Preventing HIV erasing social stigma

Lanka faces challenge of keeping HIV at bay:

Sachitra MAHENDRA

With fast developments in many spheres the world still lags behind when it comes to critical road blocks such as poverty and fatal diseases.

HIV/AIDS still remains incurable, hindering the smooth flow of day-to-day lives of millions of people the world over.

The Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) does not mean it deserves discrimination in society. Women infected with HIV/AIDS face severe discrimination.

The average woman has a tendency to get infected with AIDS through their husbands who are mostly three-wheeler and lorry drivers, according to Dr. Mangala Goonathilaka (MBBS, Diploma in Child Health, MD Pediatrics), Senior Registrar at Lady Ridgeway Hospital.

"Being women, they are subject to humiliation and stigma, though their husbands are to be blamed. Some women do not even come to clinics to get the HIV tests done," she said.

There are 3,000 reported HIV cases, but the fear of stigma has left more cases unreported. Two major causes that led to the spread of HIV infection are commercial sex workers and childbirths of mothers infected with AIDS.

"The worst thing is that some patients don't show the symptoms for some time."

"There are tests to measure your level of HIV but the widely available one is not so effective. It does not show any positive results within the first three months of infection. At the same time there are expensive tests which measure your HIV level the very following day," he explained.

According to Dr. Goonathilaka, AIDS has a higher infection rate in Africa and Latin America.

"Sri Lanka is fortunate that it is much enlightened about the fatal disease than Africa. There you get a lot of myths. One myth is that AIDS can be cured by having sex with another person with the same disease. Sex education as well as AIDS literacy is in a very poor status in Africa."

If a pregnant mother is HIV positive, chances are very rare that the baby would escape the unwanted disease. Even though the baby might escape the infection in delivery, he is prone to get infected while being breastfed.

"The problem is that babies are normally in good health. Although they might be HIV positive, the tests might not show it at times. The symptoms can be hidden and will come out with a severe disease like pneumonia. Since the patient's immunity strength is very low, they are more likely to face death."

There are other issues too. AIDS-inherited children have to face social stigma too. They are in a difficult position to deal with other children. Entering school will be difficult for them, Dr. Goonathilaka said.

"Though we have a good sex-education system, we still come across many people who look down on AIDS victims like lepers. Most still do not have a humane attitude towards them."

Because of this reason alone, most of the victims are simply scared to reach hospitals, she added.

"We have Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD) units in OPDs. So the patients have no reason to hesitate. The outsider will see them as normal patients, and we respect the patient's confidentiality. In fact the Government offers free clinics for STD."

Sex education is not something new in Sri Lanka. It has been added to the school curriculum.

"Now we can see people slowly bucking the usual trend. Parents talk to children on sexual health. Many children openly come out with their questions."

Which is good indeed. However, Dr. Goonathilaka says the Sri Lankan standards on sexual health need further development. More strategic plans should be formulated against discrimination on AIDS, strengthening the advertising campaigns. The plus point is that they don't take in AIDS victims as lepers. They treat them as normal human beings.

Would the legalisation of prostitution solve this problem ? Dr.

Goonathilaka is on the fence. "There will be cultural problems in the first place. On the other hand if prostitution is legalised we can have positive hopes on safe sex by giving them proper education.

As long as the profession is illegal, they do not come out to have a proper education.

However in countries like Thailand where prostitution is legalised, we cannot see a drastic downturn of STD," he added.

Children's homes are also highly vulnerable, according to Dr. Goonathilaka's experience. Sometimes commercial sex workers leave their children in these homes. There is no way to know whether the mother is infected with HIV.

Hence the other children in that children's home are also prone to get infected, he said.
 

Soothe dry 'n cracked feet

WAvoid walking around barefoot. Resist the temptation to always walk barefoot on the beach or at home. It does do a considerable amount of damage to your feet. Always use white socks or slippers when walking in your home.

WYou must apply moisturiser to your heels at least twice a day but most especially after you bathe. A good heavy moisturiser, free of dyes and perfumes, is essential. However, this by itself won't be enough.

WAdd some oil to your bath. It will help to soothe the skin over your whole body and it will help your feet to lock in some of the moisture that it loses throughout the day.

WTry soaking your feet each evening in a basin of water mixed with mineral oil or salts. Do not use hot water as this will further dry your skin. Lukewarm water is preferable.

WExfoliate the skin. After soaking your feet in a bath or basin use a foot scrub or pumice stone. There are many types sold in retail stores that you can use to help remove the dead skin cells. ehow.com

Exhibition by Sita Joseph de Saram

An art exhibition by Sita de Saram will open on December 5 at the Harold Pieris Gallery of the Lionel Wendt Theatre. The exhibition will be open to the public on December 6 and 7 from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Sita de Saram is well known in local art circles as a portrait painter, sculptor and musician who has held several art exhibitions in Sri Lanka and the US where she has received several awards, including an 'Award of Excellence' for women achievers under the category of cultural achievement, by the SAARC Women's Association.

She has portrayed and sculpted many distinguished personalities in Sri Lanka. Views of Sri Lanka, Norway, Vietnam, Scotland and the US are among her landscape paintings. "We do not respect or value the bounties of nature," she said.

She uses her exhibitions as fund raisers for various projects and this exhibition will see part of the proceeds being donated to the Leprosy Association of Sri Lanka and the Animal Welfare Association.

EGGS:

As you like it

Boiled

**The hot water should only be simmering as egg shells can crack if plunged into fast boiling water - if this happens sprinkle a little salt on the crack.

**Alternatively, place eggs in cold water and time from boiling point.

**Another way to protect eggs against cracking is to carefully prick the blunt end of the egg before cooking to allow steam to escape.

Scrambled

**Make scrambled eggs fluffier by adding a little water before cooking.

Poaching

**Cooking eggs in a 'poaching pan' is actually steaming them. Real poached eggs are made by filling a frying pan 4cm (11/2 inches) deep with salted water and bringing to simmering point. Break each egg into a cup and slide into the water one at a time. Poach for 2-3 minutes.

Fried

**If cooked in a non-stick pan with a minimum of fat, a medium fried egg contains about 100kcals depending on how well the fat is drained from the cooked egg.

Vegetable and egg curry

Cooking time: 20-25 minutes

Serves: 4

Ingredients:

1 tbsp oil

1 onion chopped

400g sweet potatoes, peeled and diced

1 red pepper, deseeded and cut into chunks

1 clove garlic, crushed

400g chick peas, drained

2 tbsp medium curry paste

400g chopped tomatoes

200ml vegetable stock

6 large eggs

4 tbsp chopped fresh coriander

Method:

Heat the oil in a large pan add the onion, sweet potato, pepper and garlic and sauté for four minutes until soft. Add the chickpeas, curry paste, tomatoes and stock. Bring to the boil and simmer for 15 minutes or until tender and thick. Meanwhile, place the eggs in a small pan cover with cold water and slowly bring to the boil. When boiling simmer for four minutes. Drain, rinse in cold water tapping the shells all over. Remove the shells and cut each egg into quarters. Set aside. Taste the curry base and season to taste. Scatter the eggs over the surface, cover with a lid and gently simmer for a few minutes until the eggs are hot. Serve with basmati rice.