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AIDS stigma prevents education
Casey Northcutt
Issue date: 4/4/08 Section: College Life
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It might seem strange, but the rapid growth of a deadly epidemic may be partially caused by a few vacations.
Since the early 1980s, the world has seen unprecedented growth of the sexually transmitted, and thus far incurable, Human Immunodeficiency Syndrome and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome epidemic. The virus has filtered throughout the continents by several means, including contact between sex workers and infected people traveling abroad, according to Avert.org.
Ramesh Utharala, graduate student from Miryalaguda, India, currently studies chemistry at Murray State in hopes of one day finding a cure for AIDS.
Since 1986, India has struggled with an AIDS epidemic, which spread throughout the country. This was partly caused, he said, by ignorance regarding infection. Many times those in lower economic tiers have little access to health education.
"One problem is poverty and the other is illiteracy," Utharala said. "People are so uneducated with condoms, so they don't use the device that prevents infections. … Sometimes, they will be scared to go to the medical stores or the pharmacy stores. … They will be shy too buy them."
Despite a few previously recorded cases, HIV and its fatal advanced stage, AIDS, truly emerged in 1981. The virus kills the body's T cells, destroying the immune system and leaving it defenseless against any illness. HIV/AIDS can only be spread through sexual contact, blood transfusions, contaminated needles, birth and breast milk.
In 2007, studies conducted by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS and the National AIDS Control Organization estimated the number of people living with HIV in India to be between 2 million and 3.6 million, deeming it the third most affected country behind South Africa and Nigeria, according to Avert.org. These numbers, however, are most likely inaccurate because many go unreported.
Utharala said this is a result of the stigma associated with the virus.
"The family will not receive (the infected person)," he said. "Everyone keeps him away. They don't want to talk with him; they don't want to spend any time with him. So, he has to spend his whole life alone until his death."
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