Dharamshala, June 6 – So you thought only foreigners have AIDS? Not anymore, for the Department of Health of the Central Tibetan Administration has statistics that show nine AIDS caused deaths out of total 12 known cases among the exile Tibetans in the past.
Add to that figure, two new cases of AIDS discovered last year.
Is that all or are there many unknown cases of AIDS to reckon?
“It’s very possible”, says Sonam Topgyal, head of the Department’s AIDS programme.
“Because, the perceived social stigma attached with AIDS makes them reluctant to come out and seek our help.
“However, when compared to others, the number of AIDS cases in the exile Tibetan community would still be very small.”
Since the launch of AIDS programme, the Department has undertaken numerous initiatives ranging from raising awareness to treatment assistance through a network of its 7 hospitals and 52 primary health centres spread across India and Nepal.
The Department at present is providing complete treatment expenses and a monthly stipend to the two new AIDS patients. One of them Topgyal says is in critical condition.
There is also a growing concern about the spread of AIDS in Tibet.
Although statistics on the prevalence of AIDS in Tibet is not available at present, we can safely assume that AIDS is already widespread, says Dhondup Dolma, a staff of the Environment and Development Desk of the Department of Information and International Relations.
“It is primarily because of the massive influx of Chinese migrant workers who hail from those region of China where AIDS is highly prevalent.
“Besides, the rising number of prostitutes due to a booming sex industry coupled with lack of awareness about AIDS would further exacerbate the spread of AIDS.”
Official figures put the number of China’s HIV infection at around 840,000. However the official sources agree that the real figure could be much higher. UN AIDS has warned that by 2010, 10 million people will have been infected with HIV in China unless effective action is taken.
