Here is the same story with two different headlines. I wish the name of the government official who denied sex work and drug use had been published. And what is an American doing up there?
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Indian officials on edge over Burma's HIV/AIDS information black-hole
M Subhaschandra
Mizzima News
August 31, 2007 - The Burmese military junta's secrecy over HIV/AIDS infection in the country has Indian officials tearing their hair. With the junta's administration concealing facts on the disease programmes to control the spread of the endemic is being seriously jeopardized.
The District Chairman and other senior officials based in Tamu, a western Burma border township have flatly denied the existence of drug users and sex workers on their soil when Indian officials sought cooperation to fight cross-border HIV/AIDS.
"When we approached them regarding the steps taken by their government to contain the disease, they (Burmese officials) said they did not have any intravenous drug users (IDUs) or commercial sex workers (CSWs)," said Dr T R Kom, project the Director of Manipur State AIDS control Society.
Burmese officials are hiding facts and figures regarding people affected and infected by HIV/AIDS, he added.
A day long seminar "Role of media intervention in preventing HIV/AIDS and promoting awareness" was held on Thursday in the northeastern Indian border state Manipur. It was sponsored by the American Center, Kolkata.
"Hearing such responses is very disappointing when we want to focus more on prevention and other HIV/AIDS intervention programmes across the border," Dr T R Kom said.
India's Non-Governmental Organizations have been distributing syringes, condoms and medicines 'free of cost' to many IDUs and CSWs from Burma coming to Moreh, opposite Tamu on the Indo-Burma border.
More than 38 million people are living with HIV/AIDS around the world and the UN estimates that without preventive measures, 45 million new cases could occur by 2010.
The visiting American Director Douglas referred to a congressional report which predicts that by 2011; more than 25 million children could be orphaned because of the HIV virus.
http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/News/2007/Aug/96-Aug-2007.html
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Burma refuses to cooperate with India in combating HIV/AIDS
M. Subhaschandra
Mizzima News (www.mizzima.com)
August 31, 2007 - Indian officials are discouraged with Burmese authorities for hiding the facts on HIV/AIDS, which they believe affects India's ability to prevent the epidemic from spreading.
The District Chairman and other senior officials based in Burma's Tamu Township, on the border with India, flatly denied the existence of drug users and sex workers on their soil when Indian officials asked for corporation in the cross-border fight against HIV/AIDS.
"When we approached them about their steps in containing the disease, they [Burmese officials] said they didn't have any intravenous drug users or commercial sex workers," said Dr. T. R. Kom, Director of the Manipur State AIDS Control Society, while speaking at a seminar.
He added that Burmese officials are still concealing the truth regarding both affected and infected people.
The one-day long seminar, entitled "Role of media intervention in preventing HIV/AIDS and promoting awareness," was held on Thursday in the northeastern Indian border state of Manipur and sponsored by the American Center Kolkata.
"Hearing such responses is very disappointing to us when we want to focus more on prevention and other HIV/AIDS intervention programs across the border," said Dr. Kom.
India's Non-Governmental Organizations have been distributing syringes, condoms and medicines, free of cost, to many intravenous drug users and commercial sex workers from Burma in the Indian border town of Moreh.
More than 38 million people are living with HIV/AIDS around the world and the United Nations estimates that, without preventive measures, 45 million new cases could occur by 2010.
Visiting American Center Director Douglas referred to a congressional report which states that, by 2001, an anticipated 25 million children will be orphaned due to HIV.
http://www.mizzima.com/MizzimaNews/News/2007/Aug/95-Aug-2007.html
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