Injecting drug users most
vulnerable to HIV/AIDS
India has achieved a reduction in
overall HIV infections, but injecting drug users remain
one of the most vulnerable groups in the country as far as contracting HIV/AIDS is concerned, said a report.
According to the latest report by the NationalAids Control Organisation (NACO), while HIV prevalence in India among the generalpopulation stands at 0.40 per cent, HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs is as high as 7.17 per cent.
According to the latest report by the NationalAids Control Organisation (NACO), while HIV prevalence in India among the generalpopulation stands at 0.40 per cent, HIV prevalence among people who inject drugs is as high as 7.17 per cent.
Experts put the blame for the high figure in India on the poor background of drug users as well as the draconian Narcotics Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which criminalises the drug user along with peddlers.
"People who inject drugs face widespread discrimination, physical violence, hostility and harassment at social, medical and legal levels. This drives them away from availing services which can prevent at least the transmission of HIV/AIDS," said Francis Joseph, programme officer of the 'Hridaya' project being run by the India HIV/AIDS Alliance under the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP)- III.
He also blamed the "harsh" NDPS Act for hampering the "harm reduction programmes" in many parts of India. "Some changes are needed in the law. It needs to be mellowed down, especially as far as drug users are concerned," Joseph said.
According to a senior NACO official, though the NDPS Act in itself is very stringent, there are some provisions which allow agencies to behave differently towards drug users, but those provisions are not followed by the police and others probably because they are not aware of them. "This certainly affects the injecting drugs users. They are marginalised and criminalised and pushed into risky behaviour," he said.
According to recent NACO data, India has demonstrated an overall reduction of 57 per cent in estimated annual new HIV infections (among adult population) from 0.274 million in 2000 to 0.116 million in 2011. The estimated number of people living with HIV was 2.08 million in 2011.
According to the World Health Organisation, 34 million people were living with HIV/AIDS in the world in 2011.
Source: www.timesofindia.com
10.12.2013
Alzheimer’s drug to be a reality within 5 yrs?
Scientists
have said that a drug that could provide a breakthrough for Alzheimer's disease
will be available within the next five years.
Recruitment of people aged 55 - 90 to take part in the final-stage study in the US is taking place. The study will examine if the drug solanezumab slows the cognitive and functional decline of people who suffer from mild Alzheimer's.
In the new trial expected to end by December 2016, people are going to be given solanezumab as a monthly 400mg injection for 18 months.
Dr Eric Karran, director of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, said that the results would suggest that monthly injections should be given early to ward off the disease, News.com.aureported.
Dr Karran said that the drug showed "reasonable" effect in people suffering from mild Alzheimer's and results would come within five years.
Source: www.timesofindia.com
10.12.2013
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