Title of the article: Call centre Romeos threaten India's fight against Aids
Author: Andrew Buncombe in Delhi.
Date of publication:Sunday, 28 September 2008
Source:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/call-centre-romeos-threaten-indias-fight-against-aids-944775.html
Garcia Fernandez, Gabriela.
In recent years, telephone call centres have emerged as a symbol of the new, modernised India. As they spread all over the country, so do the opportunities for casual sex afforded by working overnight in the cramped conditions of many call centres. Most of the workers there are educated, English-speaking young people, but many of them have little education about the danger of Aids and the way the HIV virus is spread
The UN estimates that up to 2.5 million people in India are infected with HIV or have Aids. It is unknown how many of the country's estimated 1.3 million call centre workers are infected, but anecdotal evidence suggests that increasing numbers are leaving themselves open to infection. Dr Suniti Solomon, who runs an Aids clinic in the southern city of Chennai said three or four call centre workers visited her clinic every week to be tested for HIV, because they were concerned after having unprotected sex.
To cope with the problem condom dispensers are to be installed in call centres, alongside the machines for coffee and snacks. These will be acompained by Aids prevention campaigns.
Many sections of society in India reacted against these meassures. One female call centre worker complained that condom machines would damage the reputation of the centres and make parents more reluctant to let their daughters take jobs in them. This proves how conservative attitudes still dominate Indian society and the problem is that these attitudes are hampering the fight against Aids.
With a society which seems not to accept the pass of time, and a disease which spreads faster than medical researches, India seems to be stucked in its fight againts HIV.
Author: Andrew Buncombe in Delhi.
Date of publication:Sunday, 28 September 2008
Source:http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/call-centre-romeos-threaten-indias-fight-against-aids-944775.html
Garcia Fernandez, Gabriela.
In recent years, telephone call centres have emerged as a symbol of the new, modernised India. As they spread all over the country, so do the opportunities for casual sex afforded by working overnight in the cramped conditions of many call centres. Most of the workers there are educated, English-speaking young people, but many of them have little education about the danger of Aids and the way the HIV virus is spread
The UN estimates that up to 2.5 million people in India are infected with HIV or have Aids. It is unknown how many of the country's estimated 1.3 million call centre workers are infected, but anecdotal evidence suggests that increasing numbers are leaving themselves open to infection. Dr Suniti Solomon, who runs an Aids clinic in the southern city of Chennai said three or four call centre workers visited her clinic every week to be tested for HIV, because they were concerned after having unprotected sex.
To cope with the problem condom dispensers are to be installed in call centres, alongside the machines for coffee and snacks. These will be acompained by Aids prevention campaigns.
Many sections of society in India reacted against these meassures. One female call centre worker complained that condom machines would damage the reputation of the centres and make parents more reluctant to let their daughters take jobs in them. This proves how conservative attitudes still dominate Indian society and the problem is that these attitudes are hampering the fight against Aids.
With a society which seems not to accept the pass of time, and a disease which spreads faster than medical researches, India seems to be stucked in its fight againts HIV.
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