HIV positives feel discriminated in Mizoram

Aizawl, May 30 (UNI) While the rest of the world has become sympathetic towards HIV-positives and AIDS victims, they are still being discriminated against in Mizoram.

''Despite concerned people's tireless efforts, we are still being discriminated against in our society. Not only from the general public, we have been denied medical reimbursement even by the state government because we are HIV-positives,'' K Lalhmangaihzuala, general secretary of the Positive Network of Mizoram (PNM) lamented.

He was speaking at the Candle Lighting Remembrance for Positive Activism, organised for the first time in Mizoram, by the Federation of Mizoram Positive Network here yesterday.

A tearful Lalhmangaihzuala continued, ''I was heartbroken when a couple informed me that they had been evicted by their landlord because they were HIV-positives. I was sad when I saw pictures of HIV-positives with a warning against them published in newspapers.'' He informed that 136 people had died of AIDS in Mizoram so far.

Mizoram Governor Lt Gen (Rtd) M M Lakhera stressed that all sorts of discrimination against HIV-positives should be done away with.

He urged such people not to lose heart adding, ''We have to find out why such discrimination is still there in our society and try to stop it. We need extensive awareness campaign. We have to educate the public that HIV/AIDS is not as dangerous as it appears to be and we must not stigmatise the HIV-positives.'' The governor emphasised, ''Unless we stop discriminating against the HIV-positives, they will not have the courage to confess before the public and this will increase the danger. The HIV-positives also have equal rights like other citizens. The churches have great responsibility in this regard.'' He also assured that he would look into complaints that the HIV-positives had been discriminated against in terms of medical reimbursement.

Reverend Stephen Rotluanga prayed for the HIV-positives, for the souls of those who had died of AIDS and all AIDS workers.

Project Director of Mizoram State AIDS Control Society Dr K Ropari informed that so far, 1,994 HIV-positives have been detected in Mizoram.

Presently, the Grace Home at Durtlang and Joy Adventist Hospice at Seventh Day Tlang are the only hospitals which have separate ten-bed units for AIDS patients.

While the ten beds at the Grace Home remained occupied throughout the year, 28 AIDS victims were being treated at the Joy Seventh Day, officials said.

UNI