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The Union Home Ministry is facing a rather peculiar dilemma these days. The task at hand is to contain the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in the paramilitary forces. And, the problem lies in it not being able to adopt the conventional methods of starting awareness campaign.
At present, the Central government is divided on how to promote the use of contraceptives within the paramilitary forces. Deciding for now to discretely distribute condoms among soldiers, the Home Ministry officials have rejected a proposal from the Health Ministry to launch an active campaign against AIDS and promote the use of contraceptives openly. They fear that an open AIDS-awareness campaign may be seen as a tacit recommendation to soldiers to seek sexual gratifications in their operational areas.
We dont want to promote the use of contraceptives to the extent that they take it as an order or direction. This may lead [the personnel] to look around for partners outside their base areas, says a senior official involved in internal security. Further, it will make them vulnerable to attacks from militants and Naxalites, who can come to know their movements this way. On the other hand, if we don't ask them to use condoms, they run the risk of getting HIV," the officer explained the dilemma.
He said that the Health Ministry is still not decided. They are debating whether to involve NGOs and health workers to launch a full-fledged campaign.
An official survey conducted by the Home Ministry last years had found that at least 25 per cent of paramilitary forces are not fit to either face pitched battles against aggressive crowds or fight insurgents. They also suffer from serious ailments, like diabetes, hypertension, skin diseases and even HIV/AIDS. The survey was conducted in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Shastra Seema Bal. The survey revealed that out of the total of 5,00,000 troops, a whopping 1,22,700 were affected by one or the other of these ailments.
Health problems are on the rise and affecting the performance and morale of the forces, the report said. Particularly puzzling is the high number of HIV/AIDS cases, something typical of war zones but not peace postings. The survey also found that that forces have already lost 400 men to the HIV/AIDS. At present, there are 1,300 forces personnel affected with this disease.
However, the CRPF has reported improved figures on HIV and AIDS. In 2010 there were only four deaths in the CRPF, as compared to 45 in 2009. The number of infected soldiers has also come down. In 2010 there were 26 jawans who were infected with HIV, as compared to 40 in 2009. Till 2010, there have been 195 deaths due to AIDS in the CRPF, while 575 people have been infected with HIV.
The sources in the CRPF say that one of the main reasons for the steep decrease is that the awareness about the disease has increased among the jawans. The CRPF has taken the initiative at various camps by conducting counselling for the jawans and distributing free condoms.
Till a few years ago, the CRPF was struggling to contain the spread of HIV. Then in 2007, among other measures it adopted to contain the disease, it started an AIDS helpline for soldiers. In 2010, this helpline received over 22,000 calls, 77 percent of which were from men who had called to quell their fears about AIDS.
The officials from CRPF say that most callers make the call after having unprotected sex.
However, this success story is too small and covers a very limited period to allay the fears of the Home Ministry officials. They wonder why in most cases the survey has found prevalence of HIV amongst men posted in peaceful areas, like Delhi, We can't fathom why people who are allowed to stay with their families are getting infected. He said that the actual number of those infected could be more, since the HIV test is optional, said the official on condition anonymity, as he is not authorised to talk to the media.
The survey found prevalence of other diseases among the soldiers. It found 52,000 paramilitary personnel afflicted with skin disease, 27,000 with hypertension and 7,000 with diabetes. Hypertension and diabetes, in turn, are leading to cardiac ailments, of which there are 6,200 reported cases. An equal number of personnel have developed psychiatric problems because of tough working conditions, a lack of medical facilities especially psychological support and being away from their families.
The home ministry sources say that such situation also leads to the incidents of fragging. We have a medical board to take care of these problems, but there is no denying that disease is bringing down the men, a paramilitary officer said.
Reminding that in Africa the HIV has taken a toll of security systems of various countries, experts have called for immediate measures lest it affects the battle readiness of the forces.
The Union Home Ministry is facing a rather peculiar dilemma these days. The task at hand is to contain the spread of sexually transmitted diseases in the paramilitary forces. And, the problem lies in it not being able to adopt the conventional methods of starting awareness campaign.
At present, the Central government is divided on how to promote the use of contraceptives within the paramilitary forces. Deciding for now to discretely distribute condoms among soldiers, the Home Ministry officials have rejected a proposal from the Health Ministry to launch an active campaign against AIDS and promote the use of contraceptives openly. They fear that an open AIDS-awareness campaign may be seen as a tacit recommendation to soldiers to seek sexual gratifications in their operational areas.
We dont want to promote the use of contraceptives to the extent that they take it as an order or direction. This may lead [the personnel] to look around for partners outside their base areas, says a senior official involved in internal security. Further, it will make them vulnerable to attacks from militants and Naxalites, who can come to know their movements this way. On the other hand, if we don't ask them to use condoms, they run the risk of getting HIV," the officer explained the dilemma.
He said that the Health Ministry is still not decided. They are debating whether to involve NGOs and health workers to launch a full-fledged campaign.
An official survey conducted by the Home Ministry last years had found that at least 25 per cent of paramilitary forces are not fit to either face pitched battles against aggressive crowds or fight insurgents. They also suffer from serious ailments, like diabetes, hypertension, skin diseases and even HIV/AIDS. The survey was conducted in the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), the Border Security Force, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police and the Shastra Seema Bal. The survey revealed that out of the total of 5,00,000 troops, a whopping 1,22,700 were affected by one or the other of these ailments.
Health problems are on the rise and affecting the performance and morale of the forces, the report said. Particularly puzzling is the high number of HIV/AIDS cases, something typical of war zones but not peace postings. The survey also found that that forces have already lost 400 men to the HIV/AIDS. At present, there are 1,300 forces personnel affected with this disease.
However, the CRPF has reported improved figures on HIV and AIDS. In 2010 there were only four deaths in the CRPF, as compared to 45 in 2009. The number of infected soldiers has also come down. In 2010 there were 26 jawans who were infected with HIV, as compared to 40 in 2009. Till 2010, there have been 195 deaths due to AIDS in the CRPF, while 575 people have been infected with HIV.
The sources in the CRPF say that one of the main reasons for the steep decrease is that the awareness about the disease has increased among the jawans. The CRPF has taken the initiative at various camps by conducting counselling for the jawans and distributing free condoms.
Till a few years ago, the CRPF was struggling to contain the spread of HIV. Then in 2007, among other measures it adopted to contain the disease, it started an AIDS helpline for soldiers. In 2010, this helpline received over 22,000 calls, 77 percent of which were from men who had called to quell their fears about AIDS.
The officials from CRPF say that most callers make the call after having unprotected sex.
However, this success story is too small and covers a very limited period to allay the fears of the Home Ministry officials. They wonder why in most cases the survey has found prevalence of HIV amongst men posted in peaceful areas, like Delhi, We can't fathom why people who are allowed to stay with their families are getting infected. He said that the actual number of those infected could be more, since the HIV test is optional, said the official on condition anonymity, as he is not authorised to talk to the media.
The survey found prevalence of other diseases among the soldiers. It found 52,000 paramilitary personnel afflicted with skin disease, 27,000 with hypertension and 7,000 with diabetes. Hypertension and diabetes, in turn, are leading to cardiac ailments, of which there are 6,200 reported cases. An equal number of personnel have developed psychiatric problems because of tough working conditions, a lack of medical facilities especially psychological support and being away from their families.
The home ministry sources say that such situation also leads to the incidents of fragging. We have a medical board to take care of these problems, but there is no denying that disease is bringing down the men, a paramilitary officer said.
Reminding that in Africa the HIV has taken a toll of security systems of various countries, experts have called for immediate measures lest it affects the battle readiness of the forces.
