Comments on: HIV Pos, caste no bar

By: Lovin

Lovin — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 18:23:32 +0000

i think it’s a good way to at least let ppl live their lives in relative happiness and not feel isolated from society due to disease. As for breeding and procreation, if these people are on the marginal income side i would probably advise them to wait until at least they can secure better incomes…no need to have a family potentially decide between child care and medication.

By: runnerwallah

runnerwallah — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 16:21:29 +0000

Even if the child is born without the HIV, will the parents be able to live long enough to raise their children? Drugs can extend a person's longevity, but I don't know if these couples will have reliable access to them.

Also previously read somewhere that the couples are strongly advised to not have chidren - but that this advice is not usually heeded to.

By: Ennis

Ennis — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 16:13:22 +0000

Nina, I don't know what they tell their clients, but 70-85% of children born to HIV positive mothers are born without HIV. A single dose of Nevirapine during labor cuts that transmission rate considerably further, and this is a drug produced in generic form in India. Sadly, there is still a 10-20% chance of infection through breastfeeding, but I don't know how that works if the woman has a low HIV count due to ARV therapy.

You can read more about mother-child transmission at the Avert website.

By: Nina P

Nina P — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 15:53:03 +0000

Both Daksha and her clients approach marriage with a typical Indian matter-of-factness

Doesn't typical Indian matter-of-factness see marriage as a means of producing children? I read the BBC article expecting some mention of the complications of raising children born with HIV, but found none. Are the couples advised to contraceive? Is the matter ignored?

By: Ennis

Ennis — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 15:37:55 +0000

Good question about the rabbit - I have no idea, but it was charming so ...

Uma: By "understand her" I think she means "not kick her out of the house" like her last husband did. You could read it like this:

"I did not want a very handsome person, or a very rich person. I just wanted a husband ... who can provide for three square meals a day "

By: peach

peach — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 12:24:49 +0000

why the rabbit?

By: uma

uma — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 12:16:22 +0000

I did not want a very handsome person, or a very rich person. I just wanted a husband who can understand me.

Isn’t that very ‘ishq conquers all’ already?

By: Oeth

Oeth — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 07:26:30 +0000

Lucre vincit omnia. Veni, vidi, Visa.

By: Thea

Thea — Wed, 29 Jun 2005 07:12:23 +0000

They do not believe in wishy-washy Â“ishq conquers allÂ” sentiments

amor DOES vincit omnia, you HATER!!!