Panaji, Dec 3 (TNN): Over the years, the rate of HIV infection has declined in Goa and some four-five new cases of HIV/AIDS are detected every month. But, what's bothering doctors and counsellors working with people living with HIV/AIDS is the casual attitude of the infected persons.
Despite counselling, many don't take any precautions and pass on the infection to his/her partner. The ART (anti-retroviral therapy) center located in Goa medical college (GMC) and hospital, Bambolim, receives many such cases.
At the end of the day, the staff members find themselves exasperated when a new case of HIV is detected, and the source of infection is one of the patients taking treatment at the center. "And we wonder whether we are doing any good to the society. We help them get well, and they go out and spread infection," said a ART staff member who recently dealt with a case of a 24-year-old man, who gave infection to his wife.
When he walked in the center a year ago, he was thoroughly counselled along with his mother and told not to get married.
"Not only did he marry a HIV negative girl, but within a year had his 19-year-old wife infected, and now he wants to have a child too," said a ART member.
"I wanted somebody to take care of my son," was the mother's lame excuse when questioned about her son's marriage.
The staff at the ART center has tried its best to dissuade him from having a child, but he is adamant. "We have even told him that the baby may be born HIV positive. But you know, what he said? 'You people will cure him'. The staff member said she was infuriated when he heard him say that.
A counsellor said, "It's not that all don't listen, but then there's no way we can do anything other than telling them what they should and should not do."
"When we counsel them, they hear us with rapt attention. When we ask whether they will follow our instructions, they answer in the affirmative. But some chose to defy us," she adds.
She also said that some of the commercial sex workers who visit the ART center to collect their regular dose of medicines, have been spotted by them soliciting customers.
Dr Vandana Patankar, project director, Goa state AIDS control society (GSACS), said this type of attitude is evident among HIV/AIDS patients as they want to prove to others that they are normal. "They want to also hide their infection also because of stigma attached to HIV/AIDs," she said further adding they are doing all they can do to generate awareness about HIV/AIDS.