Christians demand tabling of HIV/AIDS bill

The HIV/AIDS bill that is still pending with the Ministry of Health and Family welfare should be tabled and passed in the present winter session of the Parliament. This was a sentiment that was echoed by all the social activists and People living with HIV and AIDS (PLHIV) who gathered in the capital for the National Media Roundtable organised by World Vision India.

At the round table, activists and PLHIVs deliberated on the status of PLHIV in India with special focus on child-related issues. The speakers demanded that all stakeholders create a common voice for children affected by HIV and AIDS.

Speaking at the roundtable, Mundrika from DNP+ said, "The HIV/AIDS bill has been pending with the government for more than 5 years now. We demand that it should be tabled in the Parliament without any further delay."

The bill seeks to protect HIV+ people from discrimination not only in public sector but also the private sector.

Pradeep Dutta from Nayi Umang said, "The bill is very important in the light of the large scale discrimination faced by the HIV+ people in our country. It's unacceptable that the government has not brought the bill to the Parliament till now."

World Vision India along with other partner organisations has been strongly advocating for the passage of the HIV Bill in the Parliament, and has organised several similar state/regional level media round tables in the past few months to garner support from the media fraternity.

Speaking at the conference Mr Reni Jacob, Advocacy Director, World Vision India said, "The good thing about the bill is that it had been drafted after extensive consultancy with all stakeholders including PLHIV and thus was comprehensive in nature and we hope it is passed in its original form."

Further Daisy David, Advocacy Associate, World Vision India added. "We urge the government to table the bill as soon as possible in the light of the fact that women and children affected by HIV/AIDS are very vulnerable and they need the support of such a bill."

The Bill also provides for free and complete treatment for all HIV+ people. Naresh from UPNP+ said, "Though the Government is providing the 1st line treatment to HIV+ people, 2nd and 3rd line medicines are not easily accessible. Also important diagnostics like viral load test are not provided by the government free of cost. In light of this it is very important that the bill should be passed at the earliest as it provides for free treatment to HIV+ people."

Anand Grover of the Lawyers' Collective said "We are really disappointed by the constant delay on the part of the government in bringing this bill to the Parliament. There is no reason for any further delay. We hope that the bill is brought to the Parliament at the earliest."

The long-pending HIV/AIDS Bill may not provide all the answers to the various issues facing PLHIVs but will be a step in the right direction and is a much-needed reassurance that the government indeed cares about the rights of PLHIV.