Dear Friends

Greetings from the Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+)

This mail is in response to the announcement of former British Cabinet Minister
in BBC News "MP Proves there is life after HIV".

The announcement by Mr. Chris Smith, former British Culture Minister and Labour
Party MP, that he has been living with HIV for 17 years is a great morale
booster for people living with HIV/AIDS all over the world, particularly in
countries like India where life of them is a mammoth struggle every day. His
high profile and words are a shot in the arm for thousands of people who have
been fighting for the rights of PLWHA, particularly access to treatment and
stigma and discrimination. "If you are in the UK and you have access to NHS, HIV
does not have to be death sentence" - these words epitomise what INP+ has been
articulating: access to treatment and an enabling environment without stigma and
discrimination can normalise lives of people living with HIV.

The life of Chris Smith also demolishes several myths associated with HIV.

Despite being tested HIV positive in the late eighties when the drugs were still
rudimentary, he has been able to maintain a very good quality of life and manage
a high-profile job with remarkable results. In his statement, he attributes this
to good food, exercise and access to appropriate medication. HIV has not
hampered his official duties or enthusiasm, both at the personal and
professional levels. It is our dream that all the stakeholders, particularly the
National and State Governments, will be inspired by stories like that of Chris
Smith, to help normalise the lives of 5.2 million people living with HIV in
India. It is not an unachievable task. We can several examples where committed
government interventions have worked wonders on the front of treatment, rights
violations and stigma and discrimination.

I would also like to bring to the fore the gesture by Nelson Mandela a few weeks
back when he announced that his son had died of HIV. He said he wanted to openly
disclose it to create awareness on HIV. It is indeed gratifying to see that we
are living in a time of great benevolence, selflessness and international
camaraderie. I hope all the stakeholders in our country also will be inspired by
people like Mandela and Chris Smith. I would like to reiterate the point INP+
has been reiterating - fight against stigma and discrimination and access to
treatment should be integral part of a comprehensive prevention programme.

It is proven beyond doubt that prevention without treatment is a fallacy and any
economic-argument against it should be fiercely fought with.

K.K.Abraham
President, Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+)
Flat No 6, Kash Towers,
No 93, South West Boag Road,
T. Nagar,
Chennai - 17
Ph: 044- 24329580/81
Fax: 044- 24329582
E-mail: <inpplus@...>