A marital aid for the HIV infected

A 'marital aid' for the HIV infected

Surat-based NGO launches matchmaking website for the HIV/AIDS patients

Pankaj Maru

Monday, December 01, 2008

MUMBAI, INDIA: While, December first is observed as World AIDS Day across the globe, including India, people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) or acquired immuno deficiency syndrome (AIDS) needs more than just medical care and counselling.

Medical treatments help them fight the ‘inevitable death’ for sure but the HIV/AIDS tag virtually kills them many a time before they actually life and deprive them of the social lives.

In general, other people's attitude, discrimination and perception towards them throw them into dark isolations, away from all daily activities, social rights, cultural bonds and relations.

However, the Gujarat State Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS (GSNP+) - an NGO working in the state have taken a new move to help HIV/AIDS victims in finding life partners and adding happiness in their lives using IT.

Now, any HIV/AIDS person seeking a partner can submit his/ her profile along with other details on the NGO's website – http://www.gsnpplus.org.

Though GSNP site existed already, Gujarat state health minister Jaynarayan Vyas inaugurated the site's new match making feature today in Surat. According to GSNP's general secretary, Daksha Patel the website will act as an online marriage bureau and helps to find suitable match for the HIV/AIDS people so that they also can lead a happy life.

"Using the website, a person has to send a request for seeking a partner with all details including the health status and his/her match requirements. Accordingly, the profiles will be scrutinized and filtered across the 24 district networks and then as per match's availability, both persons will be informed," Patel told CyberMedia News.

Further she added, the portal will not show any photos, names and details about HIV/AIDS people looking for partners, so that their identities are not revealed and stops from any social implications.

About 400 plus people have already applied for match making service which is completely free. Among them is a 28-year-old female from Surat, who also works as GSNP's treasurer and represents south zone.

"Earlier, I had never thought that I would find a match for me. But now with the launch of the website's match making service, I am happy and confident that I will find a suitable match," she said.

"Under the old system, I thought only people from Surat and nearby a places could approach me, but, now with the help of the website, people from anywhere can reach me. Like me, many others can also hope for a suitable match and lead a happy life," she explained.

GSNP was initiated in 2003 by seven people living with HIV/AIDS in Surat. In five year's time, it has spread across 24 districts and has 10 registered district level networks.

It works in creating a healthy environment for HIV/AIDS people with better access to treatment, care, support, and also can exercise their human rights without any social stigma and discrimination.

And the diversification into online matchmaking will surely light up the dark lives of the HIV/AIDS community.

©CyberMedia News