AIDS
Madhukar and Savita Jhingan
AIDS – the modern dreaded disease that has transcended all barriers of age, sex, creed, religion and geographical boundaries. AIDS is the acronym for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. Acquired means it is infectious, Immune Deficiency means a weakness in the body's system that fights diseases, and Syndrome means a group of health problems that make up a disease.
HIV - Human Immunodeficiency Virus has been established as the underlying cause of AIDS and the term AIDS applies to the most advanced stages of HIV infection. The virus progressively destroys the body's ability to fight infections and certain cancers by leading to the destruction and/or functional impairment of cells of the immune system, notably CD4 positive T cells.
Origins
It is believed that the Human Immunodeficiency Virus "crossed over" into the human population from a particular species of chimpanzee. The virus has existed at least since 1977-1978 in the United States, Haiti and Africa. AIDS was first recognized in 1981 and has since become a major worldwide pandemic. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Department of Health and Human services, United States Government officially named the condition AIDS (Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome) in 1982. The virus responsible for weakening the immune system was identified as HIV in 1984.
The World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988 announced December 1 as the World AIDS Day and every year since then it is observed worldwide and used as a platform to create awareness about AIDS.
The red ribbon became an international symbol of AIDS awareness during 1991. The organization Visual AIDS in New York, together with Broadway Cares, and Equity Fights AIDS, established the wearing of a Red Ribbon as something that signified support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
The new United Nations (UN) Joint Program on AIDS (UNAIDS), brought together six agencies with in the UN system - WHO, UNDP, UNICEF, UNFPA, UNESCO and the World Bank. The UNAIDS program became operational on January 1st 1996 and replaced the individual programs of all these agencies. Later UNHCR, WFP, ILO and UNODC also joined this program brining the number of agencies to 10.
In 2003, almost five million people became newly infected with HIV, the greatest number in any one year since the beginning of the epidemic. At the global level, the number of people living with HIV continues to grow - from 35 million in 2001 to 38 million in 2003. In the same year, almost three million were killed by AIDS; over 20 million have died since the first cases of AIDS were identified in 1981.
AIDS in India
India's socioeconomic status, traditional social norms, cultural myths on sex & sexuality, large-scale migration and a huge population of marginalized people make it extremely vulnerable to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Since the first case was reported in 1986, HIV has spread rapidly from urban to rural areas and from high-risk groups to the general population. Currently HIV prevalence is estimated at around 0.8% of the adult population (between 15 and 49 years of age). However due to the large population size of over 1 billion, India has a large number of people living with HIV/AIDS, second only to South Africa.
Six out of the 35 States and Territories of India, four in southern India (Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka) and two in north eastern India (Manipur and Nagaland) have generalized epidemics and account for nearly 80% of all reported AIDS cases in the country. In the southern States, heterosexual transmission accounts for majority of the reported cases, whereas in the north-eastern States, injecting drug use is the predominant mode of transmission.
In 1987, the Government of India established a National AIDS Control Program (NACP) under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Program activities covered surveillance, screening of blood and blood products, and health education. In 1992, with the support of the World Bank, the Ministry established the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) to coordinate an enhanced Program of preventive activities. NACO provided national leadership and facilitated the development of State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) in all states and union territories across India under a Five -Year Strategic Plan for HIV/AIDS prevention. NACO was able to make a number of important improvements in HIV prevention such as improving blood safety. There are 140 centres to strengthen surveillance and 180 sentinel sites to monitor HIV trends and the geographical spread of HIV among the general population at-risk groups.
The first national convention of elected political representatives on HIV and AIDS was held in New Delhi in July 2003. It was organized jointly by NACO and UNAIDS and brought together 1200 representatives from districts and states all across the country. The national antiretroviral program was launched in April 2004.
There were an estimated 3.8 - 4.6 million persons living with HIV/AIDS in India by the end of 2002. Of these, 600,000 are in need of antiretroviral therapy (ART) but less than 30,000 are currently receiving it. The national ART program will be scaled up as human and financial resources become available.
With a high prevalence of TB infection in India, the problem of TB related to HIV infection also poses a major public health challenge; particularly in the high HIV burden States. The exact magnitude of HIV among TB patients is unknown as routine surveillance of HIV among TB patients in not undertaken.
AIDS and Philately
The reach of the postage stamps is beyond mass media and several governments have shown their support in the fight against HIV/AIDS by putting prevention messages on postage stamps, postal stationery, and postmarks. World’s premier organization of topical stamp collectors, American Topical Association’s check list of stamps issued on AIDS runs in to 14 pages.
Even though India Post has not issued any stamp on AIDS yet, they have issued over 70 items of postal stationery such as postcard and inland letter card since 1997. In addition special postmarks have also been provided by India Post.
POSTAL STATIONERY OF INDIA ON AIDS
The information in the listing is presented in following format:
#, Date, Item - Format (in case of ILC), Denomination (in Paise), Printer, Language, Quantity (in Million), Remarks, Message (translation in English)
01. 1997 Mar 31 (?), ILC -V, 75, MSP, Tamil, 1m (?), Red on Pink Paper
AIDS
02. 1997 Mar 31, SPC, 15, SPP, Tamil, 1m (?),
AIDS, Temptation leads to death, Prevention is better than the cure
03. 1997 Dec 01, ILC -V, 100, CSP, Hindi & English, 1m (?)
Prevent AIDS, Use a Condom (Nirodh)
04. 1997 12 01, ILC -V, 100, MSP, Hindi & English, 1m (?)
Prevent AIDS, Use a Condom (Nirodh)
05. 1997 Dec 01, ILC -V, 100, CSP, Hindi & English, 1m (?)
Mutually Faithful Sexual relations Prevent HIV Infections
06. 1997 Dec 01, ILC -V, 100, MSP, Hindi & English, 1m (?)
Mutually Faithful Sexual relations Prevent HIV Infections7
07. 1998 Jun 25, SPC, 25, ISP, Hindi, With Inscription, 1m (?)
Prevent AIDS, Use a Condom (Nirodh)
08. 1998 Jun 25, SPC, 25, ISP, Hindi, With Inscription, 1m (?)
Mutually Faithful Sexual relations Prevent HIV Infections
09. 1998 Jun 25(?), SPC, 25, ISP, Hindi, Without Inscription, 1m (?)
Prevent AIDS, Use a Condom (Nirodh)
10. 1998 Jun 25 (?), SPC, 25, ISP, Hindi, Without Inscription, 1m (?)
Mutually Faithful Sexual relations Prevent HIV Infections
11. 1999 Mar 10, ILC -V, 150, MSP, Tamil, 1m
AIDS
12. 1999 Mar 10, ILC -V, 150, MSP, Tamil, 1m
AIDS
13. 1999 Aug 16, SPC, 25, ISP, Hindi, 5m,
Unsafe sex is one of the causes of AIDS
14. 1999 Aug 16, SPC, 25, ISP, English, 5m
Prevent AIDS, Use a condom
15. 1999 Aug 16, ILC -H, 200, ISP, Hindi, 10m
AIDS is not spread by meeting and eating together
16. 1999 Aug 16, ILC -H, 200, ISP, Hindi, 10m
Prevent AIDS - Always use sterilized needles
17. 2000 Aug 29, SPC, 25, SPP, Kannada, 5m
Prevent AIDS Use Condom
18. 2000 Aug 28, ILC -H, 200, SPP, Kannada, 1m
Prevent AIDS Use Condom
19. 2000 Sep 20, SPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 10m, Ad in Red
Use Condom to space childbirth and for safe sex
20. 2000 Sep 21, ILC -H, 200, SPP, English, 10m
Use Condom to space childbirth and for safe sex
21. 2001 Feb 25, SPC, 25, SPP, Telugu, 1m
Eradication of AIDS - Everyone's Responsibility
22. 2001 Feb 20, ILC -V, 200, MSP, Telugu, 1m
Let us work together Let us avert spread of AIDS
Beware of HIV/AIDS Caution others against AIDS
23. 2001 Mar 30, ILC -H, 200, SPP, Malayalam, 2m
Prevention is the only remedy, Condom is the shield
24. 2001 Aug 30, ILC -H, 200, SPP, Tamil, 1m
Let us donate blood Let us save good lives
25. 2001 Oct 09, SPC, 50, ISP, Hindi, 1.025m
Masti Luxury Condom - Safety from AIDS, Freedom from Pregnancy
26. 2001 Oct 09, ILC -H, 200, ISP, Hindi, 2m
Masti Luxury Condom - Safety from AIDS, Freedom from Pregnancy
27. 2002 Mar 10, SPC, 50, SPP, Tamil, 1m
AIDS, Give little help, You will be blessed
28. 2002 Mar 10, ILC -H, 200, SPP, Tamil, 1m
Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society
29. 2002 Mar 28, ILC -V, 200, MSP, Malayalam, 2m, Multicolor
ABC of AIDS Prevention A - Abstinence, B - Be Faithful, C- Condom
30. 2002 Aug 25, SPC, 200, ISP, English, 0.4m
Know AIDS for No AIDS, Love Safely Live Safely
31. 2002 Aug 25, ILC -H, 250, SPP, Hindi, 0.6m
AIDS not only happens to others, It can happen to us and ours
32. 2002 Aug 31, SPC, 50, SPP, Tamil, 0.25m
Use of Condom
33. 2002 Sep 03, ILC –H, 250, SPP, Tamil, 0.5m
AIDS, District AIDS Control Board, Tirunelveli
34. 2002 Dec 16, SPC, 50, SPP, Kannada, 1m,
AIDS
35. 2002 Dec 16, ILC -H, 250, SPP, Kannada, 1m
AIDS Control
36. 2003 Jun 04, ILC -V, 250, ISP, Tamil, 1m, Multicolor
Donate Blood Save Lives
37. 2003 Jun 09, MPC, 25, SPP, Telugu, 0.1m, Multicolor
Break the silence Let us discuss the AIDS …..
38. 2003 Jun 09, ILC -V, 250, ISP, Malayalam, 2m, Multicolor
AIDS is not spread by touch, sharing of food or cloth, and mosquito bite
39. 2003 Jun 10, ILC -V, 250, SPP, Malayalam, 2m
AIDS
40. 2003 Sep 10, MPC, 25, SPP, Tamil, 0.1m, Multicolor
Donate Blood Gift Life, Express humane not by mere words but by donating blood.
41. 2004 Jan 06, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Multicolor
Come Home, But Don’t bring AIDS, Bihar (2003)
{Originally scheduled for 2003.12.15}
42. 2004 Mar 01, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.2m, Multicolor
Come Home, But Don’t bring AIDS, Bihar (2004)
43. 2004 Mar 15, SPC, 50, Hindi, 1.3m,
Be Informed, Prevent AIDS, Haryana State
44. 2004 Jul 07, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, Color
AIDS, Jharkhand
45. 2004 Jul 09, ILC, 250, ISP, Tamil, 1m, Multicolor
AIDS
46. 2004 Aug 16, SPC, 50, ISP, Hindi, 3m
Use of Condom Prevents AIDS, Rajasthan State
47. 2004 Sep 20, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.5m, Color
AIDS National 1
48. 2004 Sep 20, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.5m, Color
AIDS National 2
49. 2004 sep 20, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.5m, Color
AIDS National 3
50. 2004 Oct 01, ILC, 250, ISP, Malayalam, 2m, Multicolor
AIDS
51. 2004 Oct 01, ILC, 250, SPP, Malayalam, 2m
AIDS
52. 2004 Oct 17, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.2m, Color
AIDS Bihar, Hindi, as # 42 but with short dividing line
53. 2005 Jan 10, MPC, 25, SPP, Oriya, 0.2m, Color
AIDS Orissa 54. 2005 Feb 15, SPC, 50, SPP, Oriya, 1m
AIDS Orissa 55. 2005 Feb 15, ILC, 250, SPP, Oriya, 1m
AIDS Orissa 56. 2005 Mar 10, MPC, Tamil,
Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative Voluntary Health Services 57. 2005 Mar 31: MPC, 25, SPP, Marathi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Maharashtra 58. 2005 Apr 30, SPC, 50, ISP, Marathi, 2m
AIDS Maharashtra 59. 2005 Apr 30, ILC, 250, SPP, Marathi, 2m
AIDS Maharashtra 60. 2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Bihar 61. 2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Bihar 62. 2005 May 15, MPC, 25, SPP, Kannada, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Karnataka 63, 2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Madhya Pradesh 64. 2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi & English, 0.1m, Color
AIDS NRHM 65. 2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Telugu, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Andhra Pradesh 66. 2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Bihar 67. .2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Bihar 68. .2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Bihar 69. 2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Bihar 70. 2005 Oct 3, ILC, 250, SPP, Tamil,
AIDS 71. 2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Himachal Pradesh 72.. 2005, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Chandigarh 73. 2006, MPC, 25, SPP, Hindi, 0.1m, Color
AIDS Punjab 74. 2006, MPC, 25, SPP, Telugu
AIDS 75. 2006, MPC, 25, SPP, Gujarati
AIDS 76. 2006, MPC, 25, SPP, Gujarati
AIDS 77. 2006, MPC, 25, SPP, Gujarati
AIDS 78. 2006, MPC, 25, SPP, Gujarati
AIDS 79. 2006, MPC, 25, SPP, Gujarati
AIDS 80. 2006 Jul 31, SPC, Hindi
Goa 81.2006 Jul 31, ILC, English
Goa 82. 2006 Aug 5, SPC, Gujarati 83.2006 Aug 5, ILC, Gujarati 84. 2006, MPC, Telugu
Rashtriya Chemicals and Fertilizers Limited + AIDS 85. 2006 MPC, Telugu Note: The serial of the items listed from # 60 onwards is temporary as the dates for Meghdoot Postcards (MPC) are as yet not known ! Special Postage STAMPS OF INDIA ON AIDS 2006 Dec 1, World AIDS Day, Rs 5 Special Postmarks & SPECIAL COVERS OF INDIA ON AIDS 1998 Dec 1, Mumbai,
2003 Jan 28, Bhopal,
2004 Mar 19, Patna,
2005 Nov 18, New Delhi Pigeon Post OF INDIA ON AIDS 2005 Dec 6, Jamshedpur SPECIAL COVERS ON AIDS 2005 Dec 1, World AIDS Day Post Card on AIDS 1997 Updated: Friday, January 12, 2007
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