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A quieter way of battling AIDS

Murali Krishnan in London

It is a tangential way of making a point, these postcards featuring of two burly Rajasthani men, surmounted by bright yellow turbans, in a robust clasp, a jewellery-coated Gujarati couple tucking in at a wedding feast, a young woman Indian executive being hugged fondly by her partner, and leather-clad teens looking on dourly.

All of them have 'Love Safely' on them. They are part of a campaign by the Naz Project, London, an agency focussing on HIV/AIDS and sexual health in South Asian and Middle Eastern communities in Britain. There is serious cause for concern since, according to Naz, there are already 113 HIV-positive South Asian males in Britain who acquired the virus either through homosexual contact or through drug use.

That number has increased, according to the Public Health Laboratory Service. Already, 14,075 AIDS cases overall have been reported in the country with 29,107 people diagnosed as being HIV-positive. So far, 11,481 people diagnosed HIV-positive, with or without AIDS, have died in Britain.

"Amongst the Indians, exposure abroad accounts for a majority of HIV infections," says Krishna Maharaj, director of the Naz Project. A number of research organisations working on the problem can't quite figure whether South Asians are acquiring the infection from Asia, Africa or Europe. But the fact is that they are.

And Naz, understanding the South Asian's reticence with regard to discussing matters sexual, has used in its promotional material imagery others in the same field would find too subtle for use.

"With communities where English is not the first language and whose cultures and traditions differ from the host community, issues such as sex, sexuality and HIV/AIDS often need to be addressed in an appropriate way," says one volunteer.

So along with the card comes an eight-page booklet detailing the basic facts on HIV/AIDS and safer sex. It comes in 10 languages, including Hindi, Punjabi, Gujarati, Tamil, Bengali and Farsi.

One AIDS patient in his 40s, a Punjabi, acknowledged Naz's help thus: "If you were not there to interpret, my wife and I wouldn't be able to access any HIV service." Similarly another patient, a 70-year-old Gujarati who spoke little English, also says he gained better control of his life due to the vernacular support services.

For gays in the Asian community, a Mughal miniature poster has been brought out displaying two courtiers in a compromising situation. 'Are you prepared?' the poster asks. Another poster for lesbians, 'Black, Proud and Safe' shows two young women holding up a string of condoms. There are already two prominent Asian gay clubs in London -- Club Kali and Club Shakti -- with most of its clientele from inner London, a small section from the outskirts and the remaining from outside the UK.

Of the members, 38 per cent were Muslims, 25 per cent Hindus, 15 per cent Sikhs and 9 per cent Christians. Currently, Naz is developing an HIV prevention leaflet for the Muslim community which has larger representation.

"The leaflet is aimed at Muslim parents who are unsure what HIV and AIDS means. Here, relevant Islamic beliefs are referred to, to explain how this stigmatisation (of AIDS victims) goes against the teachings of Islam," says a volunteer.

Naz is also publishing posters against homophobia. One poster touts 'Bhangra against Homophobia', another -- showing two Indians in a tight hug -- say 'Boys in Love. Asian, Proud and Out.' Naz has also set up support groups: Dost, for male partners of HIV-positive men and AIDS patients, Ek Saath, for the HIV-positive, and Parivar, for families and partners who have to live with HIV- or AIDS-affected people.

"These tools have been helpful to foster the development of the South Asian community and to promote a greater understanding of HIV, AIDS and safe sex," claims Maharaj, adding that Naz finally hopes to take on religious intolerance and prejudice against other communities.

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