07/20/2007
Ignorance Halts Nepalese HIV/AIDS Program Funded by Elton John
A program, run by Nepal's Blue Diamond Society and partially funded by the Elton John AIDS Foundation, to provide HIV/AIDS prevention and support in a far west region of Nepal has been stymied by the government and NGOs working there.
This is the kind of ignorance they're facing, according to Blue Diamond Society President Sunil Pant:
"The public health officer Krishna Bhatta claimed that there are no 'sex tissues' in the anus and so there's no chance of HIV/AIDS transmission through anal sex."
Additionally, the health officials believe that AIDs prevention programs would 'promote' homosexuality.
According to the IANS, "Bhatta was supported by at least two NGOs present at the meeting who said a support programme for gays would encourage more homosexual activities and 'pollute' society."
Pant said that up until now, the program had seen some success: "There is an increasing number of gays, transgenders and males with HIV in the far west. Since the outpost started, we have sent more than 15 people living with HIV to Kathmandu for further support, treatment and hospice facility."
He expressed hope that at some point Elton John (whom the health officials have never heard of) would be able to meet with Nepalese officials in person: "We are not sure where Elton John is available to visit Dhangadi at the next meeting. When state public health officials and NGOs working in the sector of sexual health and HIV prevention display such homophobic attitude, we feel it is impossible to provide effective care and support treatment for the sexual minorities."
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Posted 10:15 AM EST by Andy in AIDS/HIV, Nepal, News | Permalink
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"Sex tissues"?
And this guy is a public health officer? Has be ever even had a single biology class?
This makes me fear for Nepal and for other small nations who are battling serious diseases like AIDS.
Posted by: Jonathon | Jul 20, 2007 10:46:41 AM
My God. That degree of ignorance in a public official should be criminal at the international level. When a public health official says those kinds of things in an official capacity, it means people are dying because of willful ignorance at highest levels. How is that anything but a crime against humanity?
Posted by: Rich | Jul 20, 2007 10:48:33 AM
That's especially funny since most people on the planet infected with HIV got it through penile-vaginal intercourse. Idiot.
Posted by: OY | Jul 20, 2007 11:32:13 AM
Doesn't sound all that different from the views and policies of the USA's current administration with regard to HIV/AIDS and sex education.
Posted by: blah | Jul 20, 2007 11:41:18 AM
Ditto, RICH! It's a shame that NGO's are involved in such ignorance. I wonder what criterias are taken into consideration when these individuals are being elected in office. It's actually scary. On a different note, though, Andy, nepalese officials haven't heard of EJ probably because they don't listen to the kind of music he produces. Much the same a peasant in the scottish highlands have never heard of the Dalai Lama.
Posted by: Shabaka | Jul 20, 2007 12:32:29 PM
Ah, the perils of political patronage. NGO's don't want others muscling in on their turf either. As for vaginal intercourse, it has been shown to be comparably safe, most HIV positive women in the world probably got infected through anal intercourse, but the general taboo against it makes mentioning this fact unlikely. In other words, people lie when they discuss what they do sexually, particularly if they are ill and want treatment. Same for men in third world countries (these days), not admiting they got it from other men rather than "prostitutes". The Nepelese health guy was typical in that he knows perfectly well that the taboo is broken regularly, but for the sake of cultural pride is not allowed to admit it.
Posted by: anon (gmail.com) | Jul 20, 2007 12:48:17 PM
Go Elton!!!! Prance right in there,Queen!
Give them a peice of your mind and while you're at it, educate the dumb fucks!
Posted by: John | Jul 20, 2007 1:52:10 PM