AIDS Awareness Day - dec 1

Dear all,

As it's a Aids awareness day, have a look at the beautiful attachment.

Cheers
Shalini

Attached Files

untitled_175.zip (117.9 KB, 36 views)

Dear Shalini.

I could not see the slides. Please post your views for discussion.
regards

__________________
Jogeshwar mahanta

Hi,


The ad is amusing and thought provoking at the same time. Good one. We need more of such creative ads especially when it comes to serious issues like AIDS awareness, where people are mostly shy and ignorant towards the disease. The T.V. ads on the same issue were also pretty good.

My parents though haven't been able to adopt an open approach to dealing with such topics with me, but they certainly don't give me that second look when I am reading articles informing me about the same.


Regards,
Vinisha.

__________________
To Know and Not to Do, is Not yet to Know
*~Vinisha~*

Namaskar.

AIDS
In 1986 two prostitutes were detected HIV positive in Chennai/Madras. This was the first reporting of HIV in India. Now as per official record there are 5.1 million cases.

Apparently there is no cure for HIV/AIDS. So prevention is all. Preventions are three.
1.Self discipline-It is believed that promiscuity is the biggest culprit in the transmission of the infection. The proposition is true when we investigate where from one is infected. But if we investigate into the question-whether promiscuity leads to HIV/AIDS ? Then the answer is No. If you examine 100 prostitutes you will hardly find 4-5 HIV/AIDS cases. So vulnerability is the culprit and not promiscuity. Self discipline, that is, celibacy or confining to uninfected partner protects from the probability of being infected but not from vulnerability. Of course, in the country of Kama Sutra annual average frequency of sexual encounter, according to, a recent international survey is 75 as against the global average of 103.

2.Condoms- It is presumed that self discipline is none pragmatic and promiscuity is a matter of fact. So alternative is condom. Use of condom was very much known to Indian masses in 1986. Still then the frequency rose from 2 to 5.1 million excluding the death cases. So, I think, condom approach is a failure.

3.Psychoneuroimmunology- This is a recent discipline of knowledge. As I have told above, promiscuity is not the culprit but vulnerability is. Vulnerability can be combated with the help of the principles of psychoneuroimmunology . Of course, it requires comprehension, interest and practice.

In these perspectives, Swaminathan, the author of swaminomics column in the Times of India Sunday (December 4, 2005) says:

“In August, my 16-year old son, Rustam, was getting ready to join a co-educational boarding school. I marched him down to the local pharmacy and bought him a stock of condoms.”

Was Swaminathan’s decision right?

regards

__________________
Jogeshwar mahanta

Dear Mahantaji,

I would like to add the following recent jargons(the ABCD of HIV/AIDS) on this critical epidemic

A - Abstinence from sex
B- Being Faithful to one partner
C- Condoms
D- Don't penetrate

All the four are being agressively marketed by many organizations but in our country with a huge population self-control is best way of preventing this pandemic

Hello,

The fact to double underline and highlight in bold letters is that the average sexual encounters in a country of 5.1 million HIV positive cases is just 75 against a global average of 103!

That itself goes a long way in dispelling beliefs that it is promiscuity that causes such a large number of HIV positive cases in India. Yes, the spread of the disease can be aggravated by promiscuity but the 3rd option suggested, adopting psychoneuroimmunology or mind-body medicine can indeed go a long way in preventing the spread of the disease or as its success already highlights, allowing people with HIV to live a very long time - with almost no functioning immune system( only their positive attitude seems to make them different from those who die) Psychoneuroimmunology is a view of medicine and health. First developed by Dr. Robert Ader, director of the division of behavioural and psychosocial medicine at New York's University of Rochester. Dr. Ader believes that there is a link between what we think (our state of mind) and our health and our ability to heal ourselves.

We have come across studies and articles reporting a reduction in the number of patients and the practice of "laughter therapy", which is now widely practiced is just one aspect of this branch of prevention and treatment of diseases through regaining the balances.

Coming to the use of condoms, though, they were existent even in 1986, but the perception of people and their attitudes to the use of condoms hampered their acceptance and usage. It still does, but to a large extent, it has begun gaining acceptance with the threat of the rising number of HIV Positive cases in India. The perception of people towards condoms is changing. Back in 1986, one could not even say the word "condom" without getting those awkward glances. There is no ease of purchasing condoms. Asking for condoms is no easy task even today as women feel embarrassed and men are reluctant. Creating an ease in the purchase of condoms, by installing vending machines (like the ones we have for beverages), would go a long way in increasing its usage and reducing the spread of this awful disease.

Swaminathan showed the forwardness and courage that every parent today must show. His son is 16 and whether he is going into a co-ed boarding school or to an all boys boarding school, he is going to be sexually inquisitve and will definitely explore. It is a natural tendency. I still haven't understood the attitude of shaming away or hiding from such well-known facts, which most Indians still carry. Not facing the facts or hiding them will not make the reality go away. It may well contribute to further curiousity and self-destruction. Swaminathan may have felt awkward taking this action, his values and principles may not have agreed with his action, but he knew it was the right thing to do. "Better safe than sorry". His action would not only ensure that his son is safe from the disease, but it would also contribute to a better relation with this son. His son would feel at ease talking to his father on such issues and let me tell you, it is certainly NOT easy talking to your parents on such topics, not only for the child but also for the parents. But Swaminathan would at least know what is going on in his son's mind and about his actions, something most parents just wish they knew.


Regards,
Vinisha.

__________________
To Know and Not to Do, is Not yet to Know
*~Vinisha~*

Namaskar Ramesh ji.

Will you please elaborate A and D?

regards

__________________
Jogeshwar mahanta

Namaskar Vinisha ji.

I am very happy to see to read your response. so far only you have posted a rejoinder to psychoneuroimmunology/mind body medicine siince I have joined citehr. But for the time being let us discuss about swaminathan's decision first.

The expected average sexual outlet per week is 3. So per annum it is expected to be 156. But Indian average is only 75. About 2 years back in a similar survey it was 96. So it is going down. What is the reason?

Within the physiological limit Frequency of coitus is directly related to cordiality between men and women. Such a low frequency of coitus by Indians shows that all is not well in the cross-sex relationship. It can be dangerous, that is, complicacies are enormous. So "safe sex" needs to be redefined.

Swaminathan gave the licence of a bull to his son Rustam. A man and woman relationship is not a relationship of a bull and a cow. It requires emotional bonding.At 16, Rustam is not mature enough. So he will go on making and breaking relationships, particularly in a social climate as said in the preceding paragraphs.

Time will tell what will happen to Rustam. But at this time can we guess about the emotional health of Rustam when he marries at 30? Because the title of Swaminathan's article is "My son, your son and AIDS."

regards

regards

__________________
Jogeshwar mahanta