CHANDIGARH: One hundred million people are estimated to be AIDS and HIV infected worldwide by the year 2000 A.D of which S06 will be in the (hind world with Asia accounting for 42% this is observed by the Health Management Conference being Organized as a part of Health Summit 94 The conference further revealed that there was one now infection every 18 seconds worldwide. While in India the states of Maharashtra ‘Tamil Nadu and Manipur have been identified as the major centers of infection Speaking on An overview of AIDS in Asia Dr Rashmi Rajan said that the disease spreading in border states Rashinir Punjab and Rajasthan is due 10 the infiltration of AIDS affected persons from across the border.
She said that after India Pakistan is most affected in the sub-continent. The focus of the Presentation being the role of the Corporative sector and the AIDS/HTV arena Dr. Rajan said that it was the labor force and travelling personnel who belonged to the high risk category in Industry. Termination of the HIV infected employees is not a recommended solution owing to the social responsibility of the industry Further there is along gestation period between infection and disease Thirdly mandatory testing of infected persons is unethical and against human rights however separation of these persons was inevitable because sickness leads 10 employees eventually leaving owing to the increased spate of sickness.
Dr. S. Sehgal Department of Immunopathology Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research Chandigarh said that it has posed a great challenge to the virologists and Pharmacologists to in fold the mechanizes of Human immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) replication so that these mechanisms can be blocked. She added that the aphids road in the third world with ross underestimates and a large number of Undiagnosed seropositive continuing to spread the disease have baffled even the epidemiologists.
It is estimated that approximately five million liters of blood are sold annually Taking the bare minimum cost of testing the 10 million units would mean o budgetary requirement of 200 million rupees apart from other unite collected on a voluntary basis Candela documented that 80% of blood sellers in Bombay were HIV positive TH 1991 95% of the blood was unscreened Dr Sehgal revealed She further added that with the efforts of Naco and the assistance of international agencies the scenario had greatly improved in the metropolitan cities However in smaller cities and towns problems owing to lack of awareness expertise reluctance of technical personnel to handle potentially infective material continues to persist.
Later speaking on ‘Cost effective HIV testing — strategies Dr .K. B .Sharma World Health Organization (WHO) Advisor South East Asia Region said the sensitivity and specificity were the two major factors that determined the accuracy of a test in distinguishing between infected and uninfected persons He elaborated on the appropriate use of tests and gave a detailed outline of the strategies for HIV anti-body testing.
Committee said that the coordination of Blood Transfusion Programs in India and in the Asian countries are highly unsatisfactory and requires urgent Consideration for improvement. He said the future of blood transfusion services throughout the world lies in collaboration between the voluntary donor organizations and the medical profession and not in the hands of the traders of blood.
AIDS is a disease of Promiscuity said Dr .Anthony C. Nicholls Chairman and Chief Executive officer Trinity Biotech Dublin. Guest speaker Dr Nicholls said that if one has taken the decision to look after one’s workers there should be wholehearted commitment. HIV has already claimed two million lives and infected around 13 million people in the developing worla. he said. He further added that the ITV Dipstick developed by the US Program for Appropriate Technology for Health with support from Canada’s International Development research Center was designed specifically for users in the developing world.
Article extracted from this publication >> March 4, 1994
