HIV POSITIVE WOMEN WAS NOT STONED
TO DEATH IN ANDHRA PRADESH
: NACO NEW DELHI
It has been reported
in some newspaper that an HIV positive woman was allegedly stoned
to death by her close relatives in Colony of Kuppam, Chittoor
District of Andhra Pradesh. National AIDS Control Organisation
(NACO) New Delhi deputed a three member team to Kuppam Colony
to make first hand investigations. A statement issued by Project
Director, NACO here today has said that the investigation has
revealed that the news about the woman being stoned to death was
only a rumour and that an NGO had made this allegation without
verifying facts.
The statement
has said that the NACO team found that the woman, one Smt. Pavanamma
had tested positive for HIV at a Voluntary Counselling and Testing
Centre. She was given treatment for the Opportunistic Infection
at the area hospital, Kuppam and advised to seek treatment for
other related illness in referral centres. The information about
her HIV status was kept confidential to protect her from stigma
and discrimination. She had been living in her mother’s house.
She started showing symptoms of terminal illness about a month
ago. The doctor at the area hospital, Kuppam who examined her,
found that medical treatment was not likely to be effective any
more, and advised the relatives to take her home. Being at the
terminal stage of AIDS, only palliative care could have been provided
by the family. The family provided palliative care as best as
it could. There is no reason to believe that Smt. Pavanamma died
of anything other than natural causes. The statement has said
that these findings are also in agreement with the investigations
conducted by the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society. However,
the statement has pointed out that it is important to fight against
stigma and discrimination towards persons with HIV and AIDS and
this should be carried out with the co-operation of all segments
of the society as well as through community mobilization.
