The Thar Desert of India in the state of Rajasthan is the most densely populated desert eco system in the world, and a particularly challenging landscape for responding to HIV.
The Thar Desert of India in the state of Rajasthan is the most densely populated desert eco system in the world, and a particularly challenging landscape for responding to HIV.
The desert is home to 25 million people who constantly battle with severe food and water shortages. They are trapped in chronic poverty and the health status of communities remains extremely vulnerable. Health services are scarce and people’s initiative to seek out services is poor in the communities due to low awareness of health issues.
India has a reasonably low HIV prevalence. According to the National AIDS Control Organization of India, in the last decade the HIV rate has been reduced by 56% bringing it to 0.31%. And in Rajasthan it is even lower at 0.25 per cent, according to Rajasthan State AIDS Control Society.
But the statistics can’t be fully relied on due to lack of testing and diagnosis in remote and barren Thar. And the desert is still a high priority region due to the migration of men to urban areas in search of employment where they are more likely to contract HIV before returning to the community.
De-mystifying HIV
Non-governmental organisation GRAVIS has been working in the region for more than 30 years and has implemented a number of development programmes that integrate healthcare, livelihoods and advocacy. With the challenge of responding to HIV in Thar, GRAVIS’ approach has been holistic and focused on several aspects.
Over the last 12 years, GRAVIS has been training and educating communities on HIV as it continues to be a mystery for many villagers. To date, over 200,000 rural inhabitants have attended GRAVIS’ training sessions. There is also a programme to address the needs of people at high risk of HIV, including commercial sex workers, truckers and migrants, which has reached over 8,000 people so far.
“The training gives us new dimension of understanding the HIV threat and makes us better prepared and protected,” said a commercial sex worker from Badmer District in Thar.
HIV and ageing
GRAVIS has a hospital, a significant rural medical facility, which tests for HIV, provides counselling support and refers people living with HIV to government Anti Retroviral Therapy centres. The hospital is located in a village of Jodhpur District and caters to a population of about 150,000 people.
HIV and ageing is an issue that often gets missed out in the response to HIV. GRAVIS is addressing the concerns of older people who are equally vulnerable to HIV. It is currently conducting a study to find out the prevalence of HIV in the elderly and to understand older people’s perceptions of HIV.
Although GRAVIS has generated greater awareness on HIV in Thar, its outreach is limited by the vastness of the desert and the low numbers of human resources and antiretroviral therapy centres. Efforts to prevent and control HIV and AIDS in Thar need to be strengthened through additional financial and technical resources and by networking with organizations working on HIV nationally and globally.
Read more about HIV prevention and treatment
Image: Young Rajasthani girl in Thar desert - about 40% of the total population of Rajasthan state live in the Thar desert
© Tihana Maravic
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