Thoughts on Myths About HIV/AIDS From India

Dear All,

I wanted to Share with you some view points of AIESEC Members from India on Myths about HIV/AIDS in India..

Hope it gives you all a perspective ! :)

1: Myths about HIV/AIDS
"The five great myths about HIV/AIDS" The writer, Ashok Alexander, Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.though the whole thing wud be too big to post, the basic gist of the article wasMyth 1: Its just another problemMyth 2: It cant possibly affect meMyth 3: Our cultural values will protect us There is a moral condom that will protect India from HIVMyth 4: Its only about creating awarenessMyth 5: There is nothing I can do personallyAnd he went on to tell the truth about each of the above, and it was really so thought provoking.
Wat do u think about it ??
Waiting for your comments and replies

Neha Pareek
Team Leader
AIESEC Jaipur, India

2: Re: Myths about HIV/AIDS (response to 1)
hey guysin the article this line really made alot of sense to me!! its so true.."There is a moral condom that will protect India from HIV"
i think it really explains alot what is going on in India at the moment..i mean we can really never openly talk about AIDS even with our own parents...i mean alteast i cant..it just feels weird..which is probably a really big problem in itself..i think the whole indian social system needs to change in order to actually be open about talking with ppl about AIDS...this is a big MYTH the so called moral well.."condom" shall protect us!!rite...
Mallika Bhargava
VP DT
AIESEC Delhi IIT

3: Re: Re: Myths about HIV/AIDS (response to 2)
Hey guys,
I was really taken aback by the statement "there is nothing i can do about it personally"
I believe in the fact that YOU can make a difference if you want to.. If today i make an effort to talk to my family and friends about this issue or educate a bunch of people regarding this issue or talk to an HIV+ person and make him feel happy and wanted .... i can in my own way make a difference.
So lets not have this mentallity that HIV is a medical problem and the doctors need to come up with a cure for it.... And lets be the change that we want to see....
Shubhangi Singhal
OCP-Genesis
AIESEC Delhi IIT


5: Re: Re: Myths about HIV/AIDS (response to 2)
hey mallika !!
well, that kinda hit me hard too.and i so agree with you that no matter how educated, how advanced we become in life, we always hesitate while talking to our parents about anything related to sex.Talk about Generation Gap !Though, the whole Indian Social System can not be blamed for it.we should realise, that WE constitute the society.So charity, and CHANGE, both starts at home
Cheers !!
Neha
Team Leader
AIESEC Jaipur, India

4: Re: Myths about HIV/AIDS (response to 1)
Hey!
I think I agree with just about everything said so far on this thread!
But I think what's worse than being unable to talk openly about AIDS to elders, parents and such is the way in which we pretend that the only way AIDS spreads through sex in our country is through prostitution.
In India too pre-marital sex and extra marital affairs are not precisely non existent. They just happens behind closed doors - the "moral condom" preventing them from bursting out into the open. Everyone knows about it, or atleast has an inkling, but we still pretend like it never happens.Not in India, because it's against our traditions, values and culture.
And, thats entirely true. Even when you're just educating someone about AIDS, you're helping the issue. You're making one person less susceptible to the disease.
Shilpa
OCP Genesis
AIESEC CHENNAI

6: Re: Re: Myths about HIV/AIDS (response to 4)
hey !
thats very well said Shilpa !!i remember watching this amazing flick, "My Brother, Nikhil"it dealt with the topic so well, th portrayal of how an HIV patient is ill-treated and how uneducated and backward some people are about HIV/AIDS.
We tend to ignore a lot of things which we know are going on in the society.Even in our own peer circle, we know things are going on, people are indulging in things not very safe, but we turn a blind eye.kind of doublefaced isnt it ?i think this comes from the fact, or the thought that, we should not interfere, its his/her life etc.but it really isnt.you never know, when life comes a full circle, and it affects you too.
wat do u think ??
Neha Pareek
Team Leader
AIESEC Jaipur, India