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The Increasing Risk NOTHING could be more distressing for Goa and its people than the information that the percentage of young women in Goa who contracted HIV in 2004 was found to be almost twice the per cent of young men who got the infection in the same age group. A study of the gender and age of the HIV infected persons in Goa by the Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) for 2004, shows that Goan women in the age group of 15 to 29 who contracted HIV comprise 37 per cent. In contrast, the percentage of males in the same age group is 20.9 per cent. While this underlines that women are most vulnerable to the disease, at the same time it also points to proneness to lack of care in a sexual laison. Else, what is the plausible reason for such fast spread of the dreaded disease in the women only during couple of years? Significantly earlier reports reveal that out of every three persons who contracted HIV, only one was a female. Undoubtedly this is a matter of serious concern: why there were more female than the male in the younger age group? Though the GSACS correlates this abnormal rise to biological and sociological factors; women are comparatively less empowered than men and are more prone to HIV or sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), apparently this does not hold good. The ignorance of the person has been a major promotional factor for the disease. But in Goa around 80 per cent women being literate one wonders, how this disease spread so fast amongst the women? In fact the 2003-04 report of the GSACS provides an interesting insight: While 1095 of the 15-29 age group walked in for HIV test, the number of women of this age group was 2258. During the test it was observed that the proportion of women tested positive has registered a rise; from 5.9 percent in 2002 to 18.3 percent in 2003. Is the increase in the number of HIV cases some how related to the economic growth of the individual? The GSACS sociological factors will adopt a much more gender-sensitive approach in combating HIV/AIDS in Goa in the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme to begin in April 2006. But what is needed is to find out the real reason for the spread. The GSACS had already targeted the women as its focal point for action. But even then it has not succeeded in checking the spread of the menace.Even the government figures accept the fact that the cumulative figure of HIV/AIDS infected persons in Goa from 1989 till August 2005, rose to 8079. Interestingly, while the number of deaths in 2003 and 2004 remained steady at 32 for each year, the number of deaths till August 2005 jumped to 63. These are the official figures. There are many who have kept it hidden. In this background the actual number of infections and deaths is expected to be higher.In fact this is manifest in the GSACS report; while in 2002 nearly 2258 women walked in fore test in 2001 only 84 women dared to approach the clinic. The GSACS also underlines that though the HIV infection has been prevalent in all parts of Goa and in the past the majority of the cases were reported in coastal talukas; Mormugao, Salcete, Barderz and Tiswadi, in recent years it has started spreading in the hinter land. This increase also makes the government claim of initiating effective measures to counter it suspect. The Chief Minister, Mr Pratapsing Ranes announcement that the government and non-government organisations should extend the AIDS awareness campaign to school students points to the severity of the problem. But the increase in the numbers also speaks of little efforts being made by the government and the agencies so far.Ironically while people are not too eager to talk about it openly, it appears they are also not inclined to change their life style.There is no denying the fact that the first obstacle to tackle in the AIDS is thesilence. Since the disease is spreading fast, it is imperative that neither the victims nor the members of society should pretend making it appear as if it did not exist. The government must take the situation seriously and start collecting information and statistics about the number of Goans affected by HIV/AIDS and use this information to raise awareness among women, young and middle-aged. There is yet another, and of course most important, reason for taking comprhensive social and medical action is, Goa has been declared as the most developed among the smaller states and in this background this is a threat to development as well. We too have to tackle the problem head-on: In the HIV/AIDS awareness-raising campaigns, a commitment to faithfulness in marital relationship and avoidance of unsafe sex by unmarried women needs to be promoted. And for this it is essential the families and the larger community should be involved. -- Cheers, Gabe Menezes. London, England
