Corporate Bihar and Jharkhand are yet to wake up to the rising HIV prevalence, and local industrialists have yet to realize the impact in can have on the workforce. HIV infections have already made its entry on the shop-floors of many small industries, as is evident from the increased numbers of positive workers, say observers. In the industrial belt of Noida, several concerns have already incorporated HIV and AIDS awareness, management and rights issues into their skill-building programmes for workers, thanks to nudging from the local administration. Bihar –Jharkhand are a far cry away, with most industry bosses unaware that HIV actually poses a threat to production.
According to official figures, 1,100 people among Bihar's over 83 million population are infected with the virus, but AIDS campaigners claim the figures are underreported. Unofficial figures put the HIV population of Bihar at 40,000. Bihar State AIDS figures are based on sentinel surveillance from about 61 sites. Based on date collected from these sites, BSACS claims a decrease in prevalence from 0.38 percent in 2005-6 to 0.36 percent in 2006-7.
BSACS Joint Director IEC Vishal Singh announced a 10 day “Mobile Awareness and Testing” campaign in 12 districts of Bihar : East and West Champaran, Samastipur, Gopalganj, Nalanda, Katihar, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Siwan and Patna, admitting that the sentinel data shows an upward trend in these districts.
While independent data has shown that the virus has long since moved from the so-called ‘high risk’ groups into the general population, particularly the young, able-bodied workforce, official statistics in India are largely determined on ‘sentinel’ sites. Of the 61 sites in Bihar, 14 are for ‘targeted interventions’ : intravenous drug users, sex workers, men having sex with men. Independent AIDS campaigners warn that small industries may feel the impact unless private –public partnership in HIV awareness and management becomes a reality.
According to official figures, 1,100 people among Bihar's over 83 million population are infected with the virus, but AIDS campaigners claim the figures are underreported. Unofficial figures put the HIV population of Bihar at 40,000. Bihar State AIDS figures are based on sentinel surveillance from about 61 sites. Based on date collected from these sites, BSACS claims a decrease in prevalence from 0.38 percent in 2005-6 to 0.36 percent in 2006-7.
BSACS Joint Director IEC Vishal Singh announced a 10 day “Mobile Awareness and Testing” campaign in 12 districts of Bihar : East and West Champaran, Samastipur, Gopalganj, Nalanda, Katihar, Sheikhpura, Jamui, Lakhisarai, Madhepura, Siwan and Patna, admitting that the sentinel data shows an upward trend in these districts.
While independent data has shown that the virus has long since moved from the so-called ‘high risk’ groups into the general population, particularly the young, able-bodied workforce, official statistics in India are largely determined on ‘sentinel’ sites. Of the 61 sites in Bihar, 14 are for ‘targeted interventions’ : intravenous drug users, sex workers, men having sex with men. Independent AIDS campaigners warn that small industries may feel the impact unless private –public partnership in HIV awareness and management becomes a reality.
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