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Fighting AIDS, Minicoy model
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AIDS, the disease that has spawned numerous NGOs and programmes for awareness, is a subject that hardly qualifies for drawing room discussion. Many are the tragedies lived out by spouses who get the virus from life partners. Minicoy has taken the lead, perhaps in the world, says JOHNY PAZHANILATH, to make it mandatory for the girl and boy to have certificates that declare them devoid of the dreaded virus in their blood.
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IF HOROSCOPE matching can be sought for a long and happy married life, why not a blood certificate that guarantees an HIV infection-free partner? Then, we will have no more Bensons and Bensys who now find no school to learn all because they are HIV positive, the legacy of parents. Believe it or not, Minicoy, one of the smallest isles on the world map, has come out with the biggest idea for the entire world to emulate.
Yes, for the past few years, the natives of this small island, consisting of 11 villages, with a population of over 15,000 people, have been conducting marriages only after obtaining a `No HIV/AIDS' certificate from both the bride's and bridegroom's families.
No one resists it. Neither does society scorn it. In fact, the idea has gained tremendous social acceptance. And the entire community is extending its co-operation for a better cause. Predictably today the islanders feel more safe and secure.
"No legislation is made in this regard, but we've made the `No HIV/AIDS' blood certificate compulsory for marriages in Minicoy for the past three years. It's a voluntary act and it's working wonderfully," reveals Minicoy Chief Medical Officer, Dr. M.C. Mohamed Koya.
It is a revolution initiated by the island's educated teens who had to watch many innocent girls falling prey to the dreaded disease. The reason? The rich sailors the girls married were the carriers of the killer disease. "More than ten innocent girls have died of AIDS in the last three years, says Dr.Koya. "To tackle the looming threat of AIDS in our island we found blood screening the most effective way, and all islanders are co-operating," he reveals.
According to Cochin Port Trust Health Officer Dr. K.K. Mohammed, a native of Minicoy, the new custom has received wide social acceptance in Minicoy that even uneducated girls have began to insist for their would-be husbands' blood report. "Today it is welcomed by all categories of people in Minicoy. Parents of brides and bridegrooms readily summit the blood screening reports to Khadis, (Muslim religious heads), before the marriage. It doesn't embarrass anybody". Mr. F.K. Hussain, a well-known politician who contested the last general election in Minicoy, also mirrors Dr. Mohammed's views.
In Kochi, many newly married girls, housewives and the children born to them have become the latest victims of HIV/AIDS. For, they were married to HIV infected men unaware of their real status. Today, as these innocent girls are destined to live with the killer pandemic for no fault of theirs, many of them cry for a legislation to make blood-screening mandatory for marriage, so that no more innocence in Kochi would be thrown into the eternal web of AIDS. In their feeble crusade for the social revolution, they are no more alone. A vast section of doctors and the public also welcome the idea of making blood screening mandatory before marriage to save the innocent from AIDS.
But in a land blessed with rich tradition and culture, can we consider a legislation to make blood screening mandatory for the marriage? What would be its social impacts? Could Kerala social landscape accept this theory? Interestingly, the questions were received with mixed reactions in Kochi.
"The rising number of married girls who inherit HIV/AIDS from their spouses emphasises the need for mandatory blood screening before marriage," says Indian Medical Association District president Dr. Govinda Shenoy. "If horoscope matching can be sought, what is wrong in seeking blood screening report for an alliance? Initially, it may annoy some, but in the long run people will appreciate it. It is the safest way to protect innocent girls and children from AIDS," opines the doctor.
"There is nothing unhealthy about it," says City Police Commissioner Mr. Vinod Thomas. "Marriage is a matter between two parties. If they've no objection to revealing each other's blood status for a better cause, society has nothing to do with it. What is there to lose if one reveals one's blood status before the marriage? Absolutely nothing. But imagine the fate of his spouse if she is marrying unaware of the fact that her husband is an AIDS patient. I think families and societies would accept it gradually."
According to Ms. Sherin Abraham, second year M.Sc student from St. Teresa's College, Minicoy has set an example worth emulating for the entire world. "Blood screening before marriage should be made mandatory in Kerala too. The only fear is that there are chances for fake blood report," she says. While many college students who spoke back the idea of mandatory medical certificate, a chunk of them favours legislation in this regard. "It should be made compulsory through a legislation. Then it won't embarrass anybody," comments Mr. Rajesh Mathew, a B.Com student from Maharajas College.
However, noted writer K.L. Mohana Varma doubts the feasibility of legislation for mandatory blood screening. "It's not going to work," he asserts. "Of course, like the isle of Minicoy, small societies and groups could implement this change more easily. But it should be a voluntary act rather than legislation. If at all legislation is made, that would be as worthless as the Dowry Prohibition Act."
While many people, cutting across the social, political and age barriers welcome the blood screening idea, of course there are many who oppose it too. "I am personally against it," says Lok Sabha deputy speaker P.M. Sayeed's daughter, Dr. Subaitha Sayeed. "Forcing a person to reveal his / her blood status amounts to breach of one's right to privacy. To prevent the spreading of AIDS to married girls, house wives and the children, the AIDS awareness campaigns have to be intensified," she feels.
Retired Supreme Court Chief Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer also feels that legislation in this regard is needless. "Experiments and researches are going on. And there are positive developments too. The world can't rule out an AIDS cure in the future. Hence a legislation for mandatory blood screening is needless." However, he says that if such a trend is customised it would not amount to the breach of one's rights to privacy.
In Kochi the real picture of women and children afflicted with HIV and AIDS is still unknown. The reason? Stigma and social isolation associated with the disease. While a change in social system is felt inevitable to tackle the looming threat of AIDS, many argue for an intensified awareness programme.
Maybe that will in turn make such a certificate no more taboo.
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