SPECIAL EDITION


HIV/AIDS problems in Burma


Dr Khin Saw Win (Alice)

In a recent AIDS conference held in Durban, South Africa, it was stated that 34.3 million people around the world is carrying HIV or AIDS. Among this over 1 million is children. There are about 500,000 new cases every year.

It seems like the incidence of HIV/AIDS is increasing alarmingly. However, it was not the same picture across the world. The rate at which new HIV infections are growing and the pace at which HIV infection progresses to AIDS have begun to slow down in some parts of the world. Some areas remain the same if not decreasing. Its impact is particularly severe on the developing countries especially Thailand, Cambodia, and our country Burma. Why is it so ? Why there is such a difference ? It is time we need to look at the underlying reason.

As you all know, AIDS is the disease that caused by HIV virus. Infected people eventually develop serious illness which affects the body immune system, called immune deficiency syndrome. HIV is passed from person to person during unprotected sex, receiving the blood infected with HIV virus, and using contaminated needle. That dirty needle may be used in hospitals and clinics, where they recycle the needles instead of throwing away. HIV can also spread while sharing needles during drug use. Now, you have the general idea how HIV virus is spread, so it seems simple to learn how to prevent it.

You got to advise that the way to avoid sexual exposure to HIV is to have sex in a monogamous relationship with an uninfected partner. If you are not in such a relationship, and engage in sex, you should use a latex condom. Always screen the blood donors for HIV, do not share needles, and do not recycle the disposable needles. If you can follow these, it is sure that you'll be prevented.

But it is not true in actual cases. It does not work that way. Why ? Health education on the control of disease has traditionally relied on pamphlets, posters, radio talks, and television shows. The success of prevention depends in part on strengthening the capacities of communities, and of the economic, social welfare, and political systems to meet the needs of the people. Failure to prevent HIV/AIDS by just simple health education is found mainly in those countries where human rights are violated.

Most of the people are quite aware that condom must be used for protection. They knew that from the health education programs. But in those poor countries, condoms are not freely available. It is also costly to buy. So, they just don't bother to buy it, but just take the risk. Well ?Okay the country is poor because of poor economic development. Lets get more foreign investments, lets get foreign aids. Try and develop economic system overnight, without infrastructure. Don't care about long term plans.

The outcome of this short-sighted window dressing is that, the gap becomes wider between rich and poor. The rich are richer and the poor are poorer. As a result, some of those poor girls who are ambitious and want to enjoy luxury are willing to exchange the material with their body. Poverty has plunged them into a life of prostitution. That is the initiating factor for the spread of HIV/AIDS.

In our country, the problem is not only the gap between rich and poor, not only poverty, but the lack of security. Lots of our people have migrated to neighbouring countries, because of arbitrary executions, unlawful imprisonments, forced labour and all sorts of violations of human rights happening inside the country.

There are also economic refugees, people who leave their homes in search of a better place for living. Most of these people ended up being put in refugee camps, hanging around in the jungles. Their lives are unstable and they live in crowds. As long as these kind of problems are existing, there is no way that HIV/AIDS can be controlled.

Worst of all is the illegal drug trade. In our country, there are evidences that these illegal drug trades are indirectly well supported by the government. Drug users may choose to share needles as it is an expression of solidarity. As long as the drug problem is there, it is hard to control HIV/AIDS problem.

Public health deals with populations and prevention of infectious diseases. The public health people should realize the linkages between health and human rights. They should not concentrate on health education alone, but also must identify human rights burdens on the spread of the diseases. An approach to realizing health objectives that simultaneously promotes or at least respects rights and dignity is clearly desirable.

Health experts who are concerned about human rights have to make their expertise available to help document such abuses. HIV/AIDS can unequally affect certain individuals and communities as a result of human rights and societal constraints, which we called "vulnerability". To contain the HIV/AIDS epidemic and mitigate its impact, we need to identify this vulnerability condition.

The problem now is not only the health education about the spread of the disease and its prevention, it is the vulnerability, which results from the factors that affect adversely on one's ability to control over one's own health. It is important to recognize the factors that influence vulnerability.

First of all, the government has to be honest and admit the truth with regard to the incidence and the scale of the epidemic.

Unless Burma has a government that is accountable, transparent and willing to create conditions under which its citizens can live in political and economic security, the problem will continue to grow.

The United Nations estimates 530,000 people have become HIV carriers in Burma. The number of persons living with HIV is unknown in Burma but it has to be over 700,000 at this point" Dr Chris Beyrer of John Hopkins hospital said.

The ruling junta puts the total number at about 25,000. Why the junta denies the truth ? This is something we should think about.

HIV/AIDS problem is linked with socio-economic, political and human rights situation. There are evidences that the increase in the incidence is directly proportionate to the increased violations of human rights

The military junta would not want to let the world know that they are cruel evils. Thus they would not declare the true figure of HIV/AIDS incidence in Burma.