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Dear Friends,

I feel, the patients requiring ATT's and ARV's at times for reasons of
annonymity, stigma and lack of faith do not want to accept DOT or ARV's from
Governament run agencies. This is the problem.

The solution is why not trust The local practitioner or family doctors of the
victims and give meds through them.At the most few spills will be there because
of cheating on part of practitioners,still many will benefit too. A parallel can
be drawn from giving IUD's to PP's in national FW programme few years ago.

Thanks for reading the suggestion. Will someone who matters will be told by
someone- Is Sujatha Rao listening ?


Dr.Rakesh Bharti,
Bharti Derma Care and Research center,
27-D,Sant Avenue,The Mall,
Amritsar143001,Punjab INDIA
Email-rakesh.bharti1@...

[Moderators note follows the main text]

Hi,
Karnataka is one of the very few states in India to have its own health policy.
It is an encouraging step, since health is a state subject, and it would be
useful for the states to set their own goals and chart their course of action.
As activists or members of the civil society, we could also use this document to
know of the Government's stated commitements on the health front and to to press
for our demands.

The Karnataka state integrated health policy document (in English) can be
downloaded from the following website http://www.sochara.org

In case you require Kannada copies of the document, you can approach the
Karnataka state health and family welfare department, or write to us (with your
full postal address). We have collected a few extra Kannada copies from the
department.

Regards,
Naveen

Naveen I. Thomas
Community Health Cell (CHC)
367, Jakkasandra, I Main, I Block,
Koramangala, Bangalore - 560 034
Karnataka
e-mail: <navthom@...>
____________________________________
[Moderators note: According to the Indian constitutions, health is a state
issue. It is intersting to note that Karnataka Govt. has identified HIV/AIDS as
a prirority issue. The following the discussion on HIV/AIDS from the policy
document.]

HIV / AIDS: The State will take proactive steps to create public awareness
regarding this rapidly growing problem. Preventive education will be undertaken
among adolescents, workers in the organized sector, women through Sanghas and
women’s organizations.

In particular, such preventive education would include young adults. The general
mass media would be intensively inducted for this purpose.

Specific strategies would include the following:

• District based Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers (VCTC) will
be established in all district hospitals.
• Treatment to reduce mother to child transmission will be introduced.
• Home based care would be encouraged and supported.
• There will be no discrimination in providing treatment facilities in all
public sector hospitals. Private sector institutions will also be advised to be
non-discriminatory.
• Training of staff will be undertaken
• Treatment facilities for Reproductive Tract Infections (RTIs) and
Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) will be expanded, with
conscious efforts to maintain privacy and confidentiality.
• Measures will be enforced to reduce transmission of HIV through
blood transfusion and blood products.
• Strong advocacy and social mobilization efforts will be made at all
levels.
• Surveillance and operational research will inform and guide the
development of the programme.
• NGO and philanthropic organizations will be supported to run care
centers for patients where home care is not possible.
• The state will promote collaboration between the public, private and voluntary
sectors, all concerned departments and with citizens groups in responding to the
problems of HIV / AIDS.
• The control of HIV / AIDS is closely linked to control of sexually
transmitted diseases and Reproductive Tract Infections, Hepatitis B
and C. The overlapping elements in strategies will be made convergent
and all will be operationalized through general health services.
• The State would be sensitive and responsive to problems such as
children with HIV

BBC World Service Trust (BBC WST) implements projects to promote knowledge of
HIV/AIDS and sustained behaviour change in India. We believe that audience
research and evaluation play an important role in the success of our media
projects. The Trust has three vacancies within our Research Team, based in
Delhi:

Senior Researcher (Condom Promotion Project): Fixed-term for 2 years
Research Officer (HIV/AIDS Mass Media Project) Fixed-term for 6 months
Research Analyst (Media and Audience Research)Fixed-term for 6 month


Senior Researcher

The Senior Researcher will be responsible for designing, managing and
disseminating all the research activities under the condom promotion project.
The research will include Formative, Pretesting and Monitoring/Evaluation
Studies using both quantitative and qualitative research techniques. The Senior
Researcher should have sound knowledge and experience in the design of research
studies, design of questionnaires/ discussion guides, sampling methods,
analysis methods, report writing and presentation of findings to project
partners/ stake holders. This is a fixed-term contract for approximately two
years.

The ideal candidate would be a Post Graduate in Management/ Social Sciences/
Development Studies or Public Health from a reputable institution, with at least
5 years of research experience in a
Developmental organization/Social sector/Marketing research.

Key skills for the job include planning and management of research projects,
analysis, written and oral communication, presentation and team work. You will
need to be fluent in English, Hindi and at least one of these languages: Tamil,
Kanada, Telegu and Marathi.

The position will be based in Delhi with travel up to 10 days a month to project
states. Applicants must be Indian residents. Email CVs and cover letter
explaining why you should be considered for the
position, to: jsad@.... You are requested to clearly
indicate the Position Title – BBC WST in the subject. Please note that no
enquiries will be entertained by BBC WST. Only short-listed candidates will be
contacted. Applications to be received by: 17:00, 10 October 2006.

Research Officer (HIV/ AIDS Mass Media Project)

The Research Officer will be responsible for designing, managing and
disseminating all the research activities under the HIV/ AIDS Mass Media
Project. The research will include Formative, Pretesting and
Monitoring/ Evaluation Studies using both quantitative and qualitative research
techniques. The Research Officer should have sound knowledge and experience in
the design of research studies, design of questionnaires/ discussion guides,
sampling methods,
analysis methods, report writing and presentation of findings to project
partners/ stake holders. This is a fixed-term contract for approximately six
months.

The ideal candidate would be a Post Graduate in Management/ Social Sciences/
Development Studies/ Public Health from a reputable institution, with at least 3
years of research experience in a
Developmental organization/ Social sector/ Marketing research. Key skills for
the job include planning and management of research projects, analysis, written
and oral communication, presentation and team work.

Language skills required: Fluency in English and Hindi. Knowledge of any
regional language is desirable.

The position will be based in Delhi with travel up to 10 days a month within
India. Applicants must be Indian residents. Email CVs and cover letter
explaining why you should be considered for the
position, to: jsad@.... You are requested to clearly
indicate the Position Title – BBC WST in the subject. Please note that no
enquiries will be entertained by BBC WST.

Only short-listed candidates will be contacted. Applications to be
received by: 17:00, 10 October 2006.

Research Analyst (Media and Audience Research)

The Research Analyst will be responsible for preparing and disseminating reports
based on the data analyzed from syndicated research sources such as NRS, IRS,
TAM or any customized research commissioned by the BBC WST Projects.

The Research Analyst should have an aptitude for conducting quantitative data
analysis using different softwares. Exposure to analysis softwares such as
Sesame, TAM Media Express or Quantum/ SPSS/ Atlas/ Nu-dist would be an added
advantage. This is a fixed-term contract for approximately six months.

The ideal candidate would be a Post graduate in Management/ Statistics/ Software
applications. Graduates in Social Sciences with diploma in Computer/ Software
applications are also welcome to apply. Key skills for the job include data
mining and analysis,
written and oral communication, presentation and teamwork. Language skills:
Fluency in English and Hindi. Knowledge of any regional language is desirable.
Minimum work experience for the position is
1 year in a Developmental organization/ Social sector/ Marketing research
agency.

The position will be based in Delhi with occasional travel to the states under
BBC-WST projects. Applicants must be Indian residents. Email CVs and cover
letter explaining why you should be considered
for the position, to: jsad@....

You are requested to clearly indicate the Position Title – BBC WST in the
subject. Please note that no enquiries will be entertained by BBC WST. Only
short-listed candidates will be contacted.
Applications to be received by: 17:00, 10 October 2006.

Thank you

Lubna Khan
BBC World Service Trust
E-MAIL: <lubnakn@...>

Dear Forum,

Its a great work of Health Minister of Assam Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma to reduce
the price of CD4 count testfrom Rs 500 to Rs 50/-

It is an example of political commitment of a the Government. Andhra Pradesh
Government must also think of the possibility of providing test for rs 50/-.

In Warangal, Andhra Pradesh  we have more number of PLWHA and many are in need
of ART. Our private labs are charging a lot for the same which a poor person can
not think of the test even.

The Positive Networks in the state must also do advocacy with the Big software
industries, Pharma Industries, Cinema Industry to pay for the poorest of poor
for this test.

Thanks again to Health Minister of Assam Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma.

Yours Sincerely,

Swamy

--
Narasimha Swamy Thamatam,
H.No : 2-12-201,
VIDYARANYAPURI, Hanamkonda.
Warangal   -   Andhra Pradesh.
INDIA  -  506009.
Phone : 91-0870-2454433
e-mail: <tnswamy123@...>

Dear all,

"Right Ranga" is a wonderful idea to stir the minds of the public regarding AIDS
issues. It is appreciatable that the copyright of the cartoon is not owned but
distributed to all. However, i would like to place a suggestion.

Instead of 'Mr. Right Ranga' to stick on with his schedule on making a
propaganda on the ABCs of prevention,  after completing his schedule, once in a
while he can highlight all the prevention modes rather than sticking on to
condom usage alone. It is so heartening to see that the cartoon chosen by APAC
is a master blaster. Hats off to the idea man.

Let us wish a vast control on the spread of HIV and find a change in the society
concerning AIDS related issues

Regards,
Christina
e-mail: <chris_dorthy@...>

Development of Model ART Services to Children

Project Report Submitted for Fulfillment of Fellowship in HIV
Medicine. Dr.Lathika Nayar, Senior Lecturer,Dept of Peadiatrics
Medical College, Thrissur, Kerala

ABSTRACT

HIV pandemic is on the rise affecting all age groups. Newer
treatment options have brought out more cases. ART though not a cure
does reduce the morbidity and mortality. But the efficacy of ART is
largely dependent on the adherence to ART. Lack of paediatric
preparations and the role of caregivers affect adherence in children.

The project was conducted at the Dept of Paediatrics, Medical
college, Thrissur,  Kerala.. The aim of the project was to develop
model ART services to children and to assess and ensure adherence in
them. It has along term goal of assessing the adverse effects of ART
which requires more follow up.

To achieve the objectives clinical and adherence record sheet were
developed. All HIV positive children were registered and clinical
record sheets filled. To aid the process of adherence assessment we
used calendar method and pill count method. A calendar with a
pillbox was designed for the same. We developed child friendly
education material on issues related to adherence and health
promoting practices. We also conducted caregivers' meeting to
increase their awareness.

Adherence levels of 19 children were assessed at entry point in the
project and then during every follow up. The adherence level in this
population were more than 95% in >95% patients as far as missed
doses were concerned. With respect to correct timings adherence
increased from 58% to100% with the above methods.

Repeated counseling with emphasis on correct dosage and timings,
providing already cut tablets (especially if it is ½ tablet twice a
day) resulted in substantial improvement in these parameters.

Adherence to ART in pediatric population is a complex issue. Factors
like poor motivation of care provider, complex regimens, multiple
pills, inability of care provider to understand the complex regimen,
stigma and discrimination from family members, inability to procure
medicines because of financial constraints, busy schedule etc
affected the adherence adversely. Care providers motivation was the
single most important factor associated with good adherence.

Involving the child in care right from the beginning has
definite advantages. There is an urgent need for paediatric
formulations.

A comprehensive model involving clinician, counselor, care provider
and patient will help in providing comprehensive ART services to
children.

Full text of the report is available at:
http://www.fhmindia.org/downloads/development_of_model_art_services.p
df

Applications are invited for FELLOWSHIP IN HIV MEDICINE 2007
(One year training programme in HIV/AIDS clinical care)

The Fellowship in HIV Medicine is a postgraduate level training programme
offered by a network of medical colleges in India. The course is designed to:
(i) Enhance the knowledge and skills of physicians in HIV/ AIDS care at primary
and secondary level, (ii) Support the institution/ hospital/ program to initiate
or improve the already existing HIV care services during the course period.

Course structure: Total duration of the course is one year and includes:

a) 4 clinical contact programmes at the training institution (6 weeks in total);
b) Distance learning course (4 months) and
c) Project work at the candidates work place (6 months).

Participants will be able to continue their regular jobs while undertaking the
training.

Eligibility criteria: MBBS with involvement in HIV/ AIDS care; currently working
in India.

Training institutions:

Applicants should send their applications to one of the following training
centres according the state of residence.

1. Christian Medical College, Vellore (southern states)
2. Maulana Azad Medical College*, Delhi and (northern states)
3. School of Tropical Medicine and Medical College, Kolkata. (east and north
eastern states).

Applicants from the west may apply to any of the above three centres.*Admission
at MAMC is provisional

Last date for submission of applications is 20th NOVEMBER, 2006.

For more details and a copy of the prospectus and application form,
Visit the website www.fhmindia.org   or write to:

The Course Coordinator,
Fellowship in HIV Medicine,
IDTRC, 4th floor, Christian Medical College,
Vellore - 632 004; Tamil Nadu.
Tel : (0416) 228 3617, 228 2804, 228 2730 ;
e-mail: hivdistancelearning@...

To

Dr. Sujatha K. Rao
Additional secretary &   Director General
National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)
Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India
9th Floor, 36, Janpath. New Delhi

Sub: Appeal to provide Second Line Drugs under the National ART Programme

Dear Ms. Rao,

I write to you on behalf of Child Survival – india, a registered Non Government
organisation supporting health and development initiatives in impoverished
communities in North- West Delhi , since 1991.

As part of our community work, and with support from the Delhi State AIDS
Control Society, we are imparting information and services for HIV and AIDS
prevention to high risk groups in slum and relocated colonies around Narela
,Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar, Holumbi Kalan, Naya Baans & Khera Khurd.
Alongside, we have been providing care and support to people living with
HIV/AIDS and families affected by HIV and AIDS in these areas, with the support
of the India HIV/ AIDS Alliance. Till date, we have assisted over 50 HIV
positive individuals  through this community based care and support program and
have reached out to a total population of about 50000  truckers, migrant workers
and other risk groups.

One of our client is XXX, an HIV positive man who lives with his wife and two
children (aged 6 and 3 yrs) in an industrial area in North Delhi. XXX started
anti retro viral (ARV) medication in April 2002 at the All India Institute of
Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Later, he was shifted to the Government’s ART program
in Lok Nayak (LNJP) hospital and has been on the triple drug combination of
Stavudine, Lamivudine and Efavirenz since. On account of continued drug
adherence, XXX experienced a marked improvement in health and functional ability
and was able to return to work. In 2005, CSI provided him a small loan to
operate an STD Telephone Booth. He now earns an average monthly income of Rs
2,000.

Since the past six months, XXX has been reporting a steady and visible
deterioration in health. He has been suffering from chronic diahoerea and weight
loss. He is also reporting loss of vision, which doctors’ suspect is an
opportunistic infection of the retina. In May this year, XXX’s CD4 cell count
dropped to 52. According to his physicians, XXX is presenting signs of
“treatment failure” and is now in need of second line ARVs; currently
unavailable under the government programme. The medicines that will keep XXX
alive cost anywhere between Rs 5, 000 to 8,000 a month (depending on the
combination), a price that is  almost four times of what he earns.

XXX must live, for his own sake and that of his family. As the country’s highest
authority on HIV/AIDS, we appeal to you to intervene and provide XXX the drugs
that he needs to stay alive. We also urge NACO to take cognizance of patients
like XXX across the country, who require or are likely to require second line
anti –AIDS drugs in the near future and take all necessary steps to ensure
uninterrupted treatment to people living with HIV.

Thank you,

Warm Regards,

Dr. Anil Kalia
President
Child Survival India
Child Survival India Delhi <csi_org@...>
______________________

Deepa Bajaj
Chief Executive
Child Survival India(An NGO in development)
33-C,Z-1. Dilshad Garden. Delhi-110095

Phone: 91-011-27844740;91-011-27844182
email : csi_org@...
website: www.childsurvivalindia.org

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=21021

Dear All,

This is with respect to a project being done by the Centre for Trade
and Development (Centad) and the WHO - India office on the subject of ‘Consumer
Drug Information’ materials available in India.

'Consumer drug information' is the information that is provided
to or aimed at the ultimate consumers of drugs/medicines. This would
include information such as the brand and generic name of the drug;
composition; dosage; side-effects; precautions while taking the drug;
information on drug combinations for rational drug use and so on.

Also the term would cover not only drugs/medicines but also information related
to therapies, technologies and devices used in medication etc

The project is aimed at seeing what sort of information is being
provided to  patients by different sources (such as State pharmacy councils,
health organizations, patient groups, consumer groups, women's health groups, 
pharmaceutical companies and so on).

The project further involves a situational analysis of materials and information
available and  also involves the preparation of an approach paper on the same.

Subsequently a national consultation on consumer drug information is proposed to
be held.

We at Centad are currently in the process of conducting research for
this project and in that regard; we request to be provided with certain
information and materials on the subject of consumer drug information.

This would cover information provided to the ultimate consumers of
drugs, including information regarding medical devices and technologies.

It is for this reason that we are approaching this forum as it provides a
platform for getting in touch with all the various actors involved who can
provide such information. Though the Centad project would focus on a broader
scope of information, this would include information being provided to AIDS
patients as well.

We would really appreciate it if it would be possible for you to
provide any information in any medium such as publications or printed material
(e.g.,: books, booklets, journals, magazines, pamphlets, brochures, flyers,
posters and so on); CDs/movies and other recordings, advertisements, materials
on the internet, and so on that are brought out by your organization? We also
encourage you to provide information and materials brought out for any campaigns
conducted. The material includes both current and past information and
materials.

Our address and contact details are as follows:

Centre for Trade & Development,
# 406, Bhikaiji Cama Bhavan, Bhikaiji Cama Place,
New Delhi 110066.
Tel: +91-11-41459226
Fax: +91-11-41459227

Email: gopa.kumar@...; yamini.srivastava@...

The material may be addressed to Mr. Gopakumar and Ms. Yamini
Srivastava.

Thank you.

Regards,
Yamini Srivastava
Research Consultant
Centad
e-mail: <yamini.srivastava@...>

When cartoon is no laughing matter: 'Right Ranga' and the right
message

Tuesday, September 26, 2006
AIDS has been plaguing various States and cities in the country for
a long time now. Though there are many factors which are identified
for the spread of the disease, an important one is the practice of
unsafe sex.

Understanding the need to spread the message of leading a virtuous
life, AIDS Prevention and Control Society (APACS) has introduced a
cartoon character to serve the purpose.

'Right Ranga Sonna Righta Than Irrukum' is the line uttered by the
new cartoon character introduced by APACS. This has been doing the
rounds in Tamilnadu from 16 September in various mass media leaving
Chennaites clueless as to what the cartoon character was planning to
convey. But on 23 September, people understood that it was a tool to
spread the message of AIDS-related issues.

Some of the people who had been closely watching the cartoon had
their views to share.

Nizammudin, a grocery shop owner, said, 'I first thought that it was
Rajnikanth's cartoon film. But when I heard the message some days
back, I realised it was a part of AIDS project This is a good form
of propaganda as children would love this and the message will be
driven home. '

Manikam, a lorry driver said, ' I saw the toon on television. I
thought since the local body elections are round the corner,
Rajnikanth was telling something related to politics. However, I
think it is a good form of campaigning. Particularly when the
animation sounds and looks like a superstar.'

Satish, a public relations employee, said, 'I thought that it was an
advertisement for a comedy show. But now that I know it is for AIDS,
I think it will bring out the desired results.'

When APAC project director P Krishnamurthy was contacted, he
said, 'this 3D animation was a part of the State-level Communication
Campaign (SLCC) on AIDS. The 'Ranga' character would be used to give
guidance for unmarried youngsters, married people and high risk
behaviour groups. Though a brain child of APACS this cartoon could
be used by other NGOs who are working towards AIDS prevention.

'On 16 September, the character was introduced to the public as a
part of the teaser- campaign. The public was also invited to hazard
a guess about the 'Right Ranga' concept through SMS. And we started
receiving around 18 sms per minute. Now that the animated character
has been instilled in the minds of the people, we will start
spreading the messages relevant to lead a safe life, ' he said.

For one week from 23 September 'Right Ranga' will be advising
youngsters to abstain from sex before marriage etc, from 30
September, messages about being faithful to one's partner would be
given to married people and from 7 October, the cartoon would be
highlighting the benefits of using condoms.

As a part of the SLCC, messages about AIDS is also being planned to
be spread through, exhibitions, street plays, 'Right Ranga Vandi'
(propaganda vehicles). A 'Right Ranga' club is also in the pipeline.

http://newstodaynet.com/25sep/ss3.htm

Dear all and Mr.Joevalan Niranjan,

Its is an obvious thing that TANSACS and UNICEF are doing a wonderful and
enlightening work in sensitising the community. The present PD and the past PD
had taken more efforts in sensitising the educational circle. We positive
networks thank and are indebted to them.

We are not evaluating or passing inappropriate comments on any of
the programs ,We understand that effective programs are happening now and then.
However the plight of the child needs attention. If it is possible to do any
intervention, kindly do the remedy.

We are sorry to say that stigma and discrimination is not completely wiped out
from the educational institutions. It is for all of us to think of doing more
effective intervention where not even one child is left out. The issue is not to
criticise anyone or any program but that was a call to address the need for that
particular issue to be solved.

Hope, we all together can think of a solution which can completely eradicate
stigma and discrimination from the minds of the people especially in giving
education and building the future to the children.

Regards,
David Daisy,
TNNP+
e-mail:<tnnpplus@...>

Dear Jahnabi & Forum,

Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+) convey our sincere gratitude to the
respected Health Minister of Assam Dr.Himanta Biswa Sarma,for he dares to be
different for making difference in the lives of people
living with HIV in Assam.

We hope and pray that the Assam Health Minister pioneering steps will soon be
followed by his other colleague in other states.

Dr.Himanta Biswas Sarma is a leader, lets follow him.

thanks,

Loon Gangte
President
Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP+)
e-mail: <dnpplus@...>

Count on Me: A campaign for "A World Without AIDS"

Maitri is a Shillong-based, NGO dedicated to HIV-AIDS awareness, advocacy,
prevention and care and support of PLWHA. Using innovative non-conventional
models, such as sports and socio-cultural and celebrity-driven events for the
promotion of AIDS awareness,

'Maitri' has achieved considerable success in all it endeavours. One of its
major successes was the attendance of the President of India, Dr APJ Abdul
Kalam, as keynote speaker for a Conclave held at the NEC Convention Centre in
Shillong in September 2005 for an HIV-AIDS intervention among Uniformed Services
in India.

On that occasion, "Count on Me," a song written and composed by Shillong
musician David Ashkenazy about every individual's responsibility towards
stamping out the killer Virus, was first performed on a public platform by
school going children for the President. Using the powerful messaging and
imagery conveyed by these three words – Maitri embarked on a campaign titled
"Count on Me!" that was set in motion at the recently concluded International
AIDS Conference at Toronto, Canada.

Maitri founders in their presentations during the Conference which saw the
attendance of over 25,000 delegates from around the World, encouraged the
gathering to raise their hands and join in a "Count on Me!" chant as a symbolic
way of combating the Virus. The response was overwhelming.

To carry this campaign forward, Maitri proposes to organize a week-long build up
to World AIDS Day 2006 culminating in a grand finale "Count on Me!" show
featuring a top International musical act. The song, which, is sought to be
promoted as a worldwide AIDS anthem would form part of a CD-ROM featuring a
video/audio track, a fact sheet on HIV-AIDS statistics, data and major
initiatives or interventions taken in the North East by Maitri and the sponsors
and a general awareness building toolkit for the youth and general masses is
proposed to be released at Shillong on 1 December 2006.

The organizers are hoping to be able to bring Bryan Adams, a popular icon with a
huge fan following in North East India, and an AIDS activist as the main act.
There are ambitious plans to have the Mr Adams give away autographed prizes to
winners of the various school and college level competitions organized during
the build-up and to even perform the "Count on Me!" song along with the School
children who originally rendered it.

The Federation of Khasi, Jaintia and Garo People (FKJGP) – an apex organization
that represents Meghalaya's multi-cultural, multi-linguistic and multi-ethnic
social milieu has entered into an agreement with Maitri to help host the event
at the JN Stadium, Polo Grounds, Shillong in commemoration of its 15th
Anniversary which it has dedicated to AIDS awareness and prevention.

This is a precursor to the establishment of a permanent AIDS cell at the FKJGP
headquarters and its district and block units.

The "Count on Me!" emblem – a raised hand along side an AIDS ribbon–is planned
to appear in many countries on lapel pins, T-shirts, baseball hats, key-chains,
buttons, plaques and other memorabilia as part of the campaign. FKJGP is the
first Indian institutional partner to sign up for the "Count on Me!" worldwide
campaign. It has been conceived by Maitri director, Sanjay Sharma, who is a
communications consultant, a social activist, a journalist and a designer all
rolled into one.

Salient features of the Programme include:

• A mass voluntary blood donation-cum-HIV testing camp expected to have a
participation of nearly 1,000 individuals under the supervision of sector
specific professionals/experts.

• Volunteers will also be encouraged to sign a "Pledge" of "responsible
citizenship" to fight stigma and discrimination of PLWHA. They will be given
Certificates of Participation/Appreciation (special care will be taken to ensure
confidentiality of the identity of those getting themselves tested)

• Schools and Colleges of Meghalaya would be invited to participate in a
State-level slogan writing competition (any language) on the campaign theme
"Count on Me!"

• Schools and Colleges of Meghalaya would be invited to participate in a
State-level Essay writing competition on the campaign theme "Count on Me!"

• Schools and Colleges of Meghalaya would be invited to participate in district
and State-level sit-and-draw Poster designing competition on the campaign theme
"Count on Me!"

• Photography competition – colour and b/w format (school & college level) on
the campaign theme "Count on Me!" vis-à-vis HIV-AIDS and drug abuse. The 100
best entries would be exhibited on World AIDS Day and ultimately compiled into a
coffee table book for wide dissemination

• Higher-secondary Schools and Colleges of Meghalaya would be invited to
participate in an inter-district State-level debate competition on the topic
"Indigenous culture & tradition are responsible for the high prevalence of
HIV-AIDS in the North East."

The organizers are enlisting the support of the local, regional, national and
international media to give widespread publicity to this massive campaign.
Periodic media conferences and interactions will be conducted to project a
status report of details of the programme.


Count on Me
An Anthem for "A World Without AIDS"
Composed, written & arranged by David Ash
Performed by School Children of Shillong

Let me slip away, with a smile on my face, and a heart filled with grace, slip
away.

Like anybody else, let me close my door and slip away - away, yeah, slip
away...'

Spread the message - count on me.
Not the Virus - it's up to me.
You can count, count on me.
AIDS is preventable - count on me.
Apathy kills - it's up to me.
You can count, count on me.
Don't take chances - count on me.
When romancing - it's up to me. You can count, count on me.

There's a whole new world and
You're not alone anymore, let our song reach out and help you change the world.
There's a whole new world and you're not alone anymore.
Let our song reach out - and have you sing along...
Sing it now - count on me,
Sing it now - it's up to me
Say it now - count on me, yeah
Say it now - it's up to me.
You can count on me.

Spread the message - count on me.
Not the Virus - it's up to me.
You can count on me.
AIDS is preventable - count on me.
Apathy kills - it's up to me.
You can count on me.

You pay the price, when not believing, there's a light that shines on us all
You can count - count on me to live as one yeah, count on me to save the world
You can count on me.

--
Sanjay Sharma
CEO
Cognet Solutions,
Pinemount Ridge,
Barik, Shillong - 793 001
Meghalaya, India.
+364-250-6050, +94361-61402
e-mail: cognet.solutions@...

"Hateful" anti-gay law must go: Indian govt agency

By Kamil Zaheer, Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:28am ET

NEW DELHI (Reuters) - A British colonial era law in India that
criminalizes homosexuality is "not acceptable" and scrapping it
is "fundamental" to the fight against AIDS, the country's top
official leading efforts to end the disease said.

Section 377 of the Indian Penal Code carries a maximum penalty of 10
years in jail for men having gay sex.

"This is not acceptable. Section 377 is quite an anachronism,"
Sujatha Rao, the chief of the state-run National AIDS Control
Organization (NACO), told cheering delegates late on Tuesday at the
end of a four-day Asia-Pacific conference on male sexual health and
HIV. She termed the law "hateful".

The law, enacted in 1861 by British colonial rulers, is being
challenged in New Delhi's High Court by an Indian anti-AIDS
voluntary group. The challenge has been supported by
NACO.

Activists say policemen use Section 377 to extract money from gay
men sitting in parks or lanes and the threat of penal action only
compounds the problems of social stigma and discrimination the
sexual minority faces in India.

NACO estimates India's population of men having sex with men (MSM)
to be about 2.5 million but says it could be far higher. It
estimates that around 25 percent of MSM are HIV positive.

"It is important to end this (Section 377), otherwise it would be
very difficult to reach out to MSMs and end the spread of this
infection," Rao told reporters after the conference
She said only about six to eight percent of gay men were covered by
outreach projects, which include distribution of condoms.

India has 5.7 million people living with HIV/AIDS, more than any
other country, according to the United Nations.

Gay men are seen as a high-risk group along with female prostitutes
and intravenous drug users.

India's home ministry has opposed the removal of the law, saying
that public opinion was not in favor of legalizing sex between men.
But Rao said that NACO was talking to the home ministry about
reaching a common position before the next court hearing scheduled
in October.

Her comments, possibly the strongest public criticism of the law by
a government official, came 10 days after leading Indian writers,
lawyers and artists wrote an open letter to the government asking it
to remove the "monstrous" law.

"With this law, MSMs are scared to come out in the open and we can't
work with them (on HIV prevention)."
Those who have been jailed under the law are calling for the
government to scrap it immediately.

"I was beaten in jail by policemen, did not get enough water and
faced abuse from other prisoners because of the general homophobia,"
said Arif Jafar, a well-known activist working with gay men in the
northern state of Uttar Pradesh

Jafar, who is gay, had been arrested under Section 377 for 47 days
last year. Though out of jail, he still has to attend court in
Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh's capital, to fight his case.

"This law must go. No one should suffer the humiliation I went
through," he told Reuters after the conference

http://today.reuters.com/news/articlenews.aspx?
type=healthNews&storyID=2006-09-27

Dear all,

Hello!,  this is regarding US entering TB control pact with WHO in India. We
have miliions dying of this one of the oldest disease known to mankind.

With the theraputic wepons available, this mortality and morbidity should have
been under total control. But that is not the case.The National TB control
program (RNTCP) provides DOTS / directly observed Therapy. The Formulations
available for category 1-3 have fixed dose combinations. If the patient happens
to be below 12 years or if adult patient is cachexic with a weight of say 25 -35
kg,(which often is the case) the same fixed dose combination becomes difficult
to administer due to the likely toxicities it might produce.

Many such patients fall out out of RNTCP's DOT  and are  forced to buy medicines
from open market.why can't these centers make such combinations available where
the dose titration is possible as per the weight of the patient? It is
definitely not impossible for the government to buy these Anti TB drugs from the
Pharma companies in bulk and provide them free under RNTCP. Many a deserving
poor T.B. patients will be able to, thus, save their lives.

Now with US entering may be the govenment will have better financial back up.
The authorities must look into the matter seriosly and TAKE  immediate steps in
this direction.

Dr. Divya
e-mail: <d_mithel@...>

Dear All and Ms. Daisy- TNNP+,

This is reply to your message "on Right to Education".

DTERT- TANSACS and UNICEF has been implementing School AIDS
Education programme in the past and still on. All Head masters of
High and Higher secondary schools of Govt, Govt Aided and
Matriculation schools have participated in the sensitization
progammes.

Once in the launch of SAEP then Education Sectary for Tamilnadu (Mr.
Ganadesikan IAS) delivered an enlightening speech, in which he
stated that strict action will be taken on the school which refuses
admission to children who are positive or of HIV positive parent.

This speech was recorded and the vedio was given in a CD format to
all DIETS to use this in HIV awareness programmes in schools.

More over recently in an award giving ceremony for the best school,
best HM, best teachers and best PEs in implementing SAEP was held in
Chennai. In which the same was said by the present education
secretary. PD- TANSACS, signatories from UNICEF and DTERT were on
the dias.

There are more positive case studies also available as a result of
implementing SAEP in the state. Please don't take one issue and
evaluate the whole programme.

With regards

Joevalan Niranjan
Consultant HIV/AIDS, Sex & Sexuality
No 1, MS Ram Flats, Door No 2, I Floor,
Viswanathapuram III Street, Kodambakkam, Chennai 600 024.
Office:+91 44 42134588. Mobile: +91 9444060597
e-mail: <jniranjan@...>

Dear Forum,

Since the second world war, most male children in the USA are circumcised within
hours of being born, irrespective of whether they are Jews or Christians. It is
a great practice for those who join the armed forces, since keeping the penis
clean under those circumstances is difficult, and there is great build up of
smegma.

This, however, did not prevent the gay males in 1981 from being infected with
HIV, and in hordes. Since Muslims in India do circumcise,  a study could be
conducted.

To give suggestions to some of the questions posed.

Q1. Should routine male circumcision be introduced to stop the spread of
HIV,should the practice be completely banned? Or should it be voluntary?

Ans: After each male birth, parents should be given a choice whether to
circumcise.

Q2.Would, promoting penal hygiene reduces HIV transmission rates similar to the
levels of male circumcision?

Ans: This question is debatable, since unlike Europe, people in America shower
everyday, and hygiene in general is praticed (learnt from the Native Americans)
and they still get HIV.

Q3. Should circumcision, to be promoted as a viable HIV prevention practice in
India?

Ans: Needs further study, but gut feeling says no. Most African muslims do
circumcise and are no better protected than others.

Q4. Would reports that suggest circumcision reduces the risk of HIV encourage
you to be circumcised, or to have your children circumcised?

Q5. Do you know what it involves? (When to do it, how to do it, clinical
procedure or non clinical procedure etc.)

Q6. If circumcision prevents HIV infection, should NACO provide access to the
procedure?

Questions 4,5,6 are for the Indian medical community, government and parents to
answer.

Yours,
Priyadarshi
e-mail: <thurpu@...>

US enters into TB control pact with WHO in India

Posted on : Tue, 26 Sep 2006 16:42:00 GMT | Author : Martin Booth
News Category : Health

NEW DELHI - The United States and the World Health Organization
(WHO) have entered into a pact for controlling the spread of
tuberculosis in India. A US Embassy press release said that it would
be donating $4.17 million to the WHO in order to implement the
various TB control programs at state level.

US Ambassador David C Mulford and the WHO Representative to India,
Salim Habayeb inked the agreement in the capital today. Elaborating
on the deal, Mulford said in a statement, "Our government supports
tuberculosis control in India because of the enormous public health
impact and economic burden of the disease. Each day a thousand
patients die of the disease."

Tuberculosis claims almost 400,000 lives in India annually. The
infectious disease could be controlled early if it is detected in
the initial stages. Tuberculosis primarily involves lungs, but can
also affect various other body parts like bone and spine. In India
lung infection is more prevalent. The disease begins as a cough and
eventually destabilizes the lungs. It spreads from person to person
via droplets. The prevalence of HIV makes the disease more lethal,
according to recent research.

"More than 300,000 children leave school every year because a parent
is suffering from TB. The disease costs 3 billion US dollars per
year and hampers economic development," Mulford observed today.

Habayeb said the funds would be used to carry out local research and
also implement TB control programmes in Haryana. "We have to tackle
the emerging challenges. There is a deadly nexus between TB and
HIV/AIDS. We are confident that this fruitful partnership would help
in meeting these challenges," he added.

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/8994.html

ANNOUNCEMENT OF SELECTED CANDIDATES TO REPRESENT CIVIL SOCIETY
AT THE INTERNATIONAL DRUG PURCHASE FACILITY (IDPF/UNITAID) BOARD

The Call for Nominations was announced on September 5, 2006 to solicit
nominations for the positions of civil society representatives at the
IDPF/UNITAID Board:
· 1 Board member and 1 Alternate from communities living with
HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria;
· 1 Board member and 1 Alternate from NGOs fighting the diseases;

THE SELECTION COMMITTEE IS PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THE RESULTS:

Communities living with the HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria:

Board member from communities living with the diseases: The Selection Committee
decided to extend the application deadline until Friday October 6 for this
position. The tight schedule of selection process did not allow soliciting
sufficient number of applicants before the 1st UNITAID Board meeting on October
3-4. Therefore, the Alternate member as below will represent communities at this
meeting while the selection process for the Board member will continue until
mid-October. The Call for Nominations for this position will be posted again in
the coming days.

Alternate Board member: Ms Carol Nawina Nyirenda, (email:
carolnawina@...)

A person living with HIV, a treatment activist as part of Treatment
Advocacy and Literacy Campaign, Zambia (TALC); has extensive experience as
community worker involved in issues pertaining to universal access to treatment.
Carol has significant experience in project management, from co-ordinating
activities of Zambia Federation of Associations of Women in Business to
designing, implementing and managing grassroots community projects. Carol will
maintain a link between the IDPF and the intended end users to ensure that the
needed drugs are purchased and made available to
the most affected.

NGOs fighting the diseases:

Board member: Mr. Khalil Elouardighi, (email: gerrold@...)
Advocacy officer for international affairs with extensive experience in
advocating for universal access to HIV/AIDS care and treatment, as part of
French PWA-based activism group Act Up-Paris. He has strong relations with
groups in the South (e.g. the PLAnet Africa network) and many other members of
the international AIDS fight community. He maintains close contact with the NGO
delegations at the Global Fund Board. Khalil has been working on IDPF initiative
since December 2005, especially on lobbying the French government towards
ensuring the highest possible outcome of this initiative for universal access to
HIV/AIDS care and treatment.

Alternate Board member: Mohga Kamal Yanni, (email:
mkamalyanni@... )

Senior health and HIV policy advisor at Oxfam UK, provides strategic
direction and support for health and HIV/AIDS policy development,
programmes, and advocacy; a member of the Oxfam International HIV group, through
which she led the development of the first Oxfam International HIV advocacy
strategy; an active member of the Developed Country NGO Delegation at the Global
Fund Board. Her background is a medical doctor  from Egypt. Recently, Mohga has
been involved in the development and advocacy of NGOs position on UNITAID
providing technical and policy input.

Selection Committee members:

1. Asia Russell, HealthGap, USA
2. Lydia Mungherera, The AIDS Support Organization (TACO), Uganda
3. Shaun Mellors, International HIV/AIDS Alliance, UK

The Selection Committee wishes the new members courage and strength in their
challenging and rewarding roles at IDPF/UNITAID Board.


International Council of AIDS Service Organizations (ICASO)
65 Wellesley St. E., Suite 403
Toronto, ON M4Y 1G7
CANADA
Tel: + 1-416-921-0018
Fax: + 1-416-921-9979
E-mail: icaso@...
Web site: www.icaso.org

Remove stigma to defeat HIV/AIDS in India, says UN envoy

By Indo Asian News Service

Guwahati, Sep 26 (IANS) The stigmatisation of HIV/AIDS is a major
hindrance in controlling the fast-spreading disease in India, says a
top UN official.

'Stigma and discrimination are indeed problem areas in tackling
HIV/AIDS in India,' said Nafis Sadik, special envoy of the UN
secretary general for HIV/AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.

'There is acceptance of the problem at the highest level, although
lots needs to be done to make it (the disease) acceptable in the
society which is still in a denial mode,' Sadik told journalists.

Sadik is in Assam's main city of Guwahati on a two-day visit to
review the HIV/AIDS scenario in India's northeast.

'We need to step up the level of awareness about HIV/AIDS and make
sure we are able to deal with it more like a public health issue,'
she said.

India accounts for about 5.2 million HIV-positive people, second
only to South Africa. India's northeast has been declared as one of
the country's high-risk zones with close to 100,000 people infected
with HIV.

'The epidemic is spreading rapidly to the general population by way
of transmission from infected parents to the infants and from
spouses to young married women,' Sadik said.

'Nearly 60 percent of the younger generation who contracted the
virus is below the age of 25.' According to the UN envoy, Asian
migrant workers are highly vulnerable to HIV with most of them
sexually abused and many end up becoming sex workers.

'Nearly 10 percent of the people in Philippines are migrant workers
of whom nearly 60 percent are women working as domestic help and
doing odd jobs in the Gulf and other countries. Nearly 23 percent of
the migrants who have returned home were found to be HIV positive
and this is a real big problem,' she said.

Sadik urged the states to be 'lot more vigilant' to check the spread
of HIV/AIDS among migrant workers. 'You have people from Nepal
coming to India and there is also some linkage between these workers
and HIV/AIDS,' she warned.

The UN official cautioned that human trafficking was a much bigger
problem than drug trade. 'Human trafficking is a huge issue as many
of them are used as sex workers,' Sadik said.

Gullible young girls from India's northeast are being forced into
prostitution in the metropolises after being lured by organised
syndicates promising them glamorous careers and lucrative jobs, a
rights group has said.

'The situation is extremely serious with smart operators flooding
the northeast hunting for good looking young girls for modelling
assignments or jobs in call centres with good salaries,' said Hasina
Kharbih, chairperson of Impulse NGO Network, a rights group working
in rescuing women trafficked from the northeast.

'But in reality, many of these women were pushed into the notorious
world of prostitution.' The group has rescued about 50 girls from
various parts of India in the past two years.

Copyright Indo-Asian News Service

http://www.dailyindia.com/show/63434.php/Remove_stigma_to_defeat_HIV/
AIDS_in_India_says_UN_envoy

[Moderators note: Abstract of the original article and the summary
of this week's Journal of the American Medical Association. (JAMA)
follows the news item]

HIV 'Viral load' not indicative of AIDS progress - study
Wed Sep 27, 2006 1:45 AM IST

CHICAGO (Reuters) - Measuring the amount of AIDS virus circulating
in the blood of HIV-positive patients is not a good indicator of the
health of their immune systems, researchers said on Tuesday.

Physicians often assess the amount of HIV particles in the blood --
known as the viral load -- along with the decline in CD4 cells that
help the body fight infections to measure the disease's progress and
decide when to prescribe drug therapy.

But a study of 2,800 untreated HIV-positive individuals found only
about 5 percent of the variations in viral load corresponded to
variations in immune system damage.

Depletion of CD4 cells is therefore not a simple consequence of the
amount of virus circulating, said the study published in this week's
Journal of the American Medical Association.

"The results of this nationwide study may have profound implications
in our understanding of how HIV causes disease and in our approach
to the management of HIV-infected patients," said lead investigator
Dr. Benigno Rodriguez of Case Western Reserve University in
Cleveland.

Estimating damage to the immune system is critical in deciding when
it is best to start antiretroviral therapy, the AIDS-fighting drugs
credited with allowing millions of infected people to live with the
disease.

Because of issues of drug resistance and the potent side effects of
the drugs, doctors and patients often defer starting medications
until medically necessary.

The study challenges the current belief that the degree to which the
virus replicates itself is the trigger for the loss of CD4 cells,
white blood cells that are a key component of the body's immune
system.

An accompanying editorial in the journal said the findings were
exciting because they suggested that researchers should look for and
target non-viral factors that set off the eventual decline in the
immune system.

http://in.today.reuters.com/news/newsArticle.aspx?
type=worldNews&storyID=2006-09-27T013224Z_01_NOOTR_RTRJONC_0_India-
269451-1.xml&archived=False
___________________________
Editorial

Explaining, Predicting, and Treating HIV-Associated CD4 Cell Loss:
After 25 Years Still a Puzzle

W. Keith Henry, MD; Pablo Tebas, MD; H. Clifford Lane, MD
JAMA. 2006;296:1523-1525.

(This article does not have an abstract, the first 150 words of the
full text is provided)

The clinical syndrome of AIDS is due to infection with the human
immunodeficiency virus (HIV), which causes a progressive
immunodeficiency characterized by the loss of CD4 T lymphocytes
coupled with an immunosuppression related to global activation of
the immune system. Since the seminal article by Mellors et al in
1996,1 it has been known that as a group, individuals with a higher
HIV RNA viral load tend to progress to AIDS and death at a more
rapid rate than those with lower viral loads, and that different
prognostic information can be derived from the CD4 cell count and
the viral load. The conventional wisdom is that the CD4 cell count
represents the current state of immune deficiency, whereas the viral
load reflects the rate at which the immune system will further
deteriorate.2

________________________
Predictive Value of Plasma HIV RNA Level on Rate of CD4 T-Cell
Decline in Untreated HIV Infection

Benigno Rodríguez, Ajay K. Sethi, Vinay K. Cheruvu, Wilma Mackay,
Ronald J. Bosch, Mari Kitahata, Stephen L. Boswell, W. Christopher
Mathews, David R. Bangsberg, Jeffrey Martin, Christopher C. Whalen,
Scott Sieg, Suhrida Yadavalli, Steven G. Deeks, and Michael M.
Lederman

JAMA. 2006;296:1498-1506.

Context:  Plasma human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) RNA level
predicts HIV disease progression, but the extent to which it
explains the variability in rate of CD4 cell depletion is poorly
characterized.

Objective:  To estimate the proportion of variability in rate of CD4
cell loss predicted by presenting plasma HIV RNA levels in untreated
HIV-infected persons.

Design:  Repeated-measures analyses of 2 multicenter cohorts,
comprising observations beginning on May 12, 1984, and ending on
August 26, 2004. Analyses were conducted between August 2004 and
March 2006.

Setting  Two cohorts of HIV-infected persons: patients followed up
at 4 US teaching medical institutions or participating in either the
Research in Access to Care for the Homeless Cohort (REACH) or the
San Francisco Men's Health Study (SFMHS) cohorts and participants in
the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study (MACS) cohort.

Participants:  Antiretroviral treatment–naive, chronically HIV-
infected persons (n = 1289 and n = 1512 for each of the 2 cohorts)
untreated during the observation period ( 6 months) and with at
least 1 HIV RNA level and 2 CD4 cell counts available. Approximately
35% were nonwhite, and 35% had risk factors other than male-to-male
sexual contact.

Main Outcome Measures:  The extent to which presenting plasma HIV
RNA level could explain the rate of model-derived yearly CD4 cell
loss, as estimated by the coefficient of determination (R2).
Results  In both cohorts, higher presenting HIV RNA levels were
associated with greater subsequent CD4 cell decline. In the study
cohort, median model–estimated CD4 cell decrease among participants
with HIV RNA levels of 500 or less, 501 to 2000, 2001 to 10 000, 10
001 to 40 000, and more than 40 000 copies/mL were 20, 39, 48, 56,
and 78 cells/µL, respectively. Despite this trend across broad
categories of HIV RNA levels, only a small proportion of CD4 cell
loss variability (4%-6%) could be explained by presenting plasma HIV
RNA level. Analyses using multiple HIV RNA measurements or
restricting to participants with high HIV RNA levels improved this
correlation minimally (R2, 0.09), and measurement error was
estimated to attenuate these associations only marginally
(deattenuated R2 in the 2 cohorts, 0.05 and 0.08, respectively).
Conclusions  Presenting HIV RNA level predicts the rate of CD4 cell
decline only minimally in untreated persons. Other factors, as yet
undefined, likely drive CD4 cell losses in HIV infection. These
findings have implications for treatment decisions in HIV infection
and for understanding the pathogenesis of progressive immune
deficiency.

Author Affiliations: Center for AIDS Research (Drs Rodríguez, Sieg,
and Lederman, and Mrs Yadavalli), Center for Modern Epidemiology of
Infectious Diseases (Drs Sethi and Whalen and Mr Cheruvu and Ms
Mackay), Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio;
Department of Biostatistics, Harvard School of Public Health,
Harvard University, Boston, Mass (Dr Bosch); Department of Medicine,
University of Washington, Seattle (Dr Kitahata); Department of
Medicine, Harvard University School of Medicine, Boston, Mass (Dr
Boswell); Department of Medicine, University of California, San
Diego (Dr Mathews); Department of Medicine and Epidemiology (Drs
Bangsberg and Martin) and Department of Medicine (Dr Deeks),
University of California, San Francisco.

Dear All,

The initiative of Assam government is indeed very commendable and evinces
ownership and complete concern for the cause

We must work for similar interventions in other parts of the country also
through the involvement of other  stakeholders say public-private
partnerships(In Gujarat Reliance and Surat Diamond Association have taken care
of life long ART treatment for several hundreds of AIDS patients in addition to
the ART services provided by the GSACS/NACO.)

Incidentally, as a part of the Joint Monitoring Mission (JMM)of the WHO and
Govt.of India, I would be part of a team evaluating the RNTCP in the first
fortnight of October,06 and hence would be under some time constraints in the
weeks to come.

Best wishes,

Dr. Rajesh Gopal, MD
Joint Director,
Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS),
O/1 Block, New Mental Hospital Complex,
Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad,
Gujarat. PIN 380016
Phone (O) 079-22680211--12--13,22685210 Fax 079-22680214
e-mail: <dr_rajeshg@...>

Dear Friends,

The following are the schools involved in excluding children
afftected by HIV/AIDS

Govt Madrasa- I - Asam Higher Secondary School on Anna Salai
MWA Matriculation Higher Secondary School Gopalapuram
Sri Mylai Karpagavalli Matriculation Higher Secondary school in
Sastri Nagar
Sai Vidyalaya Matriculation School Mylapure
Grace Matriculation School AnnaNagar
Arigner anna Govt Higher Sec School in Beasant Nagar
Govt schools at pattabiram and T.Nagar

If you want more details then please do check the news paper of that
particular date and moreover the correspondent of City express has
also accompanied the father of the affected boy. So you can even
contact him in regards to that.

David Daisy
Tamilnadu PLHA Network (TNNP+)
e-mail:  <tnnpplus@...>

Nutritional Care for AIDS Patients

by Sheryl Afonso

The story of AIDS began in the early 1960s when strange deaths from common
infections like pneumonia that did not respond to the usual antibiotic drugs
began to occur in the African continent. Similar reports of deaths linked to
unexplained immune system failure poured in from Europe and America by the late
1970s. Then, in 1981, the Centre for Disease Control first described the
Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS), and in 1983, the French scientist,
Luc Montagnier and his team at the Pasteur Institute in Paris, isolated the
etiologic agent, a retrovirus named human immunodeficiency virus (HIV).

AIDS is caused by HIV infection, which invades the White Blood Cells (WBCs),
viz., CD4+ or T-lymphocytes, causing a progressive depletion of these cells, and
eventually leading to immunodeficiency, secondary infections, and neoplasm. The
progression of the disease occurs in 3 stages:

* Primary HIV infection – HIV is transmitted from an infected person to another
person through sexual contact, sharing syringes, blood transfusions and from
infected mother to baby during delivery. A mild flu lasting about 1 week may
develop during this period, and if the person is tested, is indicated as being
HIV positive. The person may then remain asymptomatic for the next 8 to 10
years, not knowing that the virus is rapidly multiplying within and gaining
strength by taking over more and more of the WBCs.

* AIDS-Related Complex – By this period the HIV infection has killed enough
host-protective WBCs to severely damage the immune system and lower the body’s
normal disease resistance so that even the most common everyday infections have
an opportunity to take root and grow. Hence, “opportunistic infections” from
bacteria, fungi, protozoa, or viruses are common, and are the cause of
diarrhoea, malabsorption, fever, weight loss, mouth sores, persistent fatigue,
sore throat, unusual bruises or skin discolouration, night sweats, stiff neck,
rectal bleeding, and visual problems.

* Terminal AIDS – The terminal stage of full-blown HIV infection is designated
as AIDS, and is marked by rapidly declining T-lymphocyte counts, thus
predisposing the individual to developing diseases like Karposi’s sarcoma (an
AIDS-associated cancer), intestinal lymphomas, AIDS dementia, and myelopathy
with loss of balance. When the AIDS virus finally kills enough WBCs to overwhelm
the immune system’s weakened resistance, death follows.

In the three decades since researchers have been feverishly working to decipher
ways to triumph over this deadly disease, no “magic potion” to stem the disease
has been discovered. Hence, the well-known adage “Prevention is better than
Cure” is the banner under which AIDS workers relentlessly toil. However, AIDS
should not indicate the immediate end of life. Nutrition management in the
HIV/AIDS patient is an important adjunct to medical management as eating
healthily and maintaining proper weight strengthen the immune system, making it
better able to slow the progression of HIV to AIDS and fight opportunistic
diseases. Good nutrition also helps the body tolerate medical treatments more
easily and improves an individual’s sense of well-being, which in turn
strengthens the immune system.

Poor nutrition in people with HIV/AIDS is the result of a combination of the
following three factors:

* Increased Nutrient Needs: Infectious illnesses, such as HIV/AIDS, use up more
energy and nutrients than normal, and when opportunistic infections are present,
the body needs even more nutrients.

People with HIV/AIDS often need to make up for protein losses, which may result
from malabsorption due to diarrhoea, leading to muscle tissue breakdown, and
consequently weight loss. Hence, a high protein diet is recommended along with
adequate intake of total energy (via carbohydrate- and fat-rich foods) to
prevent protein from being used up to meet energy needs.

Concerns about health can also lead to high stress levels, which negatively
affect the immune system, thus necessitating higher amounts of certain nutrients
to keep the immune system strong.

  Decreased Food Intake: occurs due to any one, or all, of the following Repeated
infections and fever often result in poor appetite Medical treatments sometimes
suppress appetite, as do psychological factors, such as depression and anxiety

Physical symptoms, such as mouth and throat soreness, can interfere with eating
Fatigue can make food preparation and even eating difficult

Treatment costs and reduced work output due to illness may leave the individual
with less money to spend on food

* Problems With Digestion: HIV and other infections can damage the lining of the
gut; this interferes with food digestion and absorption, thus causing nutrient
and water loss.

Acquainting oneself with the reasons for nutritional problems in the HIV/AIDS
patient is the first step towards handling AIDS-related malnutrition, and the
means of addressing these problems will be discussed next week.

(The writer is a nutritionist & lecturer – Goa College of Home Science)

Date:Sunday September, 24th , 2006. The Sunday Navhind Times (Panorama)
____________ _________ _
In Solidarity
Jaffer Inamdar
President, Positive Lives Foundation “PLF”
******************************************
Correspondence Address:-
H.No. 133/A, B/H. Omar E-Masjid,
Near Gururdwara Rd, Mangoor Hill,
Vasco Da Gama,
Goa, 403802
Email : plf@rediffmail. com / poslivesfoundation@ yahoo.com
**************************************

Dear All,

I would like to join and congratulate Dr. Sarma for the extremely positive stand
he has undertaken to support the positive people.

This will go towards giving them not only confidence in themselves but also
their leaders. Hopefully rest of the country will follow suit.

Winnie Singh
e-mail: <winnie.singh@...>

Organization SAATHII, Last date to apply 30-09-2006
Location Salem, Tamilnadu, India

This is a re-post to fill vacancies remaining after
the first round of selection. Those who applied in the
first round need not re-apply:

Job details SAATHII Job Opportunities

Mainstreaming HIV/AIDS Care and support Programs in Government Medical
Institutions in Salem district

SAATHII is seeking to fill the following vacancies for an APAC-funded
HIV care and support program in Salem district, focused on
capacity-building of government sector medical institutions. The
project duration is 7 months (September 2006 - March 2007).

All positions require strong oral, written, and communication skills,
ability to plan and organize, work in teams, willingness to travel.
Remuneration is competitive and will be commensurate with skill-set,
and experience.

Interested candidates are requested to send a cover letter detailing
their eligibility for the position, an updated bio-data, and two
references to saathii.jobs@ <mailto:saathii.jobs%40gmail.com> gmail.com before
September 10, 2006. Please
specify the position you are applying for in your e-mail subject.

Candidates are required to join within a week after selection.

POSITION 1: Project Coordinator (Care and Support Project - Salem)
(JOB CODE: CHEN-CSS-PC0906)

Location: Salem
Travel: Within Salem District and Travel to Chennai when needed
Duration: 7 Months
No. of Posts: 2

Qualifications and Experience

* MBBS/ Post graduate medical degree or diploma/MD/PhD/Public Health
Also Post graduate in social sciences/development management or its
equivalent with a minimum of 3 years experience in the field of
HIV/AIDS with specific focus on care, support and treatment issues.
* Experience in project management/coordination (preferable)
* Community public health knowledge
* Experience working with government sector health facilities and
NGOs, CBOs and Positive Networks.
* HIV/AIDS Clinical expertise
* Experience in capacity building, training
* Qualitative and quantitative analytical skills

POSITION 2: Training Manager (Care and Support Project - Salem)
(JOB CODE - CHEN-CSS-TM0906)

Location: Salem
Travel: Within Salem District and Travel to Chennai when needed
Duration: 7 Months
No of posts: 1

Qualifications & Experience

* Post graduate in social sciences/public health/MBBS/development
management or its equivalent with a minimum of 3 years experience in
the field of HIV/AIDS with specific focus on care, support and
treatment issues.
* Experience in coordinating training programs.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Tamil are
critical.
* Excellent computer skills including MS office, excel, power point
and use of Internet.
* Proven ability to develop and maintain working relationship with
partners from the government, non-government and academic sectors.
* Ability to work in a large and diverse team.

POSITION 3: Documentation specialist (Care and Support Project - Salem)(JOB CODE
- CHEN-CSS-DS0906)

Location: Salem
Travel: Within Salem District and Travel to Chennai when needed
Duration: 7 Months
No of posts: 2

Qualifications & Experience

* The candidate must be a post graduate in social science / public
health/development management or its equivalent with 5-10 years
experience in the field of HIV/AIDS with specific focus on care,
support and treatment issues.
* Proven writing or documentation skills.
* Experience in developing formats/tools/surveys/manuals.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Tamil are
critical.
* Excellent computer skills including MS office, excel, power point
and use of Internet.
* Proven ability to develop and maintain working relationship with
partners from the government, non-government and academic sectors.
* Ability to work in a diverse team.

POSITION 4: Onsite supervisor (Care and Support Project - Salem)
(JOB CODE - CHEN-CSS-OS0906)

Location: Salem - taluk level - preferably at secondary level hospital/NGO
Travel: Within Salem District and Travel to Chennai when needed
Duration: 7 Months
No of posts: 6

Responsibilities

Responsible for onsite supervision of all activities at the taluk
levels related to the program

1. Responsible for coordinating all of the taluk level activities
2. Facilitates the HCP training at taluk level and carries out initial
training evaluation and mid term KABP survey with the help of
Documentation Officer
3. Assists Training Manager in developing and implementing training
plan for follow up training
4. Administers follow up training evaluation
5. Develops site visit tool in consultant with project coordinator
6. Helps establishing linkages between HCPs and other service providers
7. Develops taluk level resource directory of service availability,
philanthropist and other stake holders
8. Facilitates taluk level coordination meeting and PHC level monthly
meeting
9. Assists training manager in organizing exposure visit in Namakkal
and Tambaram
10. Compiles monthly reports based on taluk level activities and sends
to documentation officer and project coordinator for collation

Qualifications & Experience

* The candidate must be a post graduate in social science / public
health/development management or its equivalent with 1-2 years
experience in the field of HIV/AIDS. Freshers also can apply.
* Excellent oral and written communication skills in English and Tamil are
critical.
* Excellent computer skills including MS Office and use of Internet.
* Proven ability to develop and maintain working relationship with
partners from the government, non-government and academic sectors.

SAATHII JOBS
e-mail: <saathii.jobs@...>

Dear FORUM,

It is such a happy news that the Health Minister of Assam could take such a step
to reduce the cost of the CD4 count test - this is in spirit of a welfare state
which India is supposed to be!

People responsible for conducting such tests should now commit themselves to
ensure that no person has to return from the testing centres either for lack of
necessary kits for carrying out tests related to HIV infection.

There have been a number of cases reported when because of lack of either the
HIV testing kit or the CD4 machine not being in order, people had to
unnecessarily spend money to take care of their travel expenses - a few of them
did not come back to the centre(s) for the second time !

Regards .

Dr Chiranjeeb Kakoty
Hospital and Health Management Consultant
Guwahati
e-mail: <chkakoty1@...>

Dear Jahnavi,

Re: Thanks  to  Dr. Himanta Biswa Sarma the  Health Minister of Assam.
Great job. Congratulations.

Prasada Rao
e-mail: <raojvrp@...>