Darjeeling, 18 November
According to the recent study of a Darjeeling-based group of people living with HIV/AIDS, the total number of HIV infected people in Darjeeling has reached 486.
The number is only of those registered to Shanker Foundation, a Darjeeling-based organisation run by HIV/AIDS people. Besides the figure provided by the organisation, the total number of HIV/AIDS infected in the region is unknown.
Meanwhile, the record states that Darjeeling is still HIV/AIDS vulnerable. Experts point out that the menace is caused due to lack of qualitative education and moreover understanding the disease.
On the other hand, the society continues to view them with disgust and repugnance, reports the members of Shanker Foundation. “We still face social stigma and discrimination in the society,” says Mr Hari Chhetri, the organisation’s secretary who is himself a HIV/AIDS victim. Giving some examples of it, Mr Chhetri said: “Recently, one of our members died. When he was alive, he was boycotted from the family and when he died they refused to take his body inside the house.”
It has been learnt from Mr Chhetri that earlier the organisation had been granted a permission to establish a rehabilitation centre for HIV/AIDS victims for which Rs 15 lakh had been sanctioned from the MP fund, but the people of the surroundings did not allow. Hence, Darjeeling could not have a rehabilitation centre for HIV/AIDS victims.
It can be mentioned here that the organisation here is able to run through funding from the West Bengal State Aids Control Society for which they carry out medical treatment, education and psychological support to the victims living with HIV/AIDS.
“Since WBSACS has not sanctioned the fund since 7 months, we are finding it difficult to run the organisation,” Mr Chhetri said.
“Even the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit have not responded to our queries,” he added.
However, in a bid to support and help run the organisation, the friends of Shanker Foundation has organised a programme, ‘The Positive Haat.’ “In this programme where we are collecting unused stuff from the people and fix it, if required and sell it. The collected funds will be given to the foundation,” said one of the organiser of the programme adding that the dates for sale has been fixed on 30 November, 1 and 2 December.
“If we do not receive any funds to organise the World AIDS day come 7 December, we will try to organise the programme with the collected funds,” Mr Chhetri added.(SNS)
According to the recent study of a Darjeeling-based group of people living with HIV/AIDS, the total number of HIV infected people in Darjeeling has reached 486.
The number is only of those registered to Shanker Foundation, a Darjeeling-based organisation run by HIV/AIDS people. Besides the figure provided by the organisation, the total number of HIV/AIDS infected in the region is unknown.
Meanwhile, the record states that Darjeeling is still HIV/AIDS vulnerable. Experts point out that the menace is caused due to lack of qualitative education and moreover understanding the disease.
On the other hand, the society continues to view them with disgust and repugnance, reports the members of Shanker Foundation. “We still face social stigma and discrimination in the society,” says Mr Hari Chhetri, the organisation’s secretary who is himself a HIV/AIDS victim. Giving some examples of it, Mr Chhetri said: “Recently, one of our members died. When he was alive, he was boycotted from the family and when he died they refused to take his body inside the house.”
It has been learnt from Mr Chhetri that earlier the organisation had been granted a permission to establish a rehabilitation centre for HIV/AIDS victims for which Rs 15 lakh had been sanctioned from the MP fund, but the people of the surroundings did not allow. Hence, Darjeeling could not have a rehabilitation centre for HIV/AIDS victims.
It can be mentioned here that the organisation here is able to run through funding from the West Bengal State Aids Control Society for which they carry out medical treatment, education and psychological support to the victims living with HIV/AIDS.
“Since WBSACS has not sanctioned the fund since 7 months, we are finding it difficult to run the organisation,” Mr Chhetri said.
“Even the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit have not responded to our queries,” he added.
However, in a bid to support and help run the organisation, the friends of Shanker Foundation has organised a programme, ‘The Positive Haat.’ “In this programme where we are collecting unused stuff from the people and fix it, if required and sell it. The collected funds will be given to the foundation,” said one of the organiser of the programme adding that the dates for sale has been fixed on 30 November, 1 and 2 December.
“If we do not receive any funds to organise the World AIDS day come 7 December, we will try to organise the programme with the collected funds,” Mr Chhetri added.(SNS)
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