Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore to Represent Church in India at AIDS - 2008 at Mexico

Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore (SP)

Bangalore, Jul 31:  The 17th biennial international conference on AIDS, titled 'AIDS-2008' is being held between August 3 to 8 at Mexico. Two years ago, the conference was held at Toronto, Canada. The conference aims at bringing together people working to serve the affected and infected people with this dreaded disease. AIDS has claimed the proportions of a major develop problem from being an obscure disease some decades back. Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore will be participating in this conference. On the eve of his trip to Mexico, Daijiworld representative Jessie Rodrigues spoke to him on the dreaded disease, problems it has been creating an the measures being taken to contain it.

Q: Why do you call it a Development problem?

A: The countries invest lot of money in educating and developing skills in youth. Again, AIDS afflicts mostly the youth. The resources of the country again get drained towards supporting programmes, treating the infected people and protecting them against the stigma attached with the disease. As funds get diverted to address these problems, development suffers.

Q: Can you explain this with context to India.

Archbishop: A recent study by National AIDS Control Organization (NAACO) has put the figure of Indians suffering from this disease at 3.5 million. This figure is provisional and actual figure might be much more. More concerning is the fact that most of those infected with AIDS belong to the age group of 15 to 30 years.    

Q: What is the solution? 

A: Unlike some years ago when people afflicted with this disease used to die within eight to ten years, now better drugs have come. With their use and by having better food and lifestyle, HIV affected people can live much longer, even 20 to 30 years or longer.

Q: What are the hurdles in using these drugs?

A: The Anti-Retro Viral drugs used for HIV affected people are highly expensive, though the government subsidizes them for certain sections of people. Now, agencies from all over the world also support ARV treatment through global funding.

Q: Who are the participants of this Conference and what is your role there?

A: Funding agencies, their representatives and government representatives, numbering over 20,000 are expected to take part in the event, where interactions are held with the agencies towards making them donate more generously towards the global fund floated by United Nations. I represent the CBCI Health Commission and along with a few other doctors and priests actively involved in the commission activities, will be practically representing the church in India. 

Q: With regard to handling the patients, what care the nursing staff should take for themselves?

A: HIV spreads only through blood or body fluid contacts. Unlike in the past, everyone treating the HIV positive people follow some procedures known as 'universal precautions' just like in any other communicable diseases.

Q: What message you will have for the people of India when you return?

A: 1. Maintain high moral and ethical standards they are expected to follow. 2. Avoid using used needles and go for only the sterilized and disposable needles.3. If care is taken, it is possible to ensure that the baby does not carry HIV infections even if the father had that infection. 4. While being bad, the disease has also brought into the church an aspect of love and care, as everyone of us are called upon to be more and more compassionate, loving and caring.

Q: What is the role of religion in this disease?

A: A three-day seminar for people from all faiths will be held from July 31 to August 2. People representing all the faiths are brought together and briefed of their responsibilities towards these HIV AIDS affected people.  Religion plays a major role in our lives and the religious leaders have to play bigger roles in educating our people through religious discourses and through religious activities, the ways and means to control this disease and take care of the people compassionately.