Action Aid.

Stigma

"Pregnant women are the most affected. Prevention of parent to child services is not available to all positive women. The virus is mostly brought home by men but it was the women who are at the receiving end and face stigma. There is need for awareness so that they are not ostracised by their families," he added.

Meena of Milana said HIV positive women should come out openly and access the facilities available and lead a normal life.

"We have to come out and empower ourselves and support our peers," said Meena, a person living with HIV for the last 14 years.

She asked the Government and society to take responsibility of HIV positive children because they were orphans. Milana, a family support network of PLHA, encourages positive people to adopt orphans.

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