FREETOWN, JUNE 18: The Indian Army has been ordered to take a vow of celibacy for a year. The AIDS scare in this strife-torn west African nation is such that the troops are being repeatedly told there is no death worse than AIDS.Both discipline and religion are weapons in the hands of troop commanders to keep the minds of troops off sex. ``In a country where the average life expectancy is around 26 years and AIDS is suspected to be one of the largest killers, it is essential to keep restrictions on troops,'' says an Indian army officer.Unlike some other armies, the Indian Army does not believe in issuing condoms to the soldiers. ``That is abetment of crime. Giving condoms is like telling soldiers to go ahead and have sex. But here as a rule the soldiers have been ordered to strictly stay off sex,'' he adds. So far three soldiers from other countries forming a part of the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL) have been sent back to their country after full blown cases of AIDS were detected.``We carried out the ELISA test and coupled with other symptoms realised they had full blown cases of AIDS. There are some soldiers who have tested HIV positive. Fortunately not a single Indian soldier has tested positive and we intend keeping it that way,'' Doctors at the Choitram hospital, which is functioning as the UNAMSIL hospital say.Soldiers are also being told about ``scary African diseases'' and warned to stay safe. ``There is a peculiar African disease Tumbu Fly - the fly sits on the skin of the soldier and deposits larvae under the skin. Then sores erupt and hatched pupae come out of the sores. It is also painful,'' says Major Sandeep Thareja, the medical specialist. The Indian doctors are treating a Jordanian soldier who is suffering from this.Major Sameer Kumar and S K Singh, both Indian Army doctors here say that all UNAMSIL workers (both military and civilians), some 11,000 of them have also been told about the near fatal Lassa fever (like Dengue) where the chances of survival are rather slim.``In tips to soldiers we have told them not to sit on grass, dry clothes on the ground or squash any insects, flies or mosquitoes by bare hand or on their skin,'' say the doctors. And they explain why. ``The insects sting and poison spreads in the body. The insects should either be gently brushed off or blown away,'' they add.``With heavy rains, soldiers are also ordered to apply mosquito repellents at all times, especially while patrolling,'' they say. Not only doctors but also battalion officers and religious teachers constantly speak to soldiers to stay healthy and safe. The AIDS scare is the largest. ``We welcome queries and doubts that soldiers may have about AIDS and educate all seniors to answer them,'' said another officer.``The Indian soldiers are working in tandem with soldiers of several other countries and see them going to the market with women. They ask us how come they don't get AIDS. That's when we tell them about the cases from other countries being detected,'' he added.Recently the 2,711-member Indian contingent rejoiced when a local newspaper awarded them the ``abstinence medal.'' Officers say after the fiasco in Cambodia when several cases of AIDS were detected in the Indian contingent, they are taking no chances. Some troops are close to completing six months here and so far there is not a single case of HIV positive. The Army hopes that it is able to keep it that way till the assignment is over. ``And for that we will have to do more than just keep our fingers crossed,'' added an officer.
