15 Mar 2012-16 Mar 2012|Noida | Amity University Campus, Sector-125 Noida
Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation organises National Symposium on “HIV and AIDS: Biology to Bedside”
Amity Science Technology and Innovation Foundation (ASTIF) in collaboration with AIDS Society of India organized a National Symposium on “ HIV and AIDS: Biology to Bedside” from March 15-16, 2012 at Amity Campus, Sector-125, Noida to explore the current status of HIV infections and AIDS, their means of prevention and their impact on Indian society.
The symposium was sponsored by Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, Centre for Science and Industrial Research (CSIR), India, Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Department of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, New Delhi and Department of Biotechnology, Ministry of Science and Technology
Welcoming the august gathering, Prof. Ajit Varma- Vice Chairman, ASTIF dwelt on the aim of establishing ASTIF which is to promote scientific temper amongst the students of Amity University. Giving the bird’s eye view of the Symposium, Dr. Varma further shared that the Symposium received 54 abstracts, 54 Posters, 24 lectures and 240 delegates from different walks of life.
Delivering the inaugural address, Dr. V. M. Katoch, Secretary, Dept. of Health Research, Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, and DG, ICMR, New Delhi said HIV and AIDS are spreading very rapidly in the country especially in pockets which may not be monitored making it a matter of high concern. He stressed that with the treatment of HIV and AIDS becoming easily accessible, there is a lurking danger of treatment being misused just like it happened in the case of TB. The democratization of the treatment of TB resulted in the virus mutations that spread rapidly affecting the resistance of the patients thereby, leading to medically generated disaster. Dr. Katoch remarked that there is lot of information generated about HIV and AIDS in the country and now the time has come when that knowledge needs to be changed into technology, thereby leading to newer therapies and other therapies which are within the reach of everybody.
Presenting his study on “ Timely, Optimal, Efficient and Comprehensive Care Changes Lives of HIV +ve People”, Dr. I S Gilada-President, AIDS Society of India revealed that in a country with over 2.5 million HIV infected people there are not even 100 full time doctors and around 1000 part time doctors in HIV practice in private sector. Only 60% of sex workers are reached with HIV prevention program and 40% of them identify correct ways of using prevention methods. More than 50% of new infections are among those below 30. Half of the infected people do not know their HIV status. Only 30% of the infections are recorded at NACO due to inherent flaws in the reporting system. Emphasizing the need of the hour, Dr. I S Gilada suggested that the State-run and NGO programs needs to be critically evaluated, best practices should be replicated, three tier but not free for all ART (Anti-Retro-viral Treatment) should be provided and vulnerability of women and children should be reduced.
Dr. Ruby Bansal, Head of Department for AIDS, Pushpanjali Crosslay Hospital, Ghaziabad shared her experience as a doctor and made the gathering aware of the real life challenges they face as doctors while treating HIV + patients. She highlighted that the magnitude of the problems is far more than it is regarded and the approach of the Indian government focuses more towards prevention than cure. Immense funding is required to set up treatment centers for HIV+ patients, which Dr. Bansal stressed was the major barrier that the private sector faces. Lack of awareness, prejudice, conservative outlook towards sex and a deep-rooted stigma are the major reasons the spread of this disease. Even some doctors keep patients at arm’s length and even deny treatment because of their prejudice. Dr. Bansal said that a combined effort from private as well as public sector is the best possible option to deal with this pandemic. Dr. Bansal advised young and old likewise to get tested for HIV infection anytime they have doubts or contact a professional to answer their queries.
Dr. Geeta Gupta- Assistant Professor- Institute of Dental Studies and Technologies, Modinagar presented a lecture on “ Breaking Barriers: HIV/AIDS and the Dental Treatment” and provided an overview of the oral manifestations of AIDS, infection prevention and control in dental office, their treatment and legal and policy guidelines all dentists should be aware of. Through her lecture, she conveyed that 90% of people living with HIV develop atleast one dental problem. It is often the dentist who will be the first to identify an oral manifestation of HIV, even in patients who are not known to be HIV +, which calls for a strong collaboration between oral health practitioners, medical providers and social service support staff to achieve optimal health care outcomes.
Ms. Geetanjali Kumari- Regional Coordinator (Care Support and Treatment), NACO presented his views on “ Care Support and Treatment Services for People Living with HIV (PLHIV)” and brought out elaborately how the Care Support and Treatment component of National AIDS Control Program has played a vital role in changing the general perception about HIV/ AIDS from a virtual “death sentence” few years ago to a “ chronic manageable disease”. She revealed the range of comprehensive services offered by CST program including Antiretroviral Treatment (ART), psychosocial support, linkage to social protection schemes, nutrition etc.
Eminent speakers who presented their research papers during the two day Symposium included Dr. B.B. Rewari- Associate Professor of Medicine at PGIMER and Dr. Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, NACO, New Delhi on “Epidemiological Situation of HIV/AIDS in India”, Prof. Sarman Singh - Head of Clinical Microbiology Division, AIIMS, New Delhi on “Viral Confections in HIV-1 Infected Patients”, Dr. Akhil C. Banerjea- Senior Scientist, Chair of Virology Department, National Institute of Immunology, New Delhi, India on “HIV-1 Biology, Replication, Pathogenesis and Gene therapy”, Dr. A. H. Bandivdekar- Deputy Director and Head, Department of Biochemistry and Virology, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai on “Challenges in Management of HIV/AIDS due to Viral Variation” and others.