: Crying foul over the Centre’s decision to merge the National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) with the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, social activists said that the step will jeopardise the effort to control the spread of AIDS. At the ‘AIDS Momentum 2022’ event in Kolkata on Monday, they said that the decision will lead to an increase of HIV infections among vulnerable groups such as sex workers, transgender and drug users.
At present, NACO programmes such as providing medical facilities to sex workers are implemented by the State AIDS Control Societies (SACS). These autonomous organisations set up special clinics for sex workers and other vulnerable communities in collaboration with NGOs. NACO was set up in 1992 to implement the first National AIDS Control Programme which is in its fourth phase. The current phase will conclude in 2017.The activists claim that the programme should continue at least till 2022.
“Sex workers get condoms and other medical facilities from these clinics. Majority of them in Sonagachi (a red light district in north Kolkata) refuse to go to government hospitals for treatment due to social stigma associated with AIDS,” said Bharati Dey, secretary of Durbar Mahila Samanwaya Committee(DMSC), an organisation that works for the rights of sex workers.
Smarjit Jana, chief advisor to DMSC said that the step will lead to the “resurgence of HIV epidemic as the marginalised and criminalised communities” will not be able to avail themselves of public medical services due to the stigma. He also expressed his concern that the merger will lead to a delay in the release of funds due to bureaucratic red tape.
Sonal Mehta, Director of Programme and Police of India, HIV/AIDS Alliance, an NGO that works for the prevention of AIDS, pointed out that the merger of NACO with the Health Ministry will lead to it being treated like any other disease. “The social taboo necessitates that it be looked at separately,” she said.
Ranjita, secretary of Association of Transgenders and Hijras in Bengal slammed the Centre’s decision as “one sided” and said that such a step will increase the spread of HIV within the transgender and other vulnerable communities.