15th International AIDS Conference Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. D10116)

Nabeel MK, Gunawardhanan MN
Academy of Medical Sciences, Kannur, Kerala, India

ISSUES: Among the south Indian states seen 'Red' in the prevalence rate maps, this tiny state called Kerala remains to be 'Yellow' indicating lower prevalence rates. Criticism has already crept in attributing it to the faulty surveillance system employed which is true to a certain extent in many other parts of the country.<IMG SRC="images/prog/D10116_IMG1.jpg" border=0>

DESCRIPTION: This review-paper undertakes a detailed and critical analysis of the related issues with a holistic approach. Utmost care has been taken to avoid bias of any kind and as one could see from the paper, both positive and negative factors ahs been identified and listed

LESSONS LEARNED: Preliminary results indicate that beyond the alleged inefficiency of the suveillance system there are many factors responsible for this relative lower rates. Kerala had been known amongst the public health circles for its superior health indices; in some instances even comparable to the developed counterparts. A lot of such factors even though pre-existing in the state's health care system, when combined with the actual preventive programmes have had its impact on these lower rates. This as a model is worth discussing for other states and elsewhere in the world for their overall development. Of course the surveillance system has to be improved upon; but as alleged by some circles, here it is not in a very pathetic situation again owing to the high degree of penetration of the health care workers into the rural population and the rapport gained by them through the years.

RECOMMENDATIONS: Even though the matter of fact is as described above, it should not be a motivation for complacency and instead should motivate us for keeping up or even improving upon the system which had its pesent state owing to the tireless works of the people who worked here before. Another important issue to be addressed in Kerala is about Stigma & Discrimination where the State's track record is not very good.

040711
D10116

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