"knowledge is the most democratic source of power''
                                                                  - Alvin Toffler

In his recent book Power Shift, Alvin Toffler (the author of Future Shock) presents an expanded definition of knowledge. He includes data, images, informations as well as attitibes, values and other symbolic products of society - whether 'true'. 'approximate' or even 'false'. He states, "All of these are used or manipulated by powerseekers, and always have been. So too are the media for conveying knowledge, the means of communication which, in turn, shape the messages that flow through them.'' Toffler points to the fundamental differences between knowledge and other lesser forces. According to him, as he calls them 'force' (coercion) is finite. There is a limit to how much force can be employed before we destroy what we want to caputure or defend.  This concept of knowledge is truly applicable to prevention and control of HIV/AIDS.

From what we can gather, there could be two policy responses: (1) mandatory (forced?) testing followed by isolation of HIV seropositives: it was tried in Goa but with poor result and seems to have been modified; (2) the second is the integration approach wherein testing is voluntary and follows strict confidentiality. In other words, persons who are HIV infected are not descriminated against in any way.

Perhaps, the first policy might have worked, if we had some premonition (a vision?) of HIV visitation, much before it actually happened. Perhaps, we might have successfully spotted the few virus carriers and isolated (quarantined) them. Perhaps, we might have given proper care without undue discomfort to them or the society. Cuba seems to have followed this with some success.
The reality was that we woke up too late. By that time (1985-86), the invisible virus had already created an epidemic situation. Therefore, the isolation approach would not only be unethichal  but also impractical and most uneconomical. Add to it, the complication of a long, indefinite incubation period and we face an impasse. Isolation for how many and for how long? Who bears the expenses for the increasingly large number of HIV-infected people? The major hurdle would be that it would indeed be counterproductive and as explained by Toffler, in the long run, would destroy what we wish to defend.

In contrast, the second policy helps in empowering people of all groups and ages, especially 13 to 30 years olds, and the marginalised* groups, through programmes of information, education and communication/ counselling (IEC); this knowledge, as defined by Toffler, is not finite. It does not get used up but, in fact, can generate more. Attitudes and approaches to life or lifestyle differ  from one generation to another. This is called the generation gap; similar gaps exist between the rich and the poor. However, the greatest gap exists between the armed and the unarmed, the ignorant and the educated. Appropriate knowledge can narrow this gap.
* Incompletely assimilated and denied full social acceptance and participation by dominant groups in the society.