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Dear Forum,

AASHA stands for AIDS awareness and sustained holistic action.

AP Government is launching AASHA-II from 2 nd May 2006.

the aim of the programme is 100 % awareness in the rural area.For that
around 5000 resource persons were trained, these 5000 resource persons
in turn trained 4-8 village reourse persond from each village , they
are called as AASHA Mitras(friends). Around 100,000 AASHA volunteers have been
trained.

These AASHA Mitras spread the prevention message in there villages.

We hope this programme will certainly give the message of prevention
in the rural areas.

"NARASIMHA SWAMY THAMATAM"
E-MAIL: <tnswamy123@...>

Medical Care for HIV. An Opportunity or Crisis?
EPW Commentary April 15, 2006

It is possible to provide antiretroviral therapy for India's growing
population of HIV patients. However, there are concerns regarding the viability
of such a programme. There is also a concern about the
possible effect of ARV therapy on other healthcare programmes. This
article argues that if the present healthcare system is strengthened
and the primary healthcare centres are involved, ARV can prove to be
sustainable.

K Ajithkumar, S Irudayarajan

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) affects
millions of people worldwide. The number of individuals infected with HIV
approximated 40 million at the end of 2004, based on estimates of the Joint
United Nation Programme on HIV/AIDS [UNAIDS 2004]. Most of those infected live
in India, sub-Saharan Africa, south-east Asia and  the former Soviet Union.
Although the morbidity and mortality  associated with HIV and opportunistic
infections have decreased  substantially with the introduction of highly active
antiretroviral therapy (HAART) in the US and much of Europe, the same cannot be
said of the resource-poor regions of the world.

An estimated 14,000 people  (five million people per year) are infected with HIV
everyday, with more than 95 per cent of them living in underdeveloped regions
[Sahloff 2005]. Once relatively invisible, the HIV epidemic has now become a
visible AIDS epidemic. AIDS is an exceptional infectious disease, posing
challenges in terms of immediate needs and long-term development. India now
appears on the brink of a significant epidemic. HIV has been detected in almost
all of India's states and union territories [NACO 2003].

In seven Indian states, the prevalence  of HIV in women attending antenatal
clinics exceeds 1 per cent, making the epidemic generalised. An estimated 0.9
per cent of the population is to be infected by this modern day scourge [Mahal
and Rao 2003]. One of every six new HIV infections occurs in India.

India  also now has the largest number of HIV-TB co-infected persons in the
world. India alone was estimated to have 3.8 million infected adults in 2001, a
number second only to that estimated for South Africa. It is estimated that
around seven million (which will be about 33 per cent of mortality due to AIDS)
deaths are expected to occur in five Asian countries (India, China, Thailand,
Cambodia and Myanmar during 2000-05 due to AIDS

(http://www.un.org/esa/population/publications/adultmort/POPDIVNs).

At the same time it is important to note that HIV is not the only
infectious disease causing mortality in India. HIV/AIDS accounted for only 6 per
cent of deaths from infectious diseases. But it is also important to remember
that the time span between the start of the epidemic and peak incidence of HIV
epidemic in India is expected to be 20 years or longer. Interestingly all these
3 diseases are
potentially treatable and either controllable (HIV) or curable
(Malaria and TB).

Emphasis on Prevention Partly because there  continues to be no medical magic
bullet to cure HIV and because of the slow natural history of the disease, the
emphasis of HIV/AIDS policies and programmes has, from the earliest days of the
epidemic, been on prevention. This led to a significant "care gap". There has
been a very active discussion on the feasibility and viability of HIV care in
developing countries [Ritu Priya 2003; Over et al 2004].

Whatever be the arguments for and against provision of free therapy,
no society can neglect an epidemic like HIV/AIDS, which is killing
thousands of people, affecting every walk of life of society. Unlike
in the past, thanks to the international and national pressure from
various corners, now there is a shift in the focus towards provision
of HIV care especially towards antiretroviral (ARV) therapy. The
National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) and various state
governments have initiated free ARV programmes in 2004.

The attempts to make treatment available were slow probably because
of the low visibility of the disease in the community. This was also
partially due to the slow spread of the epidemic in contrast to the
faster spread of epidemics like SARS. The stigma associated with this disease
and the discrimination against a disease associated with "sex and morality" also
contributed to this slow pace. There were attempts to provide low-cost care to
people with HIV/AIDS to mitigate the impact of HIV-related illnesses from phase
II of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) in 1999, when the budgetary
outlay of 12 per cent of NACP was earmarked for care and support, including
treatment of common opportunistic infections, such as tuberculosis, the most
common opportunistic infection in India.

The government has strengthened the states' capacity by training
physicians and technicians, installing flow-cytometers for CD4/CD8
testing at selected medical institutions in 25 large and medium-size
states, and allocating Rs 1,250 ($ 25) per patient per year for the
purchase of drugs to treat common opportunistic infections. The
national treatment guidelines also recommend prophylaxis with co-
trimoxazole in people with HIV/AIDS. The care strategy covered about
30 per cent of the estimated 5,50,000 people with AIDS who seek
treatment at government-run and selected NGO hospitals. But this had
a very limited impact on the actual scenario probably because of the
low prevalence of the disease in the community and the fact that the
care facility was available only in very selected places – mostly in
the state capitals.

The existing stigma and discrimination and virtual marginalisation of people
living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) resulted in impoverishment of
these patients and that made it impossible for them to access the
available healthcare in a remote hospital or care centre. Many of the people
living with AIDS (PLWAs) with asymptomatic infections were being referred from
southern Tamil Nadu and Kerala to Chennai to receive anti-TB drugs and
co-trimaoxazole, which is already available in the local primary health centres.
The healthcare system was ill- equipped to face the new scenario. There was not
much capacity building done to face this new disease. Many public and private
hospitals continued to deny care for HIV-infected individuals [The Lawyers
Collective 2003].

In the absence of affordable ARV, treatment  of opportunistic infections did not
reduce the disease burden on the system. Also there was no serious attempt to
integrate HIV care with the existing healthcare system in spite of the fact that
the epidemic was more or less generalised. But this scenario is changing
following the availability of cheaper ART and financial support for ARV
programme from different agencies including Global fund for HIV, TB, malaria,
and from various international funding agencies. Currently, we are in a
situation where we are facing a pandemic, which calls for
a strengthening of the healthcare delivery system.

The lifeboat is  already full with various epidemics including poverty,
infectious diseases, trauma, cancer, cardiovascular diseases, etc, and it cannot
afford to take more people. Here there is a chance to expand the lifeboat if we
are ready to care for a few more people.

We are offered assistance if we can provide care to patients affected by
HIV/TB/malaria. We already know that the infrastructure necessary for HIV care
is almost the same for the care of a general patient.

Interestingly there are studies from India showing that most of the
HIV care is possible at a primary health centre itself [John et al
1996].

What we need for HIV care is a change in our outlook and updating of
our understanding of the healthcare delivery system. We have to look
at least at a few models like the Trichur model, which has proven
beyond doubt that HIV care can be integrated into the existing
healthcare system by strengthening it.

The Trichur model of HIV care integrates all components of HIV care
into the existing system of a referral hospital. Here regular and
comprehensive care is being provided for nearly 1,000 patients during the last
three years without any extra budgetary allotment except for ART [Thimothy,
Ajithkumar and Rajan 2005].

Now it is time to take the right decision. Why don't we see HIV as an
opportunity? Why cannot we strengthen our healthcare system, which can support
both HIV and non-HIV care? After all, most of the
infrastructure necessary for HIV care is useful for non-HIV diseases
also (except for antiretroviral therapy and flow cytometers – which
are, of course, expensive).

We should also be careful about the implementation of the free ART
programme. The free ART programme will not be sustainable without
strengthening the existing healthcare system. Unless we train our
healthcare workers in basic healthcare like testing, counselling and
treatment of basic diseases like TB and candida, it is impossible to
have a free ARV programme.

So we should be vigilant that the intense pressure for ARV does not
scuttle this balance and we end up with treatment centres with flow
cytometers but no microcopy facility for the diagnosis of
tuberculosis and centres with ARV medicines but no medicines for
simple oral thrush. What Should Be Done?

The answer is to strengthen the healthcare delivery system to cope
with the healthcare needs. The isolated development of HIV care
should be avoided and it should be integrated with the larger
development of the healthcare system. Since India is still facing a
low level epidemic in most parts, the disease burden per primary
healthcare centre or a hospital is unlikely to be high if every
hospital starts seeing HIV-infected patients. This will, in turn,
reduce the stigma and discrimination and eventually stimulate private healthcare
institutions also to accept more and more PLHAs.

For instance, the following services can be integrated at different
levels of care. At the PHC level: (1) training of paramedical staff
in testing (rapid tests) and counselling along with lab technicians,
health inspectors and public health workers; (2) training of doctors
in opportunistic infection management like candidacies, TB, which
will take care of most of the medical care needs; (3) training of
paramedical and auxiliary staff in home-based and community-based
care – this can be useful not only for HIV but for old age,
malignancy, cerebrovascular illness, etc; and (4) basics of ART
management and adherence and provision of ARV dispensing. At the
first referral level, management of tuberculosis, pneumonias,
paediatric HIV, etc, may not need any further infrastructure except
for capacity building.

At the district level, diagnosis and treatment of complications like
neurological opportunistic infections, may need a CT scan, flow
cytometer, advanced biochemistry laboratory, etc, many of which are
absolutely necessary for non-HIV care as well. At teaching hospitals, facilities
for monitoring and research in epidemiology, resistance,adherence, etc, and
management of complications, ARV resistance, etc.

This will need strengthening of labs, training of clinical and non-
clinical staff, etc, which can be used in a non-HIV scenario also.

Email: trc_ajisudha@...

References John, K R, Dilip Mathai (1996):`Economics of AIDS Care in
a Tertiary Medical Institution in India' Journal of Clinical
Spidemiology, Vol 49: 1:16

S.Mahal, A, B Rao (2003): `HIV/AIDS Epidemic in India: An Economic
Perspective', Journal of Medical Research 121, April, pp 582-600.

National Aids Control Organisation (2003): `Note on HIV Estimates
2003', http://www.naco.nic.in/indianscene/esthiv.htm

Over, M, P Heywood, J Gold, I Gupta, S Hira, E Marseille
(2004): `HIV/AIDS Treatment and Prevention in India', Modelling the
Costs and Consequences, the World Bank, June.

Ritu Priya (2003): `Health Services and HIV Treatment Complex Issues
and Options', Economic and Political Weekly, December 13, Vol 37, No
50.

Sahloff, E G (2005): `Development of a Vaccine to Prevent Human
Immunodeficiency Virus Pharmacotherapy', HIV/AIDS Journal IAVI, 25
(5): pp 741-47.

The Lawyers Collective (2003): `Discrimination in Legislating an
Epidemic HIV/AIDS in India', Universal Law Publishing Co, New Delhi,
pp 1-19.

Thimothy, Rakkee, K Ajithkumar, S Irudaya Rajan (2005): `Viability of
Providing HIV/AIDS Care in Public Sector: A Case Study from Kerala,
India', Journal of Health Management (forthcoming).

UN HIV/AIDS (2004): `Global Summary of AIDS Epidemic', December,
Available from http://www.unaids.org/wad2004/report.html.

http://www.epw.org.in/showArticles.php?
root=2006&leaf=04&filename=9961&filetype=html

Ref. Posting claiming about  Emcure claims of it's social responsibility. In
response to the posting Re: Can I get ARV in Kachchh?

It is good that Emcure is producing ARV's and running pharmacies. Let the users
of this company's products tell is what they think of it.

This forum should not be utilised by the Emcure PR machinery for pushing itself
onto the consciousness of its subscribers in a subtle manner.

Bobby John
e-mail: <bj@...>

Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+)
Short term consultancy: INP/IND/MD-001-2006
Closing Date: May 8, 2006

INP+ is a national network of people living with HIV with 19 state level PLHA
networks and more than 100 district level PLHA networks.  INP+ is working in the
area of advocacy to create an enabling policy environment for people living with
HIV/AIDS. INP+ requires a short term consultant for the following assignment.

Scope of work
- To review the existing modules and prepare/develop training modules on
Advocacy and Treatment Access.
- To assist in planning, implementing and designing the ToT workshops for PLHA
on Advocacy and Treatment Access.

Deliverables:
- Training module on Advocacy and Treatment Access.
- Training plan for ToT workshop on Advocacy and Treatment Access.

Qualifications and Experience

Qualifications: PG in Social science, MBBS with PG degree, or any other
equivalent degree.

Computer literacy: competency in MS office, Internet etc.

Experience: 3 – 5 years experience working with an International/National
agencies and community based organizations or trainer/independent consultant
with the adequate experience in providing training on Advocacy and Treatment
Access.

People living with HIV with relevant experience are encouraged to apply.

How to apply
Please submit your application (enclosed) along with resume to:
alwin_inp@..., inpplus@..., inpplus@...

Application and resume can also sent to the following address,
Indian Network for People living with HIV/AIDS (INP+)
Flat No. 6, Kash Towers, 93, South West Boag Road, T. Nagar, Chennai – 600 017,
Tamil Nadu.
**********************

Format for Registration for Individual Consultants

A. Personal Details:
Name
Contact Details
Date of Birth
Key Qualification
Key Area of Expertise
Years of Professional Experience
Expected Daily Fee Rate (In Rs.)

B. Please submit your CV along with this registration form to
alwin_inp@..., inpplus@..., inpplus@... .

Dear Forum.

Why HIV children are neglected? Because they cannot make lobby or nor advocate
for policy changes. They are really very vulnerable, the real victims of the
epidemic. Once they get the virus, they cannot transmit. Mortality in children
is 3 times more than in adults. Projects for children are not priority anymore.

Now, politicians put the Orphan AIDS day, as an attempt to raise the issue about
children. I am agree with Vineeta Gupta, that the worst face of the epidemic is
hold by the children, and nobody wants to see the issue.

As a individual working with HIV I feel very commit to push for changes, however
sometimes I feel alone, like them.

Love

Dr Jorge Caravotta
lizandre 37 building
opposite Heena stores
St Jhon Baptist road
Bandra MUMBAI INDIA
E-MAIL: <jorge.caravotta@...>

Dear FORUM,

ART facilities in Gujarat

Civil Hospital,Ahmedabad(functional)

New Civil Hospital,Surat(to be functional by early
June)

Reliance Centre(functional in Surat)

All other public sector medical colleges including
Rajkot,Jamnagar and Bhavnagar in Saurashtra to have
ART centres by 2007.

Dr.Rajesh Gopal
Gujarat SACS.
E-MAIL: <dr_rajeshg@...>

Dear Friends and Colleagues,

Many of you are already doing great work on various issues regarding HIV/AIDS in
India. In 2005, more than 60,000 children died of AIDS in India.  Less than 4%
are receiving any antiretroviral therapy (ART), yet Indian government does not
have pediatric guidelines or effective strategy to address problems of OVC and
children living with HIV/AIDS.

There are many issues connected with care and treatment of children living with
HIV/AIDS and OVC including:

Lack of pediatric guidelines

Neglect on part of Indian government to make pediatric formulations available
through government programs funded by international institutions and
organizations

Lack of training health care providers in pediatric treatment

Law and policies to provide care of the OVC

Many of us have been raising our voices to address these issues. I propose that
we amplify our voices on World AIDS Orphan's Day to demand prompt attention of
the Indian government to address these issues and concerns. I feel that
collective voices may have more impact than individual voices.

I would be very interested to hear from organizations and individuals who are
open to exploring possibility of a joint petition, press release or/and letter
to NACO and relevant Indian government officials.

Solidarity,

Vineeta

Dr. Vineeta Gupta
Stop HIV/AIDS in India Initiative (SHAII)
e-mail: vineeta@...

Dear Colleagues,

India, country progress report on UNGASS commitment is posted on the UNAIDS site
last week. Country Progress Report 2006 available at:
http://search.unaids.org/Results.aspx?
&output=html&query=country+progress+reports+2006+&category=Publicatio
ns&sortbydateon=false&displaypicture=true&page=1&pagersize=10

"Dr. Avnish Jolly"
e-mail: <avnishjolly@...>

Dear Forum,

The steady increase in HIV pandemic is alarming. More and more 'Care & Support'
facilities should come into existence to tackle this issue. Anti-retro Viral
Therapy is the pioneer in the management of HIV and there is a need to make it
accessible for everyone. It is really sad to know that the People Living with
HIV/AIDS (PLWHAs) in Kachchh are finding it difficult to get an access to ARV.
The government facility is situated too far for them and new enrolments are also
stopped due to lack of stock.

In my view it is a time for the network to act and run a sort of facility where
ARV's would be accessible to PLWHA in their area.

Emcure Pharmaceuticals has realized its corporate social responsibilities and
has taken several initiatives in awareness/sensitization on HIV/AIDS issues for
minimizing the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS.

Emcure in association with NMP+ has established TAAL (a comprehensive pharmacy)
in January 2006. The pharmacy is devoted to PLWHA which caters to the medication
and counseling need of PLWHA. The drugs are dispensed at highly subsidized rates
to make it affordable to all class of clients.  With just over 3 months of its
existence TAAL has clubbed a membership of 200 PLWHA.

Nearly 60% of PLWHA belongs to lower economic class and with their earnings it
is very difficult for them to manage the nutritional support along with the
costly medicines. TAAL has been formed to address this issue; it is providing
drugs at highly subsidized rates affordable to PLWHA. Emcure Pharmaceuticals as
corporate social responsibility initiated the act in collaboration with Positive
to achieve the common goal, ‘enhancing the quality of life of PLWHA’.

Emcure believes in social responsibility towards PLWHAs and to broaden the
activities it is willing to join hands with positive networks to start a
facility (ART) for PLWHAs which will ultimately help in achieving the common
goal, ‘enhancing the quality of life of PLWHA’.

Mrudul Patil
Executive Social Responsibilities
Emcure
e-MAIL: <mrudul_naturescope@...>

International Training Programme
Policy Concerns, Planning and Management in HIV / AIDS
July 24-29, 2006

Organised by
Indian Institute of Health Management Research
A WHO Collaborating Centre for District Health System
1, Prabhu Dayal Marg, Sanganer Airport
Jaipur-302 011 (Rajasthan), India

Sponsored by

Governance & Institutional Development Division Commonwealth Secretariat through
the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Co-operation (CFTC)

Introduction: HIV/AIDS has emerged as a major threat to mankind in the last two
decades. The disease has reached epidemic proportions in the world ravaging
several commonwealth nations, particularly sub-Saharan African countries and
parts of Asia and the Caribbean. India has the largest number of people living
with AIDS in the world. UNAIDS has estimated that more than 90 percent of all
adult HIV infections are in these countries.

Keeping these in mind, the Commonwealth Secretary-General Don McKinnon’s in his
World Health Day address stated that the Commonwealth is home to 30% of the
world’s population yet 60% of it is maternal deaths and HIV/AIDS cases.

Evidently, the Heads of the Commonwealth countries have emphasized the need for
creating an appropriate policy environment and management of HIV/AIDS in the
member countries. The governments of the member countries and other stakeholders
have taken steps to actively confront the epidemic. However, it is important for
the people working in the field of HIV/AIDS prevention and control, care and
support, to have a better understanding of the policy environment and enhanced
understanding of related issues/dimensions. Resources are limited and the spread
of the disease is menacing. Thus it becomes essential that the policy makers and
programme managers develop skills to manage and think strategically to make the
best use of the resources and to effectively implement effective and efficient
programmes.

Background

The Commonwealth Secretariat initiated this management development programme in
2004 for its member-countries with the aim to transfer the knowledge and
build-the capacities to effectively draw the policy, planning and managing of
HIV/AIDS programmes. The Commonwealth Secretariat has been able to bring about
desired transformation in the programmatic environment through partnership with
its member-countries. In the process, it has been able to integrate a strategic
thinking for effective implementation of HIV/AIDS pathways programmes in its
respective member countries through this type of management development
programmes.

The programme has been designed and developed in collaboration with the
Governance & Institutional Development Division, Commonwealth Secretariat,
London, for the policy makers at the national level, and programme managers at
the national, provincial/state level. In addition, scientists working on
HIV/AIDS at the national institutes in various Commonwealth countries may also
be nominated. The nominations will be done through the Commonwealth Secretariat,
Governance & Institutional Development Division, Marlborough House, Pall Mall,
London SWIY 5 HX (Telephone: 44 (0) 20 7747 6343, Fax : 44 (0) 20 7747
6540/6335).

PROGRAMME OBJECTIVES

The main focus of the training programme is on developing an understanding of
policy review and analysis, and planning and management in HIV/AIDS prevention
and control in the context of Asia Pacific Region. The objectives of the
programme are as follows :

To familiarize the participants with overall policy analysis, planning and
formulation process

To critically examine various dimensions and issues related to HIV/AIDS policies
and programme implementation

To develop basic skills of operational management of  HIV/AIDS prevention and
control programmes in the regional perspective

To help develop a matrix of country’s perspective policy issues and strategic
management.

DURATION  The programme will be offered for a period of one week (5 days) during
July 24-29,2006.

PARTICIPANTS: The number of participants is limited to 20. The programme
addresses the competency needs of policy and decision makers and programme
managers in policy review and analysis, and programme management knowledge and
skills.

CONTENTS: The course will cover the following broad areas:

Review of the global efforts being made in HIV/AIDS related policies and
programmes

Approaches to policy analysis and planning

Policy initiatives and programme management issues

Planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation in HIV/AIDS
Role of non-governmental organizations and the private sector
Financing of HIV/AIDS programme initiatives
Quality of care
Leadership and management in HIV/AIDS prevention and control

TRAINING APPROACH
The training will be participatory and issue-based. There will be an optimal mix
of lecture sessions, group work and discussions. The participants will be given
exposure to field and programme management at the provincial and district
levels. They will be administered selected HRD instruments to analyze their own
leadership and managerial styles. They will be asked to prepare a policy matrix
and plan of implementation for their respective areas/countries and present the
outcome to the group. A pre- and post-training evaluation will be conducted and
expectations of the participants will be elicited.

Participating Countries

Only the following countries nominations are accepted for full-fledged
sponsorships / fellowships. The interested candidates should approach their
country’s Point-of Contact for nomination.

   1) Bangladesh   2) BRUNEI Darussalam    3) Malaysia   4) Maldives           5)
Pakistan         6) Singapore         and           7) Sri Lanka

FACULTY AND RESOURCE PERSONS

The programme will be conducted by highly experienced international experts and
the faculty of the Indian Institute of Health Management Research and programme
managers in India.
The Programme Co-ordinators are :
Dr. S.D. Gupta, Director;
Dr. N. Ravichandran, Coordinator;

COURSE FEE AND TRAVEL

The course fee, board and lodging and travel expenses will be paid by the
Governance & Institutional Development Division, Commonwealth Secretariat.
Accommodation will be provided on twin sharing basis.

VENUE
Indian Institute of Health Management Research (IIHMR)
1, Prabhu Dayal Marg, Sanganer Airport, Jaipur-302 011, India
Tel. : (91) 141-2791431-34, Fax ; (91) 141-2792138
E-mail : iihmr@..., URL : www.iihmr.org, Gram : Healthinst

APPLICATION PROCEDURE AND DEADLINE
The applicants are requested to fill the attached application form. (The
application form may be photocopied or downloaded from the website :
www.thecommonwealth.org OR www.iihmr.org)

Interested persons are encouraged to apply as soon as possible to allow enough
time for visa and travel arrangements.

  Please send in the application form by June 30, 2006 to the Commonwealth
Secretariat with a copy to the Director, IIHMR on the following address:

  Commonwealth Secretariat: IIHMR  Governance & Institutional Development
Division. Marlborough House, Pall Mall, London SWIY 5 HX
Tel. : 44 (0) 20 7747 6343, Fax : 44 (0) 20 7747 6540/6335

1, Prabhu Dayal Marg
Sanganer Airport, Jaipur-11, India
Tel. : 91-141-2791431, 32, 33, 34
  Fax : 91-141-2792138

E-mail : sdgupta@...; ravi@...

South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC)meeting
Bangladesh hosts South Asian health ministers.

Health ministers and senior health officials from seven South Asian
nations were meeting Wednesday in the Bangladeshi capital to discuss
regional health issues, with focus on AIDS and bird flu.

Launching "a regional strategy on HIV and AIDS will be high on the
agenda," Bangladesh Health Minister Khondakar Mosharraf Hossain told
reporters ahead of the meeting in Dhaka.

AIDS is pandemic in India, South Asia's most populous country, while
outbreaks of the H5N1 strain of bird flu have been reported in India
and Pakistan.

During a November summit in Dhaka, seven South Asian leaders agreed
to set up a health surveillance center to fight the threat of a bird
flu pandemic. But details of the center were yet to be worked out.

Mosharraf said the ministers will exchange views and identify
regional collaboration on health policy matters, such as initiating
a regional strategy to provide basic health care services and
sanitation in rural areas.

Most of South Asia's 1.3 billion people live in villages on less
than a dollar a day, and have little access to primary health care
or sanitation, including clean drinking water, according to official
statistics.

The ministers will also discuss regional cooperation in harmonizing
standards, exchanging medical expertise, producing affordable
medicines and exporting pharmaceuticals, including traditional
remedies.

Health ministers from Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka
and the Maldives are attending the meeting, while Nepal is
represented by a senior health ministry official, reports the AP.

http://english.pravda.ru/news/world/26-04-2006/79563-Bangladesh-0

http://www.saarc-sec.org/main.php

Resource:  HIV-AIDS awareness book is available in Hindi language.

Dear colleagues,

Training and Human Resource Development (THRD) Centre Nepal has
founded in 2005 to make a difference in the lives of people. Skill
training packages Development and training facilitations in various
sectors, Educational materials development and  delivery/distribution, Advocacy
through media campaign are main
three activities of this centre.

Centre is developing various communication materials in the field of
HIV-AIDS and other sectors. The HIV-AIDS awareness book "Ma pani
Sikchhu" was published in Nepali language and sold around 12
thousands copies.

Now centre has published it in Hindi language named "Main Bhi Sikhunga". This
book is mainly for grassroots level people who are just literate and newly
literate. It is also useful and effective for school children, adolescents and
community workers. Every message is in simple text and illustration.

Contents of the book are as follows:

What is HIV and AIDS?
How does it spread and does not?
How to protect our self?
What can we do for PLWHA?
What should I do or do not? If, I got HIV-AIDS.
What are the main opportunistic infections?
What is the ARV therapy?
What are the main symptoms of AIDS?
Five exercises and a self assessment included.

Other information about book.

Name of the book in Hindi language: "Main Bhi Sikhunga"
Name of the book in Nepali language: "Ma pani Sikchhu"
Size of book: A4
Cover: attractive with multi color
Inside of the book: Text and illustrations in single color
Pages: 38

Price: For Nepal NRs. 45.00
For India IRs. 50.00(including postal charge)

For other SAARC countries US $ 1.00 (including postal charge)

If, you wise to buy this book for your project or organization,
please contact in following address:

Manarup Shahi,
THRD Centre
Kupondole, Lalitpur
Post Box No: 13905
Kathmandu, Nepal
Email: thrdcentre@...

Bob Dylan turns 65: Celeerations dedicated to AIDS awareness in
Shillong- India

On May 24, this year, Bob Dylan turns 65. His birthday is being
celebrated unbroken in Shillong for the 34th consecutive year. It's
grown from a small private celebration among close friends (1972) to
a much-looked-forward-to annual event that draws Dylan fans from
across the country and some parts of the world.

You only have to run a search on "dylan" and "shillong," on the
Internet to see how far and wide word of the event has spread. In
fact the Shillong event is even listed on dylanbase.com - the most
popular of dylan websites worldwide.

This year, Lou Majaw and 'Great Society' - the brains behind the
whole gig - have decided to join hands with UNAIDS and Maitri (a
Shillong-based National HIV/AIDS awareness & prevention initiative) -
   to fight the deadly AIDS virus. The objective is to build awareness
about HIV/AIDS and help the word spread, so the Virus won't!

Proceeds of the celebrations - raised largely from sponsorships,
munificent donations, ticket sales and sale of merchandise, would
contribute towards funding "maitrigram" a 9-acre village in the
Umbir area overlooking the picturesque Umiam (or Barapani) lake.

Maitrigram is being set up for the care and support of children
below the age of 10 who have lost one or both parents (orphaned or
abandoned) to HIV/AIDS and in need of compassion, care and a healthy
environment to grow up in.

There are two primary reasons for this strategic partnership:

1.We want to reach out to the Youth - they make the best
ambassadors; and,

2.It's going to take the same level of commitment and belief as
Great Society and Lou's (Shillong Unbroken 34) if we are going to
fight and win the war against AIDS.

We're trying to rope in as much support - a massive recruitment
drive as it were - to stop the Virus in its tracks and have it do a
turn around. It can only work with your unstinting help and support.

The 2-hour concert (1800-2000 hrs), will be held at the State
Central Library Auditorium (seating capacity 750 - so book early!)
and is being coordinated by event managers Cognet Solutions.

There will be performances by Ace of Spades - Lou Majaw, Arjun Sen -
Delhi-based music director of national acclaim (guitar), Lew Hilt -
respected musician and painter (bass), Nondon Bagchi - drummer,
educationist and columnist; Guest artistes: Anjan and Neel Dutt -
the father-son duo from Kolkata and Liz Cotton - English musician.
These will be punctuated by poetry and the announcements of the
results of fun contests organized as a build up to the show.

We've opened up a line of communication with NDTV to be our channel
partners in promoting the event and MTV to cover the event
as "electronic media partners." The Telegraph has customarily been
the print media partners of the Event and this is most likely to
continue even this year. We are also attempting to rope in Radio
Mirchi to help build awareness.

Some of these fun contests include:

1. Members of the audience (men AND women) will be encouraged to
participate in the "Dylan Look Alike Contest." An anonymous panel of
judges will decide the winner. Should there be more than one
exceptionally good look alike, there will be a sing-off!

2. One lucky "birthday boy/girl" from among the audience who shares
his/her birthday with Dylan will get a gift - a watch worth Rs
19,500.00 courtesy Longines. The winner will be decided by draw of
lots and would have to provide documentary evidence of date of birth.

3. Special 65th Dylan Birthday Celebration Merchandise will be
available at the venue and at select outlets thereafter as
souvenirs. These would include T-shirts, sling bags, scarves,
stickers, coasters, keychains, baseball caps, posters etc.

4. Every member of the audience would receive a "goody bag" - a
tradition with most birthday celebrations!

If you are concerned about the HIV/AIDS pandemic and wish to throw
your weight behind the movement, do mail me at
sanjay.sharma.cognet@.... I'd love to hear from you, whether
it's a suggestion, a good wish or even a critique!

Here's 10 ways you can help:

1. Get yourself screened for HIV

2. Volunteer your services to Maitri by becoming a member

3. Support an affected abandoned orphan who's lost one or both
parents to HIV/AIDS

4. Wear the AIDS ribbon

5. Fight the stigma and discrimination against people living with
HIV/AIDS

6. Buy the "Bob Dylan Shillong Unbroken Fight AIDS" merchandise (T-
shirts, caps, visors, keychains, sling bags, posters etc) available
for sale at select outlets and at the venue during the performance
and use or gift them.

7. Without exception - say "NO" to unprotected sex.

8. Participate in the Celebrations at Shillong on 24 May 2006

9. Support the Event through sponsorship or donations.

10. Download a free wallpaper of the event to build AIDS awareness
from http://www.maitri.org.in and save it to your computer's
desktop. Then pass it on to all the people in your address book,
including the person who sent it to you. It will save countless
innocent lives.

--
Sanjay Sharma
Director,
Maitri,
Pineview II, Nongrimmaw,
Laitumkhrah, Shillong - 793 011
Meghalaya, India.

Tel: +364-250-6050, +94361-61402
e-mail: director@...

Clinical profile and natural history of children with HIV infection

Lodha Rakesh, Upadhyay Amit, Kapoor Vishal, Kabra SK
Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences,
New Delhi, India

Correspondence Address: Kabra S K. Department of Pediatrics, All
India Institute of Medical Sciences, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi 110029
India skkabra@...

Abstract
Objective : As the HIV infection spreads in India, increasing number
of children are affected. We report the clinical manifestations, the
laboratory parameters and follow up of these children.

Methods : We reviewed case records of all children diagnosed as
pediatric HIV infection since 1995 in our department at a tertiary
care hospital in north India. Since September 1999, all children
with HIV infection registered in our clinic were prospectively
followed up. Complete clinical and laboratory evaluation was
performed at baseline and thereafter children were followed up.

The children were managed according to standard treatment
guidelines.

Results : 109 children (82 boys, 27 girls) were
diagnosed to have HIV infection. The median (range) age at
presentation was 48 months (range: 0.75 months - 180 months). Eighty
one (74.3%) children acquired the infection vertically. Ninety-one
(83.5%) children were symptomatic at time of presentation. The
common symptoms in the former were failure to thrive (81.3%),
recurrent fever (73.6%), diarrhea (50.5%) and recurrent or
persistent pneumonia (44%). All children had poor nutritional status
at baseline. Of the 67 children who followed up, 36 were receiving
antiretroviral drugs (32 received 3 drugs), while families of 31
children did not opt for antiretroviral therapy. Children receiving
antiretroviral therapy showed improvement in nutritional parameters.

Conclusion : Majority of children with HIV infection presented with
various clinical manifestations, poor nutritional status and
immunosuppression. Administration of nevirapine based antiretroviral
therapy leads to improvement in growth and immune restoration.

Keywords: HIV; Children; Antiretrovirals; Natural history


Lodha R, Upadhyay A, Kapoor V, Kabra SK. Clinical profile and
natural history of children with HIV infection. Indian J Pediatr
[serial online] 2006 [cited 2006 Apr 25];73:201-204.

Available from: http://www.ijppediatricsindia.org/article.asp?
issn=0019-
5456;year=2006;volume=73;issue=3;spage=201;epage=204;aulast=Lodha

Drug trials outsourced to India

Recruiting patients for drug trials in India is big business
India's outsourced call centres are well known, but not its
outsourced patients.

By 2010, some estimate there will be two million patients in India
on clinical trials.

An entire industry has sprung up, specialising in recruiting
patients and managing experiments.

And a BBC investigation into the conduct of these trials has found
that some patients are unaware they are being experimented on at
all.

Most of the world's largest pharmaceutical companies have a presence
in India, but there is concern about how the country achieves its
exceptional recruitment rates and questions about fully-informed
consent.

Medical language

Six years ago, an experimental drug from the US called M4N was
injected into cancer patients in India without being properly tested
on animals first.

Later it was discovered that several patients had not known they
were part of a clinical trial.

Most of the patients sign on the dotted line without understanding
the nature and the consequences of what is being administered to
them. Dr Shashank Joshi

One of the doctors who later blew the whistle, Dr V Narayan
Bhattathiri, told the BBC: "I can only say that what they did is
something unbelievable or incomprehensible.

"I couldn't find any example of such a thing being done, maybe in
the last 50 years or so. Maybe something similar could have happened
in say concentration camps."

Giving informed consent to be part of an experiment is the golden
rule of all clinical trials which goes all the way back to the
Nuremberg Code.

But one doctor at the prestigious Lilavati hospital in Mumbai, Dr
Shashank Joshi, says the idea of all patients giving informed
consent in India is "a myth according to me... because I do not
think it's truly informed in the language the patient understands.

"Most of the patients sign on the dotted line without understanding
the nature and the consequences of what is being administered to
them."

Lack of understanding
Reporter Paul Kenyon tracked down a drug trial being conducted for a
major drug company in a psychiatric unit at a hospital in Gujurat.

It was to test an anti-psychotic drug developed by the world's
second largest drug pharmaceutical company Johnson and Johnson.

" I didn't know that experiments were being carried out on me"
Parshottam Parmar

There is already controversy over what is happening, with some
doctors levelling the accusation that patients are being taken off
their existing medication as part of the trial, with the potential
they could suffer unnecessarily .

Dr Vikram Patel from the British Journal of Psychiatry says: "The
most obvious problem is that they won't get better or they will
continue to suffer this extremely severe psychiatric illness, much
longer than they need to."

But the ethical concerns go deeper when Kenyon finds a patient who
took part in the trial.

"I was just told that the drugs were American. They used to give me
the tablets and I used to eat them," says Parshottam Parmar.

"We just sign because I believe the doctor takes the signature to
help us. That's why I sign it."

He says he had no idea that he was part of a clinical trial.

"I didn't know that experiments were being carried out on me. I was
told that the old drugs were discontinued and were no longer
available in the pharmacies.

"I don't know a lot about all these things. I am poor and I live in
a small hut and I don't understand many things. The doctors are
intelligent. They write the drugs for me so I have to take them
accordingly."

Johnson and Johnson's spokesman Dr Vivek Kusumaker told us: "We have
looked at this particular trial and we've got consent from the
patient or from a relative in every case.

"If there is any instance brought to our attention that something
was not OK we will take that seriously. We have said that we shut
down sites if we don't think we are carrying out research to the
highest code of ethics in which we believe."

Drug Trials: The Dark Side will be broadcast on Thursday, 27 April,
2006 at 2100 BST on BBC Two.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/4932188.stm

NEW YORK, April 20 In a global effort to call attention to the plight of
millions of children orphaned by AIDS and all orphans and vulnerable children,
mayors from 207 cities in 32 countries, including more than 40 in the U.S., have
proclaimed May
7, 2006, World AIDS Orphans Day (WAOD).

(see http://www.worldaidsorphansday.org for complete list).

This is the fifth observance of World AIDS Orphan Day, an initiative
begun by Albina du Boisrouvray, president of Francois- Xavier
Bagnoud (FXB) International -- http://www.fxb.org -- a non-profit
organization (NGO) based in Geneva that supports the world's orphans
and vulnerable children left in the wake of the AIDS pandemic.

In the U.S., where more than 40 mayors will proclaim the day, the
mobilization effort focuses on the complete implementation by
President George W. Bush of historic legislation, the Assistance for
Orphans and Other Vulnerable Children in Developing Countries Act of
2005 (OVC), signed into law by the President in November 2005.

The legislation was introduced by U.S. Senators Richard Lugar (R-
Ind.) and Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) and U.S. Representatives Henry
Hyde (R-Ill.) and Barbara Lee (D-Calif.), and represents bold
bipartisan action to stop the suffering of millions of children
orphaned by diseases of poverty, particularly AIDS, and made
vulnerable by poverty, conflict and other causes.

The OVC Act was championed by Global Action for Children (GAC), a
broad coalition of humanitarian, religious and citizen advocacy
groups which is urging the U.S. mayors, Members of Congress and
other elected officials to support the new Act.

The activities of the May 7 Coalition (leading US, African and
Indian NGOs) include child-lead forums, organizing "circles of
friends" across the U.S and Africa, rallies, drama presentations,
lobbying with mayors and government officials, town hall meetings,
hosting a gala with international dignitaries in major cities,
developing interactive websites and media tools, and conducting
radio and television campaigns.

The global theme of WAOD 2006 is to urge governments to fulfill the
commitments made at the UN in 2001 to fund programs to deal with the
world's AIDS crisis, and their actions will be reviewed at a special
UN session, May 31 - June 2, 2006.

In India On May 7th. "Candlelight Processions" will be carried out in memory of
Children who died because of AIDS.

Throughout the 35 States and Union Territories of India, candlelight
processions will be organized in honor of orphans and vulnerable
children who died because of AIDS.

To mobilize communities throughout the country, FXB India Society
organizes a national campaign, entitled « Candlelight Processions ».
Organized in addition to its local and regional activities, this
campaing invites communities, especially children, to participate in
a march in memory of orphans and vulnerable children whose lives
have been considerable shortened because of AIDS.

These processions are organized to both underline the need to
recognize the suffering of these children and to highlight the
urgency of caring for those still evolving suffering from extreme
the need to take care of those who are still alive but live in
extremely precarious situations.

For more information on WAOD, and to find out what is happening in
your area, contact Don Casey, 718-237-9173, Communications Director,
FXB USA.

http://www.usnewswire.com/
http://releases.usnewswire.com/GetRelease.asp?id=64248

http://www.worldorphansday.org/en/index.php

Dear Forum,

Greetings! As I am much younger to send any mails to this forum becuase I just
started my carrier three years back. I am writing this mail in response to the
mails which informed the forum that State AIDS Control Society of MP is going to
be closed down. I want to inform the forum that this is misguided information
should be confirmed before sending to the forum like ours.

[Refered mail: From: "Gram Bharati" Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2006 14:13:54 +0530
Subject: India neglecting children living with HIV/AIDS]

I know the status of MPSACS as I am working in MP and in close collaboration
with MPSACS. MPSACS is working in the state to combat the global epidemic.

So its my humble request kindly confirmed the information before sending to any
forum.

Regards-

ANAND
e-mail: <amitissw@...>

Vacancy for Project Support Coordinator for Railway
Children UK.

Railway Children is a UK based international
development agency working with organisations and
initiatives that work with children at risk around
transport terminals with the underlying theme of early
intervention. Our vision is a world of safety and
opportunity for children alone and at risk on the
streets. Our mission in India is to work with our
partners and other organisations to ensure care,
protection and developmental opportunities for
children at key transport terminals. We currently work
with 21 partner organizations at over 50 key locations
in India.

Our country office in Mumbai has been recently
established . In collaboration with Sir Elton John
Aids foundation, a support agency in the UK we wish to
launch Phase 2 of Training our partners for
integration of the issue of prevention of
HIV/AIDS/STIs into current existing rehabilitation
programmes for street children.

Railway Children invites applications for Project
support Coordinator (Training)

Key responsibilities include planning, developing and
overseeing all training initiatives with partners with
a special focus on prevention of STI/HIV/AIDS. Further
responsibilities include delivering training
programmes relevant to partner needs, coordinating
with other professionals for training and monitoring
and evaluation.

We are looking for dynamic people whose personal
values meet the organisational values – mutual
respect, collaboration, commitment to learning and
integrity. Further requirements are:

• At least five years’ experience of work in
programming or service delivery, with children in
especially difficult circumstances
• Post-graduate with social sciences background.
• Strong networking and interpersonal skills.
• Good language proficiency in English and Hindi and
some regional languages.
• Strong writing skills.
• Willingness to travel.
• Flexibility and ability to work in a team.
• Emotional stability and ability to work under
pressure.

Only candidates from Mumbai need apply. Applications
must contain title of the post applied for, a note on
‘why you think you are best suited for the post’,
information on current salary drawn; the contact
information of at least 3 references and should reach
us at shama@.... Only applications
of short-listed candidates will be acknowledged.

For further information, you can visit our website -
www.railwaychildren.org.uk

Mrinalini Rao
e-mail: <mrinalini_rc@...>

Excellence in reporting on HIV/AIDS.

The Ramnath Goenka Foundation is pleased to announce its association
with USAID, Avert Society and Health Communication Partnership/Johns
Hopkins University (HCP/JHU) to present, Awards for Excellence in
HIV/AIDS Journalism.

The awards will cover the Indian print media in English and Marathi,
and will be given to an author of an article or series in a
newspaper or magazine that makes an exceptional contribution to
public awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS issues. The
report/series of reports must be a substantive work that covers a
story comprehensively and raises public consciousness and awareness
about HIV/AIDS issues. The entries will be judged on general
excellence, quality of writing and coverage that most accurately,
objectively and sensitively portrays HIV/AIDS and leads to a greater
awareness and understanding of HIV/AIDS issues. Due emphasis will be
given to use of appropriate language, gender sensitivity, ethical
and human rights considerations.

The two award winners, one each in English and Marathi will be
nominated to attend the three week Leadership in Strategic Health
Communication Workshop at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of
Public Health/ Centre for Communication Programs in Baltimore, USA
in June 2007.

How to Apply
Nominees for the awards will be proposed and selected by a national
panel of advisors. The panel will also consider entries sent from
media houses , newsrooms or individual reporters. The rules are as
follows:

• All entries must be received by December 31, 2006. Each entry must
have been published or broadcast between April 1, 2005 and April 30,
2006.

• A series must be designated as such by the publication when it is
printed. A regular column may also be submitted as a series.

• Fiction will not be considered.

• Two reprints or originals of each article/programme must be
submitted with every entry. Every copy must have an entry form.

Entry forms may be either originals or copies or printed from the
website.

Print - submit two originals (or clear photocopies) of news or
feature stories

Television - submit two VHS tapes along with script/s

• No more than two entries by the same writer must be submitted. In
case of regional language awards, the entries can be in the
respective regional languages. A translation must be supplied for
any article not written in English.

• Entries must be works published/broadcast by a newspaper,
magazine, wire or syndication service or television channel.

• Submit originals or copies showing publication date

• No newspaper, magazine, wire service, syndication service or news
organization may have more than two entries in each category.

• A sponsoring letter of nomination must be signed by someone other
than the nominee, employed by the same organization, and included
with the entry.

• Entry form should be completed and secured to the front of the
entry. Be sure you have the right entry form attached. A duplicate
of the completed form should be paper-clipped to the front of the
entry.

A copy of the application forum is available from the following url
http://www.expressindia.com/rngf/awards/rmg-form.pdf

Send the entry form at the following address:

Ms. Utsah Kohli
The Indian Express Newspapers (Mumbai) Limited
B-14 A, Qutub Institutional Area,
New Delhi-110016, India
Tel : 26530101-10
Email : rngf@...

http://www.expressindia.com/rngf/awards/2006_categories.html

New HIV infections in India almost triple in 2005: report
Monday April 24, 07:46 PM

NEW DELHI (AFP) - New HIV infections in India almost tripled in 2005
from the previous year, but were far below the half a million new
cases seen in 2003, a government report said.

The report, which drew on samples from government hospitals
nationwide, said "5.206 million adult people are HIV infected,"
India's National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) said.

The latest data shows that India has 72,000 new HIV cases,
increasing the overall number infected by 1.4 percent.
In 2004, the country reported only 28,000 new cases, which was much
lower than the 520,000 new infections reported in 2003.

The number of Indians infected with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS,
is second only to South Africa where as many as 6 million people are
infected.

However, the rate of infection in the nation of 1.1 billion people
is 0.91 percent, well below South Africa and other sub-Saharan
countries as India focuses on high-risk population to control the
spread, NACO said

But K. Sujatha Rao, the chief of NACO, told Press Trust of India
news agency, that although India could track infections better and
was spending more money on prevention, the government did not know
how many people were dying of AIDS.

The Indian Council of Medical Research is conducting a study to
estimate the number of death linked to HIV and results are expected
in two months, Rao said. However, the study may have gaps because 90
percent of the infected people do not know that they carried the
virus, Rao said.

A study by the British medical journal The Lancet last month
suggested a sharp slowdown in the rate of new infections in India's
high-prevalence southern states.

Six Indian states -- Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and
Karnataka in the south and Manipur and Nagaland in the northeast --
account for almost two thirds of HIV infections.

Richard Feachem, executive director of the Global Fund to Fight
AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, said in a recent report that rates
of infection may be higher than official statistics in poor northern
states and that India had outstripped South Africa as the country
with the highest tally of people infected.

http://au.news.yahoo.com/060424/19/ypeg.html

Job title: HIV/AIDS Services Mapping Project Manager (Job code CAL-MP-M0406)
Employing organization: Solidarity and Action Against The HIV Infection in India
(SAATHII), India. Location: Calcutta, India
Date of Issue: April 30, 2006. Closing Date: May 15, 2006

About SAATHII:

SAATHII, a non-government organization founded in 2000, works to strengthen  the
capacities of individuals and organizations working on HIV/AIDS in India through
information dissemination, networking, advocacy, research   and technical
assistance services. It is known for innovative and multi-sectoral initiatives
in the HIV/AIDS field. SAATHII is registered as a tax-exempt charitable trust
with
offices in Chennai (head office), Calcutta and Hyderabad.

Job Description:

SAATHII is looking for a suitable individual for its HIV/AIDS Services Mapping
Project, which requires skills in proofing and editing work on computer and
knowledge of current health sector issues, with special emphasis on HIV/AIDS and
related issues.

The principal role of the HIV/AIDS Services Mapping Project Manager will be data
collection for the project, processing the collected data, data entry, proofing
and editing of the data and publishing of the 2006 edition of SAATHII RED RIBBON
PAGES directory, India’s first ever such database initially published in 2003.

The HIV/AIDS Services Mapping Project Manager will report to the Country
Director - Programmes & Development / Calcutta Office Director, SAATHII.

Skills and Qualifications Required:

At least five years of experience in health related work in India (particularly
HIV/AIDS), including programme design and implementation, reporting and
research.

Strong knowledge base and skills in proofing and editing work on computer and
good command of written English. An eye for detail and ability to maintain a
stringent standard of writing will be given maximum weight.

Good communication skills.
Fluency in Hindi and Bengali.
Graduation or higher degree from a recognized university preferably in health,
social sciences or communication.

Sound computer skills (including use of Internet, and Microsoft Office software)
and ability to become familiar with new software.

Experience in working / liaising with NGOs, government agencies, corporate
bodies, bilateral and multi-lateral agencies and individual resource persons.

Ability to work independently and as a team player in a complex, multicultural
environment, with demonstrated leadership, communication, networking and
presentation capabilities.

Willingness to travel within India may be required. People living with HIV/AIDS
or individuals belonging to other particularly vulnerable groups are encouraged
to apply.

Salary (consolidated): Salary will be commensurate with experience and
expertise. An initial six-month contract will be offered.

To apply:

Please submit a comprehensive CV in English with a supporting cover letter,
including the names of three referees (preferably one should be a current or
previous employer) and whether able to join immediately or not.

Applications should be sent by courier or e-mail to the following address, and
be clearly marked “Application for HIV/AIDS Services Mapping Project Manager
Position”.

Closing date for applications: May 15, 2006

Likely interview and written examination date for short listed candidates (to be
informed over phone): May 23, 2006 at the address given below.
Contact address:
Director
Solidarity and Action Against The HIV Infection in India (SAATHII)
CD 335, Sector I, Salt Lake City, Calcutta 700 064
Phone: 033 2334 7329
E-mail: saathii.jobs@...
Website: www.saathii.org

E-mail for further details: saathii@...
Closing date for applications: May 15, 2006

India HIV/AIDS Alliance: Invites a talented professional to join our team in
Delhi

Senior Programme Officer

The Senior Programme Officer (SPO) will be responsible for managing &
providing programmatic, technical and organisational development support to the
India HIV/AIDS Alliance's network of state level principal partner NGOs, their
programmes & implementing partner NGOs, especially those funded by the recently
awarded DFID Challenge Fund project on women and HIV/AIDS; supporting and
managing programme development and capacity building for effective management
and delivery of quality HIV/AIDS programmes; promoting innovation and
documentation of good practice in HIV/AIDS programming; and, actively
representing and contributing to planning and policy work on behalf of the
Alliance. S/he will also be closely involved in developing appropriate external
relationships to foster greater understanding and support for Alliance's
programmes in India.

We are looking for a talented professional with a Master's degree in
social sciences, health or development field (or equivalent) with at
least 5 years of relevant project management experience in the health or
development sectors. S/he should possess excellent analytical, writing and
verbal communication skills. S/he should demonstrate knowledge and understanding
of the donor environment, donor relations and donor M&E and reporting systems.
S/he should possess a good understanding of development issues and the HIV
epidemic(s) in India. S/he should preferably have sound technical knowledge,
based on experience, of either gender and HIV/AIDS or harm reduction and working
with injection drug users (IDUs). S/he should be able and willing to undertake
extensive travel, primarily within India.

The post requires a strong commitment to HIV/AIDS and sexual and
reproductive health and rights and also fluency in English and Hindi.
The salary range for the position will be Rs. 562,367 to Rs. 596,615
with benefits and will be commensurate with qualifications and
experience.

Applications should include a CV with full covering letter and also
provide details of salary history and expected salary.

Closing date for receipt of applications: 5th May 2006.

For further details of the post please contact:

India HIV/AIDS Alliance
Third Floor, Kushal House; 39, Nehru Place; New Delhi - 110 019
Tel: +91 11 416 33081 Fax: +91 11 4163 3085
Email: recruit@...
Website: http://www.aidsalliance.org/

Only short listed candidates will be notified within 2 weeks of the closing
date. Qualified and experienced people living with HIV/AIDS are encouraged to
apply.

BEST Employees And City Policemen Seek HIV/AIDS Treatment
2 Apr 2006. Page 1

Nearly 250 employees of the BEST and 300 city policemen are currently
undergoing treatment for HIV/AIDS. So far, 150 and 100 HIV positive
cases have been detected among BEST and city police force
respectively. It is feared that the number of HIV/AIDS cases among the
police could be higher.

The social stigma attached to HIV/AIDS and fear of discrimination
prevents many policemen from coming forward to test their HIV status.
Eventually, they land up at municipal or government hospitals,
remarked Dr. SM Patil, a practicing surgeon at the police hospital in
Nagpada.

Drivers and conductors are the worst hit by HIV/AIDS, according to
BEST statistics. A majority of the non-Mumbai drivers stay alone in
the city. These drivers have demanding schedules and indulge in sexual
activities that increase the risk of HIV transmission to unwind
themselves, said Omprakash Ahuja, chief medical officer, BEST.

In addition to funding HIV/AIDS treatment programs, awareness
programmes are also being conducted on a regular basis by both the
organizations, in the best interest of the employees. The cost
associated with HIV treatment is roughly about Rs 2, 000 per patient
every month.

The HIV/ AIDS awareness programmes that were previously conducted at
centralized locations have now been shifted to staff colonies, said
general manager Mr. Kshatiya. This enables the employee's family
members to also participate in the programs. Although most of the
people were reluctant to disclose their HIV positive status initially,
they have now come forward to take up treatment for the same.

http://www.medindia.net/news/view_news_main.asp?x=9677

World Bank accused of deception over malaria funding

• Campaign leader is unfit for task, say doctors • Death toll
prevention claims 'unfounded'

Sarah Boseley, health editor. Tuesday April 25, 2006
The Guardian

The World Bank, a leader in the global effort to control malaria, has
been accused of deception and medical malpractice by a group of public
health doctors for failing to carry out its funding promises and
wrongly claiming its programmes have been successful at cutting the
death toll from the disease.

The serious charges are levelled by Amir Attaran, a professor at the
Institute of Population Health and faculty of law of Ottawa
University, and colleagues from around the world. Writing in an online
publication for the Lancet medical journal, they say the World Bank is
unfit to lead global efforts to control the disease, which kills
around 1 million people a year - most of them small children.

They argue that the World Bank has not delivered the $300m-$500m
(£168m-£280m) funding it promised to Africa when it launched the
ambitious global Roll Back Malaria campaign in 1998, which was
intended to halve malaria deaths this decade. They add that it has not
been open about the amounts it is spending on malaria and that it has
wasted money and endangered lives by allowing countries to buy
malarial drugs that no longer work.

In a response, also published online, the Bank acknowledges that it
should have done more in the past but says its current programmes are
well-funded, well-staffed and delivering results.

Professor Attaran and colleagues say the new plan "is inadequate to
reverse the Bank's troubling history of neglect for malaria". The Bank
at first refused to disclose how much it had spent on malaria in each
country, say the authors, but eventually published accounts in April
2005 showing that in the previous five years it had committed
$100m-$150m to malaria programmes. It had also spent non-earmarked
funds on malaria it says are "difficult to quantify", says the article.

"The most disturbing fact, however, is that the Bank actually does not
know, and at best guesses, how much money it spends or loans for
malaria," say the authors. "No commercial high-street bank could keep
such imprecise accounts for its clients without running a serious risk
of civil or criminal illegality."

In 1998 the Bank had seven staff dedicated to malaria. By 2002 it had
none. "Without even a single worker, the malaria programme could do
little ... we cannot know what lay behind the downsizing of the Bank's
malaria team and whether the reduction in staff is explained by
careless management or an intention to renege on the funds pledged to
Africa. Regardless, funds stalled just as Africa's malaria cases rose
sharply, destroying several million children's lives and deepening the
poverty the Bank had promised to ameliorate," they write.

The Bank says malaria cases in Brazil dropped by 60% between 1989 and
1996 as a result of its programmes there. Prof Attaran and colleagues
say the figure was 23%. The Bank claimed malaria deaths in three
Indian states, Gujarat, Maharashtra and Rajasthan, dropped by 58%, 98%
and 79% between 2002 and 2003. The authors obtained statistics from
India's directorate of national vector-borne diseases control
programme. In that year, "far from malaria cases declining in the
three states the Bank names, actually the numbers rose sharply in all
of them", they write.

The Bank, they conclude, "remains unfit for any operational role
whatsoever in malaria control". They call for its role to be passed to
other agencies, principally the Global Fund to fight Aids,
Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Jean-Louis Sarbib and colleagues, for the World Bank, say it is
difficult to be specific about the sums spent on malaria, some of
which will have gone to improve healthcare systems, the training of
staff and the provision of drugs for a variety of diseases, not just
one. They reject accusations the Bank has funded chloroquine for areas
of India where it no longer works because of resistance that has built
up in the parasite which causes the disease.

Mr Sarbib and colleagues say the World Bank is dedicated to fighting
malaria. "Paul Wolfowitz has put the full weight of his leadership
behind the Bank's renewed commitment to malaria," they say.

But the Lancet points out that "malaria was absent from Wolfowitz's
policy speech on April 11 ... instead, he emphasised reducing
corruption in recipient governments by increasing the Bank's
department of integrity staff from 53 to 65". If the Bank is serious
about results, the journal says, it needs to focus on the Abuja 2000
target of halving mortality by 2010.

Parasite facts

• Malaria is caused by a parasite passed by an infected female
Anopheles mosquito. There are four species of parasite, of which the
two most common are Plasmodium falciparum and Plasmodium vivax.

• Symptoms include extreme exhaustion with high fever, sweating,
shaking chills and anaemia.

• Patients need treatment within 24 hours to avoid risk of severe
disease, which has a high fatality rate.

• Resistance to commonly used drugs has grown rapidly. The new hope is
the artmisinin compounds, derived from a Chinese herb.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/medicine/story/0,,1760764,00.html

Dear Forum members

Greetings from SFDRT!

April 21st witnessed the death of a 21 year old vaishnavi a recent TV serial
artist who is currently very busy with her number of serials. This is the third
such death of TV artists in the last 6 months, which probably Chennai has
witnessed.

The reasons apprehended for the death of Vaishnavi were the following two
reasons that happened to be flashed in the papers and magazines:

1. She was in love with yet another TV artist Dev, who was married actually and
that was hidden from Vaishnavi;

2. The lover along with his companions had and forced vaishnavi into group sex
where in she feared the consequences. The incident happened while they were at
Mahabalipuram out to sought out their issues, where in vaishnavis lover Dev,
threatened the latter that he will die by consuming poison ebcause of her.
Vaishnavi was caught in the dual and due to her consumption of excess alcohol at
the moment, she had to succumb to the event of group sex.

The above incident clearly brings out the following issues:

- Young women within the film industry are silently suffering the menace of sex
and sexuality culminating with HIV/AIDS;

- The meanace of sexual trafficking within the industry looks like is quite
eligible & prominent;

- It is still a mans world - the fact of women's liberation is questionable?

- this is one such place of work or group where in women migrate to dream that
they are going to catch the sky using galmour, and therefore are trafficked,
violence and exploitation happens within and against them and finally end up
with the issue of HIV/AIDS not knowing how to manage the situation.

Compounding to the recent event once again I think NACO should take up this
issue of the work with the film industry and HIV with AIDS as a special and
comprehensive effort because it not only has a hidden factor of sex involved,
whether it is with consent or not, what happens if not, whether the women
working within are meant to sell sex
only through galmour as a fixation, can this be compounded with the ill effects
of HIV/AIDS and is suicide the only effect and option that the young women may
have? If so how many more will we have to witness such incidents? I think this
is the only group who still fears sex and the menace of HIV/AIDS and thereby end
thier lives.

We have also put up the case history in all the unions through one of our
innovative event of having to maintain "display boards" at all such unions
numbering to 24 of them, within the film industry and are inviting their
comments to take this issue further.

We will also keep you informed of how SFDRT will take its turn in looking at a
holistic effort towards the prevention of HIV/AIDS within the film industry.

Comments are welcome!

In solidarity

Shyamala Ashok
SFDRT -
Chennai
e-mail: aabinand@...

Dear Forum,

"Can I get ARV in Kachchh"? Enquires Mr. Uma Sankar Pandey, President of Kachchh
Network of Positive People (Kachchh NP+).

Kachchh, the largest district of Gujarat is situated 300 Km away from the state
capital Ahmedabad. Few months back Uma Sankar was greatly relieved by the
announcement of ART center in Ahmedabad.

But, last month he had to travel 3 times from Gandhidham to Ahmedabad for
accessing ARV drugs because the only one ART centre in
the state at B.J.Meidical College was running short of the medicine
stock and he has been given medicines only for 10 days. It takes
seven hours one-way journey, costs at least one day lose of pay from
his company, and Rs500 on travel, Uma Sankar informed.

The Ahmedabad ART centre is running short of drug stock and around 146 people
are in the waiting list. It is reported that over1600 are receiving ARV from the
center and the functionaries have instruction from higher authorities to stop
further enrollments until they get a fresh instruction.

Every day four to six new eligible PLHA come to the centre from far ends only to
be turned away after getting their name registered in the waiting list.

"I don't understand the ARV targets NACO talking about, but what
makes me more difficult to understand is why it is so difficult for
the NACO to give us a public explanation what difficulty they are
facing in delivering us the medicine?

We have our own elected governments in place, tell us the reason we will try
demanding to solve those hurdles" says a defiant Uma Sankar Pandey.

Jacob John
Associate Policy and Advocacy Officer
National Policy and Advocacy Centre
Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+)
B5/140 Safdarjung Enclave. New Delhi 29
Tel:011 41354936, 37
Tel Fax: 011 41354938
e-mail: <awaazdho@...>

Dear Forum,

I remember Dr Sreejtih pointing out the fact that various agencies are shooting
up and conducting various training programmes on different aspects of HIV/AIDS. 
Dr.Sreejith was also mentioning the case of IIM culcutta which charged heavy
fee.

I would like to share another experience.  Mudra Institute of Communication
Ahmedabad, a reputed institution in India as far as the communication field is
concerned conducted a seven day  professional Development PRogramme (PDP) on
Stigma, Discrimination and HIV Communication Managemnt.

The expectation was high when i attended the programme.  The fee
was not bad.  It was Rs.12K.  But the second day itself the Programme showed its
direction.  MICA was cutting a sorry figure.

Six participants from various organisations in the country participated in the
programe.  The participants had to come strongly against the institution in
order to redesign the next days' sessions.  I feel the programme was a failure
due to the following reasons

1) No proper planning was there.
2) the institution or the coordinator didnot seek the inputs from
professionals outside the MICA campus or even inside the campus.
3) The facilitator who was there full time for the programme who straight way
came from JNU campus was only the friend of the coordinator, and had no indpeth
knowledge regarding the HIV communication.
4) can anyone imagine that a Resource person taking session on knowledge
management say that the window period is 10 years!!?  the same resource person
didnt know what ANC was.
5) No professional from HIV sector was invited for conducting sessions on core
issues, but for one or two.
6) The film philadelphia was screened for discussion.  The facilitator didnt
even bother to go theugh the available reviews of the films, before coming for
the session.

Remember MICA is the same campus where Mr. Mathews, an eminent personality in
film studies is working with.  He was not called for
the sessions.

The positive sides has to be mentioned
1) Some sessions were conducted by Resource Persons having good insights.
2) Good campus
3) Good accomodation
4) Good food

Soon we six particiapants realised the fact that we are in a way made fools by
attending the programme.  So we developed a google group to share our views.

The name of the group is nationalfools@googlegroups.com
Valuable suggestions of the fou\rum is invited to prune shuch un professional
intitiatives in the future

regds

S.Ajai Kumar
Programme Officer (IEC)
Kerala State AIDS COntrol Society
Thiruvananthapuram - 35. Kerala
e-mail: <ajai.ksacs@...>

Dear Readers,

Please find another entry for the  "Nero fiddles while Rome Burns" file in
India.

http://news.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=96402

This article reached Australia via the Asian Age. Earlier this week  I read
about the Police Powers and Public Health in The Lancet 2006 367: 805-806. It is
a condemning statement of ambivalence of Indian officials and the flawed
reasoning behind Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Amendment Bill which is totally
unhelpful and in fact will worsen the health and safety interventions.

NACP III 2006-2011 needs to be scrutinised and all the SACS and the Police
forces need to be in synch with best practice.

At the World Economic Forum held in Davao in the Philippines Indian
officials were quick to point out signs of progress around HIV to which the main
critic from the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS says "How can you call it
progress when every year more people die than go on treatment? And every year
the number gets bigger, and every year we have to spend more money, and every
year more people are infected.

You call that progress? I call it the road to the worst health crisis in
recorded human history."

"The disparity between India and China couldn't be greater. While China is off
the list of countries in denial India is at the top of the list."

On the 18th World AIDS Day we saw yet again the number of people who are  HIV+ve
increasing and it is the same statistic every year.

It is fine for India's top leaders to hobnob with the elite at Davao and 
promote India as a 21st century economic power but AIDS has and continues to
devastate lives and economies in Africa and is well on the way to doing the same
in India.

This week some of the most committed and most effective AIDS activists in India
have asked if there is any opportunity for them to leave the country and go and
work somewhere else, so frustrated have they become with the decline in serious
prevention and treatment controls.

And these workers are right at the coal face in places like Bihar and Calcutta
while the outright disregard of the rights of people in Lucknow by the Police
who flagrantly abuse the Constitutional Rights of Indian Citizens in sudden and
arbitrary arrests by a homophobic
bureaucracy intent on using the laws to give vent to a personal agenda rather
than to serve the 'public good'

This makes observers wince at the thought that India is progressive and even
more so to be wary of attending the next Commonwealth Games in Delhi where the
best interests of the citizens is measured by increasing the penalties for
kissing in public ten fold.

India should be very very alarmed indeed because the country has already crossed
the threshhold of infection rates that makes for exponential growth in the
numbers infected, and in a country that can still statistically produce a live
birth every 2 seconds.

Please let me know when there is an sign of intelligent enlightenment so  that
we can move on in ways that achieve progress rather than dismal and often
invisible failure.

Geoffrey
E-mail: <gheaviside@...>

Khalid Hasan, Bangladesh

Ashok - you are in our hearts

Ashok was a great warrior. I have met him in the last ICAAP 6
conference in Melbourne, where he spoke about his life, how he became such a
bold warrior against AIDS. I can still see his ever smiling face, a smiling face
of a great solder in the battle field.

Fighting against social stigma, fighting against the traditional "backbiting".
How a young Indian Navy soldier can turn  to such a great pathfinder - its a
great lesson for all of us? At the initial stage, no one was with him, no one
from the  Navy, no one from his society, no one from his friends. He was just
alone.

His visionary appeal and long farsightedness helped him to stand alone and fight
for the people who lives with AIDS.

Ashok, you are a legend, you are a great and brave warrior in this
frontier. We are with you. We will go on fighting for the Nobel cause
and follow your golden path.

Ashok, you are in our hearts.

Khalid Hasan PhD
Managing Director,
ACNielsen Bangladesh
E-mail: hasank@...