Don’t wear a condom, wear values to fight Aids: Dr Harsh Vardhan, Health Minister

[iPwnz]

Health minister Dr Harsh Vardhan is an ear, nose, throat (ENT) specialist. So he sure knows how to pry out secrets of ill-health and treat patients. His diagnosis of India's battle with AIDS so far is that its citizens' moral fibre will have to strengthened if the disease has to be brought under control.

"However, for the general public the minister has asked to stress on morals like being faithful, not indulging in pre-marital and extra-marital sex," he added. "The minister wants us to emphasise that just because condoms are
available, one should not indulge in
illegal sex," he added. This culture vs condom comment by the health
minister has not gone down too well with HIV activists who believe that such statements defeat the purpose of years of efforts in tackling the disease.

http://articles.economictimes.india...-harsh-vardhan-indian-culture-health-minister

Since he said things related to "molar ethics and cultures", I'm going to take an example of a legally married wife and husband and one of them is infected. Good luck winning the fight without using a condom, doctor/minister saab.

 

[Party Monger]

"one should not indulge in illegal sex,"

Wow wow wow.

 

[iPwnz]

I guess these people go and stop couples in the middle of action.

 

[blr_p]

http://articles.economictimes.india...-harsh-vardhan-indian-culture-health-minister

Article is dated Jun 25 2014

blog post here

“The thrust of the AIDS campaign should not only be on the use of condoms,” he said in a telephone interview last week. “This sends the wrong message that you can have any kind of illicit sexual relationship, but as long as you’re using a condom, it’s fine.”

See, he never said don't use a condom. Why does the article title mislead like this !!

he wants to change the stress of using a condom. by inserting 'abstinence' & 'be faithful' before it.

But addressing Dr. Vardhan’s comments, Mr. Subburaj said that the “moral fabric” in the country was “becoming very thin,” and he added that his agency would make changes to the information, education and communication strategy and increase its activities, particularly for the general population.

“We will tell them, ‘Be faithful,’ ” he said.

The “Abstinence, Be Faithful, Condom Use,” or “A.B.C.,” campaign is a long-running strategy to promote H.I.V./AIDS awareness globally and is said to have had success in countries like Uganda, which has drastically reduced its incidence of AIDS and H.I.V.

 

[iPwnz]

But if your partner is infected only C can help you. That was my point. Also I won't say that using a poor african country is a reliable example.

Ps: aware of the article date, re-posted it here as i found it hilarious. Headline is actually not really misleading because he still said some things on the line of a "moral/cultural behaviour". Thought members can give their own verdict.

 

[blr_p]

Condoms are still available IS the point.

 

[GPMlore]

But if your partner is infected only C can help you. That was my point. Also I won't say that using a poor african country is a reliable example.

Ps: aware of the article date, re-posted it here as i found it hilarious. Headline is actually not really misleading because he still said some things on the line of a "moral/cultural behaviour". Thought members can give their own verdict.

He never told do not use condoms. Who would want to have unprotected sex with their partner, knowing that one of them is infected?

 

[iPwnz]

^people with "indian culture" apparently.

Lol white knights.

citizens' moral fibre will have to strengthened if the disease
has to be brought under control

"Moral".

you can have any kind of illicit sexual relationship

Who is he/are you/anyone to term it "illicit"?

It has been advised to tone down the emphasis on use of condoms and instead promote morals to tackle the disease.

Yet another "morals." Once again, FYI you cannot say "prioritize morality over condoms." Its the only thing keeping this whole world intact.

"a part of Indian culture."

sigh.

we will continue the emphasis on condoms as morals won't catch their attention

A very poor generalization.

However, for the general public the minister has asked to stress on morals

...

one should not indulge in illegal sex

Wtf is an "illegal" sex? Are you going to go and stop couples from enjoying themselves?

youth in both urban and rural India indulge in premarital sex and are often poorly educated about the risks associated with unprotected sex

^that is what the health minister should've said and laid emphasis on and discussed. Not some stupid "Indian cultures."
There you have it. Whether you agree or disagree is up to you. But please for ****'s sake don't bring up some silly "morality" or "Indian culture" issues in 2014/2016.

 

[blr_p]

Once again, FYI you cannot say "prioritize morality over condoms." Its the only thing keeping this whole world intact.

Exactly, so as long as condoms are as available there is no problem.

Wtf is an "illegal" sex? Are you going to go and stop couples from enjoying themselves?

no, he's referring to what goes on in red light areas. Technically illegal but tolerated.

^that is what the health minister should've said and laid emphasis on and discussed. Not some stupid "Indian cultures."
There you have it. Whether you agree or disagree is up to you. But please for ****'s sake don't bring up some silly "morality" or "Indian culture" issues in 2014/2016.

so the real question is whether that education is still available or not ?

Almost two years later.

 

[Lord Nemesis]

The point is why does the question of morality or faithfulness even come into the picture? AIDS doesn't care about whether you are faithful or not. It is an STD and faithfulness becomes a factor for impact only when one chooses not to use condoms.

Also don't forget that AIDS is not just an STD either. It can also spread through blood in several other ways. Getting a shave at a barber using equipment/ blades used on others is one possible means. Blood transfusions is another. heck people even got just by donating blood when non-disposable equipment was used.

It's definitely right to say that condom usage is not the only factor for curbing the spread of AIDS, but then wouldn't it be more apt to focus on the important factors than about morality or faithfulness which do not even figure as a factor. It is absurd to focus on morality while suppressing the more important scientific factors.

What's even more absurd is that its coming from somebody with a medical degree. Forget his political affiliations or the fact that he holds a ministry, this is not the kind of logic expected from a doctor.

 

[kidrow]

Hmm... Just a thought... & apologies in advance for going off on a tangent.... But just goes to show that arguing for minimum education qualifications for politicians serves no purpose....

 

[Lord Nemesis]

^^ Well, its definitely true that having a degree in our country guarantees neither education nor intelligence, but that is a problem with our education system where somebody can get a degree without learning anything.

That's why we have lawyers justifying rapes and doctors who are asking people to use morals to prevent disease .

Aravind Kejriwal is another prime example that even a professional degree from a premier Institution does not necessarily change one's cheap mentality and behavior and make them more professional or capable. Neither does it guarantee something as basic as common sense.

Still, despite all that, there is still a better chance of finding capable people among those with formal educations than those without. That is why education is given such importance even for other jobs. The point is not that those with education are all capable and those without are not, but its just the likelihood of finding capable people is at least a wee bit higher in the literate community. What are we going to do if the govt is filled with uneducated and unqualifed stupid drama queens like Smriti Irani.

 

[Superbad]

so dig out two year old articles to manufacture outrage over a hitjob. nice.

 

[cellar_door]

so dig out two year old articles to manufacture outrage over a hitjob. nice.

I dont understand this.

Has anything changed significantly since he said this? He wasnt a minor 2 years ago so its not like he hasnt become an adult and probably has more nuanced and sensible opinions now. And what he said was stupid in 2014. Is stupid in 2016. And will stay stupid in 2018.

I mean sure, you can complaint that this is old news. But lol its not a hitjob. Its his quote. Direct word for word. You cant misconstrue stupidity.

 

[Superbad]

I dont understand this.

Has anything changed significantly since he said this? He wasnt a minor 2 years ago so its not like he hasnt become an adult and probably has more nuanced and sensible opinions now. And what he said was stupid in 2014. Is stupid in 2016. And will stay stupid in 2018.

I mean sure, you can complaint that this is old news. But lol its not a hitjob. Its his quote. Direct word for word. You cant misconstrue stupidity.

So let me get this.
If one wears a helmet he gets a free license to drive rash on the roads?
He is allowed to pull off stunts on the roads because he has protective gear on his head?

 

[iPwnz]

My opinions are along the lines of the Overlord.[DOUBLEPOST=1456669698][/DOUBLEPOST]

So let me get this.
If one wears a helmet he gets a free license to drive rash on the roads?
He is allowed to pull off stunts on the roads because he has protective gear on his head?

He doesn't need a partner. In fact the irony is with more "information" he gets he'll likely want to do more lol.

 

[logistopath]

In a country like India, with a huge chunk of illiterate population, you just cannot ignore the morality/chastity part of sex education. A huge number of people in our country still do not know and will not use condoms. It is here that the moral angle and religious angle is of any benefit, until they are taught about safe sex methods. With over 20 lakh AIDS patients in India (and more than 80% of it in the sexually active age group) we need any and every means of preventing the spread of the disease. The incidence of AIDS in sex workers is quite high compared to the general population. Just saying that speaking of mores and values is not anyone's concern is not going to help.
In fact, there was a study a couple of years ago which claimed that the usage of condoms in India had declined considerably since the previous survey. However, NACO refuted those claims and published reports saying that the usage of condoms has been on the rise. No way to know which one is correct.

 

[Lord Nemesis]

So let me get this.
If one wears a helmet he gets a free license to drive rash on the roads?
He is allowed to pull off stunts on the roads because he has protective gear on his head?

Not driving rash is common sense. No body needs to be taught common sense. In fact, it is not something that can be taught. Safety options available is something that can be taught about because that is knowledge.

The same holds true for this case as well. Morality is like common sense. It is a culmination of instinct, intelligence and wisdom. You don't really need to teach people how and what to think. Holy book morality and taught morality are weak.

If a unmarried person has willful relationship with two other unmarried females and everyone involved knows about it and are alright with it, is it still still immoral? People with taught morality will label all of them as immoral, but they themselves cannot define what is wrong about it.

Humans are a species that is supposed to be intelligent and can think and take decisions for themselves. All they need to get it knowledge. That is what separates them from other animals.

So, if somebody thinks that teaching people how to think is also necessary in this country, then it means that they consider this country to be made of unintelligent animals. Maybe that is true, but then. that ceases to be education meant for a human and and more like training a dog to do tricks.

 

[eternoMind]

The debate is diverting.

The key thing is to use all you have at your disposal to fight this. For the rational among us, me included, "morality/chastity/abstinence" do not make sense but what about people on the ground/risk groups. They understand the aforementioned subjects much better than pure rationality. So what would you have,

1) Communicate in a language that they do not understand/willfully ignore?
2) Approach the subject in a manner that they do understand, which if not ideal, is definitely a useful start.

So for a risk group like migrant male workers, why isn't it good that faithfulness/abstinence is also talked about in addition to contraception!
Even if one of those works, the job is done.

 

[blr_p]

so dig out two year old articles to manufacture outrage over a hitjob. nice.

This would be normal if it was the TOI but was surprised to find it in the ET. Anyway, this is to be expected.

Both ruling & opposition party are full of it and the media is only too happy to bring you the 'breaking news'.

Up to the citizen to be aware of what they are reading and question it.