Editorial:-
World AIDS Day was observed on 01 Dec on the theme “Getting to Zero”, and on Thursday, the Red Fest Carnival got underway in Gangtok promoting the same goal. Getting to Zero sets up an ambitious agenda zeroing in on three goals - Zero new HIV infections; Zero AIDS deaths; Zero stigma and discrimination. Needless to add, the goal is distant and the journey is going to be challenging, but now that the sights have been set that high, should the right resolve be marshaled, achieving it should not be impossible. Speaking at the Red Fest inaugural ceremony, both, the Governor and the Chief Minister reminded the agencies working on AIDS awareness and the lay people of the importance of communication in combating AIDS. The achievements of effective awareness cannot be emphasized enough because it is only awareness that keeps people safe and is the reason why new HIV infections have been falling in the recent past. Another important aspect of effective awareness and ending of stigma is improved inclusiveness. Sikkim has seen the success of such initiatives as the Drop-In centres in reaching out to drug addicts and facilitating rehabilitation and through such efforts, making them safer. A similar reaching out will be required to combat HIV/ AIDS as well. The people most at risk – the sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgenders, along with people who inject drugs – unfortunately, still remain largely marginalized at the national level and even more so in Sikkim where their issues and traumas do not even receive token sympathy. The requirement of inclusiveness has been further compromised in our country by the recent ruling of the Supreme Court making homosexual relations a criminal offence all over again and the shallow Right celebrating the verdict. This clearly at risk group needs to stand up stronger instead of retreating deeper into the shadows as much for their basic rights as their need to mainstream their issues and help the country Get to Zero. As a society, we need to accept that before we begin chipping away at the stigma imposed on HIV+ve people and AIDS patients, we need to first lift the social and legal discrimination and stigma we already attach to sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and transgenders.
World AIDS Day was observed on 01 Dec on the theme “Getting to Zero”, and on Thursday, the Red Fest Carnival got underway in Gangtok promoting the same goal. Getting to Zero sets up an ambitious agenda zeroing in on three goals - Zero new HIV infections; Zero AIDS deaths; Zero stigma and discrimination. Needless to add, the goal is distant and the journey is going to be challenging, but now that the sights have been set that high, should the right resolve be marshaled, achieving it should not be impossible. Speaking at the Red Fest inaugural ceremony, both, the Governor and the Chief Minister reminded the agencies working on AIDS awareness and the lay people of the importance of communication in combating AIDS. The achievements of effective awareness cannot be emphasized enough because it is only awareness that keeps people safe and is the reason why new HIV infections have been falling in the recent past. Another important aspect of effective awareness and ending of stigma is improved inclusiveness. Sikkim has seen the success of such initiatives as the Drop-In centres in reaching out to drug addicts and facilitating rehabilitation and through such efforts, making them safer. A similar reaching out will be required to combat HIV/ AIDS as well. The people most at risk – the sex workers, men who have sex with men and transgenders, along with people who inject drugs – unfortunately, still remain largely marginalized at the national level and even more so in Sikkim where their issues and traumas do not even receive token sympathy. The requirement of inclusiveness has been further compromised in our country by the recent ruling of the Supreme Court making homosexual relations a criminal offence all over again and the shallow Right celebrating the verdict. This clearly at risk group needs to stand up stronger instead of retreating deeper into the shadows as much for their basic rights as their need to mainstream their issues and help the country Get to Zero. As a society, we need to accept that before we begin chipping away at the stigma imposed on HIV+ve people and AIDS patients, we need to first lift the social and legal discrimination and stigma we already attach to sex workers, men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs and transgenders.
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