The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : AIDS is not a ‘scary’ word here

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Dec 18, 2007
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

AIDS is not a ‘scary’ word here

B.V.S. Bhaskar

Most of these illiterate women know how HIV virus enters the body

Malikipuram (East Godavari): “We know about HIV/AIDS since one decade. Youth from our village have stopped going to Rajahmundry or Peddapuram towns, which are known as centers of prostitution, because of continuous campaign done by the government, media and NGOs,” said women of new colony in Malikipuram village, about 70 kms from Rajahmundry.

This village, with 12, 000 population, out of which 5,500 are women, working as field hands are better than their urban counterparts as far as understanding of HIV/AIDS is concerned.

“A mother and her new born baby died of HIV about three months ago. We know that there are more than 10 to 15 HIV positive cases in the outskirts of the village and few more in the town. But, most of them are taking ART treatment or other medicines without disclosing about their health status,” said 55-year old Seethamma.

Most of these illiterate women know how HIV virus enters the body and what precautions have to be taken to prevent the virus. When they were asked about condoms, women spoke about it without hestitation.

Women like Suryachandra and V. Kumari said there is no need of asking their husbands to use condoms as they never found any fault with their behaviour.

P. Raju, a 65-year-old widower said about 50 youth were tested HIV positive. Pasunoori Mary, who passed B.Sc. Nursing said that she was trying to educate pregnant women in the village about the possibilities of Parent to Child Transmission.

Women here give the credit of educating them about the dreaded disease to anganwadi teacher T. Ramadevi, health worker P. Lakshmi and Coastal Network for Positives (CNP+) outreach workers K. Suryakumari,

T. Anjalidevi and K. Srinivas. The CNP+ board joint secretary P. Mallaparaju said that they succeeded in sensitising the villagers, yet there is lot to do in the surrounding villages.

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