SRINAGAR, NOV 30: Saima Jan (name changed) faced immense fear whenever her family discussed her marriage. Despite evading the topic, she was married two years ago and her worst fears materialized when she became pregnant.
Unknown to her husband and immediate family, she grappled with the anxiety of being HIV positive. Her doctor, preferring anonymity, expressed concerns about the potential transmission risk to her husband and unborn child.
In a similar case, a man concealed his HIV-positive status from his dentist during tests before a filling treatment. Upon discovering the diagnosis, the dentist sent him to the Anti Retro Therapy Centre (ARTC) at a hospital, but the man fled, realizing his secret was at risk.
These are two examples of how people in Kashmir remain in denial.
On December 1, WHO, together with communities and partners will commemorate World AIDS Day 2023, under the theme “Let communities lead”.
On this year’s World AIDS Day, healthcare professionals and NGOs in Kashmir emphasize the severe physical, financial, and emotional risks that patients and their families face due to this denial.
Data from J&K State AIDS Control Society (JKSACS) accessed by Morning Kashmir reveals that around 6400 HIV-positive patients have been registered in J&K over the last three decades.
An official of JKSACS highlighted the underreporting of HIV cases due to social stigma, emphasizing the crucial role of awareness in preventing the infection’s spread.
“HIV transmission in the Kashmir valley is largely linked to drug use, whereas in the Jammu region, female sex workers, truckers, and labourers play a significant role as transmitters. Other major causes include blood transfusion, unprotected sex, and the shared use of needles by multiple individuals,” the official added.
Dr Mohammad Shafi, a physician, outlined early symptoms and the progressive impact on the immune system. While there’s no cure, proper treatment allows individuals with HIV to lead healthy lives, he said.
Doctors caution against syringe reuse and advocate for a multidisciplinary approach to address HIV/AIDS as an illness linked to behaviour.
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