Effectiveness of HIV/AIDS policy and its implementation in Karnataka

Abstract

HIV/AIDS is the greatest health crisis the world faces today. The HIV/AIDSepidemic poses an unprecedented challenge to communities and nations particularlythose in the developing world. Where the epidemic has spread unchecked it is robbingcountries of the resources and capacities on which human security and developmentdepend. HIV/AIDS is thus today perceived as a developmental issue rather than a merepublic health problem. With an estimated 4.5 million HIV infections in 2002, India hasthe second highest number of HIV infections in the world. Since the detection of the firstHIV positive case in Chennai in 1986, the virus has spread rapidly and today AIDS hasbeen reported from all the states of the country.Karnataka is today face-to-face with the toughest challenge of tackling anHIV/AIDS epidemic that is spreading rapidly in the state. With adult HIV prevalencerates increasing rapidly over the past three years the window of opportunity for bringingthe HIV/AIDS epidemic under control is narrowing day by day. This study assesses theeffectiveness of HIV/AIDS policy and its implementation in Karnataka and tries tosuggest measures for improving it. The study takes the state of Tamil Nadu as abenchmark for comparing the performance of Karnataka. Tamil Nadu has beenrecognised as an effective model in combating HIV/AIDS.The study concludes that while implementation of policy in Karnataka is notsatisfactory, it is too early to call Tamil Nadu's model of handling the HIV/AIDSepidemic a success. However, there are several noteworthy features in Tamil Nadu 9sresponse which make it different from the response of other states and which are worthreplicating in other states. The study thus draws several strategic and other lessons forKarnatakafrom Tamil Nadu like the need to have visionary leaders at the helm, the needto adopt new strategies like enlisting the support of diverse NGOs for a diversepopulation, the need to encourage a synergetic partnership with another major player,and the need to build trust and mutual understanding between all the players in the field.Several policy recommendations also come out from the study.