By traveling in India and seeing barbers giving customers a quick haircut and a shave on every corner of the street is impressive to see. Some of them set up with a mirror and a plastic chair, others just with a piece of plastic wrapped around the client sitting in a lotus position on the ground in the middle of the crowd.
After some resurge online I’ve found an article about the HIV and AIDS connected with the quick shaves of roadside barbers in the Indian cities using just one razor or blade for shaving several customers. This means that with just a nick by an infected razor/blade, a customer can contract fatal infections like AIDS and Hepatitis B and C.
Shockingly, there is no system or organization in the state or even across the country to check this unsafe practice. There are no checks on the barbers working at various public places, especially at railway stations, bus stands and government hospitals. Hundreds of customers unknowingly expose themselves to danger when they go to such barbers.
These roadside barbers can be seen at every nook and corner of the town using either straight razors with open steel blades, commonly known as cut-throats or disposable razors. They perform multiple shaves within a few minutes and do not bother to change the blade. What is more shocking is that even the persons who get themselves shaved do not ask for a new blade or a fresh razor.
“I shave at least 20 people every day. My customers are generally passengers who do not halt in the city but have come for a meeting or an exam. They freshen-up at public toilets at the station, get a shave here and go off to work,” said Sanju, a barber at Agra Fort Railway Station.
This barber was ferrying his equipment in a box and had placed his makeshift salon on his bicycle. Needless to say, there is no scope, even for sterilizing the equipment or razors. The barber when asked about his knowledge on HIV and AIDS, he said, “Ye sab to galat kaam karne se hota hai, dadhi banwane se nahi. Or Itna sochenge to khayenge kya (These things happen because of wrong acts and not because of shaving. If we will think that much, what will we eat).”
He further asserted that he charges only Rs 3 from a shave. If he increases the rates, people will not come to him.
Similarly, a barber working outside SN Medical College was seen using the same old blade to shave patients’ relatives. What are the precautions he takes? His refrain is, “I clean the razor with warm water before using it on other customer. We also sharpen the razor on stones whereby it gets cleaned automatically,” said Daddu, standing by his small salon on pavement.
He also cited his meager income for not changing blades for each customer.
According to doctors, this unsafe practice by barbers is simply not on the same page as the HIV and AIDS control department. No educational sessions or workshops have ever been conducted for the barbers, who are barely aware of the danger of using the same blade on multiple customers.
“Prevention is the only viable way to control HIV spread, as there is no cure for the infection presently. The risk of infection spreading is low with razors, maybe two in 1,000 but nevertheless, it is advisable that only one with disposable blades should be used,” said Dr CP Singh, expert from the medicine department of SN Medical College.
He added that the general perception is that HIV is transmitted through unsafe sex, infected blood transfusions and mother-to-child. These are the second and third highest reasons for HIV infections. But HIV infections can also be passed through sharing of non-sterile sharp instruments such as those used by barbers, incision, tattooing, ear perforation, blood-letting, injections and acupuncture. These too have always been classified as “other” reasons for spreading the infection and therefore given less attention in the campaign against the spread of HIV.
“Though barbers do not carry out procedures that deliberately penetrate the skin but sometimes just a single mick or cut caused by the clipper or razor blade is enough for an infection to occur,” added Dr Singh.
The doctors when asked how safe is to clean or wash the blade before using, he informed that due to the lipid envelope that protects HIV from dehydration, the virus can survive on the surfaces of barbering instruments for a period long enough for transmission to occur, particularly in commercial barber shops.
Talking to TOI, chief medical officer HS Danu said there are no measures or laws to stop this roadside barbering practice all across UP. This is an ethical responsibility of the district administration and civic body to issue no licenses to these roadside barbers.
“But these days, they do not even halt at roadside. They ferry their salon on bicycles and its impossible to check such practices,” added the CMO.
Article found on: http://timesofindia.