We're already halfway into the new millennium, but some things haven't changed in India. The country continues to struggle through the issues that confront a developing country, and it is these issues which the first millennium report of the UNICEF - the Progress of Nations Report - looks at.This year's report focusses on four issues: how the HIV/AIDS pandemic is affecting the lives of children throughout the world and how young people can become active partners in preventing it; malnutrition and the heavy toll it takes on the physical and mental development of children; successful initiatives in immunisation; and the unacceptable forms of exploitation of children, including child labour.And all these issues, as Dr Erma Manoncourt, the Deputy Director/Programme, UNICEF India points out, are extremely relevant to India as the country hosts the highest number of people with HIV/AIDS in the world as well as the highest number of malnourished children, the highest number of polio cases and the highest number of child labourers.``HIV/AIDS constitutes the greatest threat many societies have ever faced. In the past few years, we have seen an increasing level of awareness and commitment in the struggle against HIV/AIDS in India. But despite the recent progress, much more is needed to protect the population,'' said Manoncourt at the launch of the report in New Delhi.According to the report, ``In India, the rates of 0.6 per cent among 15-24 year-old men and 0.4 percent among women of the same age translate into 570,000 men and 340,000 women infected, the second highest number of infections after South Africa.'' Maharashtra and Manipur are the most affected states. The 1999 data shows a prevalence of one per cent or more among ante-natal care attendees in seven of the 32 states. This rate is two per cent in Maharashtra.The other five states that have reported a prevalence rate higher than one per cent in pregnant women are Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Nagaland and Mizoram.According to UNICEF, the epidemic continues to be concentrated in some states in the North East due to intravenous drug injection users. In Mumbai itself, the prevalence of HIV among sex workers has reached 60 per cent, it said. The bed-occupancy rates for the HIV-related illness in Mumbai an Imphal in Manipur have been reported as between 20 to 40 per cent.Besides these, the UNICEF lists out the nine states and Union Territories which have currently reported rates above five per cent in risk-behaviour groups. These include Gujarat, West Bengal, Nagaland, Mizoram, Rajasthan, Haryana, Goa and Delhi. However, UNICEF's concern is the number of infected women and young people. It points out that one in four new infections is a woman, with a concomitant rise in vertical transmission from mother to child. It also points out that the street children are among the most vulnerable groups. ``About 50 per cent of the new infections take place among young people below the age of 25. We are still far from the scenario that we see in Africa where in some villages and cities, up to 30 per cent of the population is infected. But the pattern is familiar,'' said Manoncourt.She however, expressed her hope that the epidemic be fought through prevention. ``Our experience in UNICEF has proved that, while young people have become the main victims of the virus, they are also very efficient and active partners in disseminating information and contributing to the prevention efforts. However, we must provide them with opportunities to participate. Young people can help themselves through peers' programmes, but they can also help their communities.''Malnutrition, the report points out, is the other important issue that dogs India. According to the report, ``Low weight at birth, insufficient feeding, inadequate care and nutrient depletions caused by repeated bouts of illness culminate overtime in a child whose height is less than that of other children of same age. Such stunting is a standard marker of a failure in early growth. Some 39 per cent of children under five in the developing world are stunted - around 209 million children. Stunting rates are the highest in India.''According to the UNICEF, the Integrated Child Development Services in India reach 20 million infants and four million pregnant and nursing mothers, but some 30 per cent of the babies are born with low birth weight and 53 per cent of the children below age of 5 are malnourished. ``Though many solutions have already been found to this problem - we need to strengthen and increase them,'' Manoncourt said.The report also expresses its concern over the immunisation programme. ``Polio has now retreated to outposts in Afghanistan, Bangladesh, India, Nepal and Pakistan in Asia and Somalia, Sudan and parts of West and Central Africa, where it clings on partly because of wars, poverty and difficulties in reaching some areas.'' According to UNICEF, India is on the verge of eradicating polio, yet, routine vaccination shows a declining trend. Some 73 per cent of Indian children have received the three doses of DPT, against an average of 82 per cent in Asia.Finally, the report highlights the worst forms of child rights violations. Referring to these children as ``The Unseen'' and ``Lost among the living'', it focuses attention on those children who labour on farms and in factories, who are trapped by sexual exploitation, serve as child soldiers, who are not registered by birth and who live on the streets. The estimated number of child labour varies between 17 million according to official figures to 100 million according to some NGOs. UNICEF estimated that there are about 500,000 street children in the country and out of 25 million births in India some 10 million are not registered.Readers can send feedback to focus@expressindia.com>
