NEW DELHI: Observing that HIV/AIDS support services and treatment for migrants in South Asia are largely absent, the UNDP on Tuesday suggested that the Centre replicate the model of Kerala’s Non-Resident Keralites’ Affairs (Norka) in other States to protect the interests of migrant workers.
A day ahead of World AIDS Day, the UNDP released its report ‘HIV/AIDS and Mobility in South Asia’ in which it said that countries in the region that send migrants out as well as those receiving them should strengthen efforts to uphold migrant rights and access to health services.
In order to reduce the HIV vulnerability of current and future migrant and mobile populations, the UNDP report recommended that India should ratify and implement the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of Migrant Workers and their families as a host (destination) country and a sending (source) country.
UNDP report suggested ensuring comprehensive migrant-friendly voluntary HIV testing that protects the rights of both Indian migrants abroad and migrants in India in a process governed by best practices.
As per the report, the region’s HIV epidemic is concentrated among vulnerable groups where injecting drugs, men who have sex with men and sex workers and their clients. Several million migrant male workers are at risk of infection as they tend to buy sex when they are away from home.
“While migration itself is not considered vulnerability factor for HIV infections, the unsafe conditions under which people migrate exposes them to a greater risk of infection,” says Caitlin Wiesen, UNDP Country Director in India.
“HIV-positive returnees often prefer to hide their deported status, as well as their HIV status, for fear of exclusion and humiliation,” says the report which calls for a strong support system for the reintegration of migrants.
Trafficking of women and children from the northeast and neighbouring countries of India is a serious issue that needs to be tackled, the report cautioned.