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Hello,

This email message is a notification to let you know that
a file has been uploaded to the Files area of the AIDS-INDIA
group.

   File        : /NACO-Progress-Report-to-UNGAS
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   Uploaded by : joe_thomas123 <joe_thomas123@...>
   Description : NACO  HIV/AIDS progress report  to UNGASS 2008

You can access this file at the URL:
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Regards,

joe_thomas123 <joe_thomas123@...>

Primary stakeholders in anti-HIV drive

C. Maya

Phase III of the National AIDS Control Programme in State
________________________________________
`Maithri' becomes the first Targeted Intervention project to be
directly run by the beneficiaries.
________________________________________
Thiruvananthapuram: When 300-odd women from marginalised sections,
including sex workers, got together in the city a few weeks ago under
the banner of `Maithri,' it was an affirmation of their courage and
responsibility to be part of the mainstream and to fight the battle
against HIV.

For Soma, the NGO which organised the get-together, and Kerala State
AIDS Control Society (KSACS), this is yet another step forward in
their attempt to involve primary stakeholders in HIV prevention
programmes in the community.

The State is now in the process of implementing Phase III of the
National AIDS Control Programme (NACP), which emphasises the need for
a de-centralised approach for getting an effective response from HIV
prevention programmes. The effort is to take all such programmes to
the grassroots by directly involving high-risk and vulnerable groups
in the implementation process.

The KSACS' Targeted Intervention (TI) component of HIV control
programmes among high-risk groups like sex workers, intravenous drug
users and men having sex with men is being implemented through NGOs
in the State. The new strategy means that all TI programmes would be
handed over to the beneficiaries in a while, to be run directly by
them.

Currently, 36 such TI programmes are being run across the State, of
which six have been handed over to stakeholders themselves.

In Thiruvananthapuram, `Maithri' became the first TI project to be
directly run by the beneficiaries.

The project was being run for the past few years by Soma, an NGO,
among sex workers in the district. The project had several components
such as behaviour change and communication, condom project,
management of sexually transmitted infections and networking and
community mobilisation.

`Maithri' now has 126 registered members from the city, Attingal,
Nedumangad, Varkala, Kadhinamkulam, Vattiyoorkavu and Sreekaryam.
The group will mainly focus on the health and family issues faced by
sex workers, provide aid for the education of their children, arrange
legal assistance for women who require it, and to counsel members on
the importance of safe sex and condom use. Eventually, Maithri hopes
to run income-generation projects like soap-making or book-binding
for those who would like to come out of sex work.

"Generally, the sex workers here are very aware of the issues of HIV
and other sexually transmitted infections. Condom use is high among
this group and unlike before they have become quite adept at
negotiating safe sex practices with their clients," says Prashant, a
volunteer with Soma.

It is not very easy for stakeholders to run the project all on their
own, because interpersonal relations among members and leadership
skills all become crucial issues. As Geetha, secretary of Maithri,
says, these women are always wary of society and are not very
confident of gaining acceptance in society.

http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/09/stories/2008010957990300.htm

Dear All,

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) demanding raiwaly concession for People
Living with HIV/AIDS, titled, Delhi Network of Positive People &Anr. versus 
Union of India & Ors,  was filed before the Delhi High Court by Human Rights Law
Network (HRLN) on behalf of Delhi Network of Positive People and Love Life
Society.

This petition  was filed in March 2007 calling  upon the Government to include
People living with HIV/AIDS  in the category of ‘chronically ill persons’ for
railway travel concessions.

The petition was filed under Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution. Given that
the Supreme Court has held in a plethora of judgments that every person in the
country, apart from having the right to life under article 21, has the right to
health.

Therefore, the Government are constitutionally obligated to ensure the same to
all the persons residing in the country, including positive persons, who cannot
be deprived of access to travel and medication in order to treat their
condition.  Lacking in access to the anti-retroviral treatment, people living
with HIV/AIDS cannot attain their highest standard of physical and mental
health.

Lack of adherence to the anti-retroviral treatment can result in the development
of drug resistant. While these drugs are provided free of cost by the Government
in the ART centres of each state, there were a maximum of two ART centres
dispensing ARV drugs in states as large as Rajasthan and Madhya Pradesh and one
in Orissa.  Nevertheless, the drugs are not always available at these centres
and most of the time there exists a shortage of supply or an interruption in
supply in certain areas.  This thereby forces the positive people to travel to
neighbouring states for life-saving dosages of ARV drugs.

While NACO has highlighted that the majority of people living with HIV/AIDS in
India are from rural areas (57% in 2005), most of the time rural people cannot
travel to the districts where the ARV drugs are dispensed as the travel costs
are too high.

Furthermore, once the HIV positive person has registered himself/herself in one
particular centre, then treatment will only be provided at that centre.

When a positive person moves to another state, he/she must return to this centre
every month if life itself is to be maintained.  As a tremendous number of
positive people belong to the poor and under-privileged members of society,
travel costs are of critical significance.  Thousands of HIV positive people
faced with the high travel costs to and from the ART centres are often forced to
forgo treatment in order to feed themselves and their families.

While the Indian Railways provide a discount of 75% on the cost of tickets
bought by those suffering from “chronic and incurable” diseases.  This
concession is extended to those suffering from the likes of tuberculosis,
thalassemia, leprosy and cancer.  People travelling for surgery are also given
concessions.  Heart patients alone or with escort (for both) are given 75%
concession.  Kidney patients travelling for transplant dialysis are also given a
75% concession.

Furthermore, the railways have been providing concessions to unemployed youths,
farmers and widows of defence personnel.  Such concessions were announced in the
Railway Budgets for 2003-04, 2004-05 and 2005-06.  In travelling to Delhi from
states such as Bihar, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Maharashtra,
positive people have to incur a minimum cost of Rs. 1000 each time that they
seek to receive treatment.

The petitioner therefore sought the extension of the 75% concession offered to
those suffering from illnesses such as tuberculosis, cancer and leprosy, to
PHLAs.

The Hon'able High Court ordered a meeting between Ministry of Health and the
Railway Ministry to consider the issues on 11th October, 2007.

Mr. Lallu Prasad Yadav, Ministry of Railway, announced 50% concession for PLHAs
in the 2008 budget session.

In Soldarity,
Dipika Jain

HIV/AIDS Initiative,
Human Rights Law Network,
New Delhi.
e-mail: <dipikajain@...>

Dear Friends,

Re: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS-INDIA/message/8504

The National AIDS Control organisation site says  An HIV-infected person
receives a diagnosis of AIDS after developing one of the CDC-defined AIDS
indicator illnesses. An HIV positive person who has not had any serious
illnesses also can receive an AIDS diagnosis on the basis of certain blood tests
(CD4+ counts).

A positive HIV test result does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of
AIDS is made by a physician using certain clinical criteria (e.g. AIDS indicator
illnesses).

If this is true then the couple of hundreds reported to have AIDS in last three
years look a little surprising to me. As per NACO again the govt provides
treatment to 1 million patients with cd4<200(AIDS) and the numbers in Punjab are
in thousands even in Amritsar.

The number of patients seen by Private sector are different. If take the
argument that those taking ART are not  "AIDS patients" as they are only HIV and
only those with symtoms of TB, Toxo, crypto, CMV ,maliganacies are counted as
AIDS then do ART centers keep a note of this.

Well I do not know but I think we are trying see the situation as if it is
hardly any problem. The ambiguity of HIV and AIDS need to be cleared as well to
those manning ART centers also while giving datas.

By the above figures anyone will think that AIDS does not need that much
attention as being given to it. If 200 odd patients are suffereing from a
disease out of  one billion ( I think that is Punjab's population) then spending
crores make no sense-better give money in equal proportions to the sufferers and
they will survive--why all this hulla gulla

Dr.Rakesh Bharti

Rakesh Bharti MD,AAHIVS,
BDC Research center,
27-D,Sant Avenue,The Mall,Amritsar.
Punjab,INDIA143001.
TEl-91-183-2277822;91-183-2278522
e-mail: <rakesh.bharti1@...>

Dear Forum.

This is really a good move and good news for People Living With HIV and AIDS.
Good decision by our Hon'ble Railway Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav.

This will help for those PLWHAs who are nominated for the treatment on ART
Centers and results increase in the access for ART by PLHAs.

NGOs and CBOs who are working with PLHAs need to spread this news for people in
the remote areas and help them access ART treatment.

Meanwhile it is also important in whole process "the issue of confidentiality"
need to be maintained. PLHAS network, NGOs CBOs and Railway officials have come
together and discuss how this can be further streamlined and put into operation.

Bharat Shetty
Pune
e-mail: <bharatwrites2001@...>

Hello Dear Friends

I am G. Prashanth Kumar,  a new member of this FORUM. I am working as a
technical support officer with India Naz Foundation International originating
from Hyderabad. We provide technical support to the Community Based Organisation
across the country . I have ten years vast experince in implmenting a HIV
Prevention and care and support programme at Mithrudu, Hyderabad.

I have been trained by Naz Foundation International, FHI and APSACS as Trainer
of Trainers in different fields related to Developement of Community Based
Oragnisation, Financial Mamangement, Operation Research, and Strategicall design
Developement of Targeted intervention with High Risk Groups.

I Facilitated many trainings conducted across the country with different donors
support. I would like to share my experiences and give my inputs to the
constraint management and day to day issues of MSM, HIV Prevention and care and
support across the country and world.

Hoping for a coperative and supportive response from the group and Forum

Thanking you

G. Prashanth Kumar
Technical Support Officer
Lucknow
Ph:9415475188
email: prashanth@...

Freedom Foundation – a leading NGO in the field of
HIV/AIDS, is looking for suitable candidates for the
following jobs at Bangalore Care & Support centre.

1) Residential Outreach Worker – Male, SSLC pass/fail,
good writing and reading skills in kannada and
English.

2) Outreach Worker – Female, SSLC pass/fail, Good
writing and reading skills in kannada and English,
Preference will be given for PLHA (Person living with
HIV/AIDS)

3) Staff Nurse – GNM or equivalent qualification,
Male/Female, Preference will be given for the
candidates with experience in the field of HIV/AIDS

4) Support staff – to clean the premises and assist
the patients. Preference will be given for PLHA
(Person living with HIV/AIDS)

Last date for application: 28th of March 2008

Candidates can walk-in-interview with prior
appointment or send in their resumes to the following
address:

Freedom Foundation
Site.No. 30, Survey No. 17/2,
Hennur Bande (PO),
Bangalore – 560 043.

Ph: 080- 65966451/25440135/25443101
E-Mail: freedom_3@..., freedomc2@...

Kashmir reports six times increase in AIDS

Srinagar, Thursday, February 28, 2008:

Indian administered Kashmir has reported 42 AIDS deaths in 2007 and a
six times increase in the number of AIDS cases compared to previous
year, the Indian government said Wednesday.

According to figures provided by the state government to New Delhi,
211 cases of AIDS were reported in the region in 2007 compared to 34
cases in 2006. The government also reported 42 AIDS deaths in 2007.
The figures for the previous years were not available.

Giving details about the state wise figures of reported HIV positive
AIDS cases in Indian Parliament, India's Minister of State for Health
& Family Welfare, Panabaaka Lakshmi said Phase III of the National
AIDS Control Programme has been formulated to control the spread of
HIV by up scaling targeted interventions among the high risk groups,
behaviour change communication for improved awareness, expanding,
counseling and testing services, blood safety, support and treatment
of HIV infected persons including the treatment of opportunistic
infections, provision of anti-retroviral drugs and mainstreaming of
HIV intervention strategies.

feedback@...
http://www.kashmirnewz.net/n000323.html

Dear Forum,

This is really great to see the announcement given by Railways in consent of 
People living with HIV/AIDS, offering them concession in train fare. This has
been a remarkable step taken by indian government.

Let us also wait for the golden day- the day when our HIV/AIDS bill is going to
pass in the parliment. Hope the day is not too far. Once again let us thank our
government and railway minister for their  consentfull budget and concession for
PLHA

Regards,
Gnanasekar,
9941731724
E-mail: gnanasekar_sekar@...

Dear FORUM,

Re: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS-INDIA/message/8474

Thanks to Yasmeen, for articulating her concerns.

Please try to understand that the GIPA coordinator has a very vital role to play
to coordinate myriad activities with the multiple stakeholders including the
network of the the PLHIV. A member of the network of PLHA can play extremely
pertinent role in such activities.

We have had wonderful experiences through the facilitation of the activities by
a person with a positive serostatus for a couple of years now even when there
was no separate provision of a GIPA
Coordinator in the NACP-II.

Please for heaven's sake don't perceive it as any attempts for dilution of a
professional approach. It is a synergistic approach to generate a strengthened
concerted collective action. For professional
counselling,STI care,ART,all technical components of the AIDS control activities
and what have you, it is all in a thoroughly professional manner through people
qualified and experienced in the respective areas.

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 Forum Members,

I would like to provide some besic information about the
International GIPA Concept and Policy according to UNAIDS as follows:

Greater involvement of people living with HIV - GIPA People living with HIV
understand each other's situation better than anyone and are often best placed
to counsel one another and to represent their needs in decision- and
policy-making forums.

The idea that the personal experiences of people living with HIV
could and should be translated into helping to shape a response to
the AIDS epidemic was first voiced in 1983 at a national AIDS
conference in the USA. It was formally adopted as a principle at the
Paris AIDS Summit in 1994, where 42 countries declared the Greater
Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS (GIPA) to be critical
to ethical and effective national responses to the epidemic.

Today the GIPA principle is the backbone of many interventions
worldwide. People living with, or affected by HIV are involved in a
wide variety of activities at all levels of the fight against AIDS;
from appearing on posters, bearing personal testimony, and supporting
and counseling others with HIV, to participating in major decision-
and policy-making activities.

The engagement of people living with HIV is all the more urgent as
countries scale up their national AIDS responses to achieve the goal
of universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support
services.

----------
UNAIDS GIPA Policy Position

No single agency can provide for the full spectrum of needs of people
living with HIV: partnerships between actors are therefore needed. To
enable the active engagement of people living with HIV, UNAIDS urges
all actors to ensure that people living with HIV have the space and
the practical support for their greater and more meaningful
involvement.

Governments, international agencies and civil society must:

set, implement and monitor minimum targets for the participation of
people living with HIV, including women, young people and
marginalized populations, in decision-making bodies. Selection
processes should be inclusive, transparent and democratic; and
involve people living with HIV in developing funding priorities and
in the choice, design, implementation, monitoring and evaluation of
HIV programmes from their inception.

I would also request you to read in detail UNAIDS Policy Brief: The
Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV to understand the
inportance to provide the oppertunity only to People Living with HIV.

Thanking you,

In Solidarity.

Snehansu Bhaduri
Advocacy Associate
AHF India Cares,
New Delhi.
e-mail: snehansu.bhaduri@...
Phone: 9211957730

UNAIDS’ Piot: Universal Access to HIV Prevention, Treatment Has Made Progress

By Sonal Singh Wadhwa

New Delhi – Efforts by governments, multilateral and bilateral
institutions, and members of the civil society to provide universal
access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support are starting to
become a reality, said Dr. Peter Piot, Executive Director, UNAIDS.

"We are beginning to see real progress and a clear return on AIDS
investments," Dr. Piot said.

Dr. Piot, speaking at an international conference on microbicides in
New Delhi, noted that currently there are 3 million people on anti-
retroviral (ARV) therapy in lower income countries, as compared to
less than 200,000 people on ARV in 2001.

"This is a remarkable achievement in international development," said
Dr. Piot.

The UNAIDS estimates that there are between 33 to 40 million people
worldwide infected by HIV.

He added that HIV prevalence has started to fall or plateau in
certain parts of the world, such as in East Africa, the Carribean and
in Southern India, due to changes in sexual behaviour. He attributed
this change to the aggressive HIV prevention strategies that have
been undertaken in these countries.

However, he cautioned that the real challenge lay in sustaining these
gains and replicating it in other parts of the world. He pointed out
that one of vulnerable groups that are at high risk are Asian men who
have sex with men, which is similar to the past situation in western
countries regarding HIV infection.

"What we need to do is move urgently in HIV Prevention and
microbicides will help us there," Dr. Piot said.

Microbicides are products such as gels, creams, suppositories or a
long lasting vaginal ring can be applied vaginally or anally to
prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and especially
HIV/AIDS.

At present, there is no cure or vaccine against HIV/AIDS, and
prevention of sexual transmission of the disease depends largely on
the use of condoms or abstinence.

The State-wise and year-wise details of reported number of HIV positive AIDS cases and deaths in different States of the country during the last three years as per information received from State AIDS Control Societies can be seen at Annexure `A' & `B' respectively.

In order to make people aware about HIV/AIDS and promote safe behaviours, National AIDS Control Organisation and State AIDS Control Societies conduct regular IEC campaigns through mass media and inter-personal communication channels. NACO's programmes "Jeewan Hai Anmol" and "Lets Talk AIDS" was aired on 174 AIR stations in 24 languages. The special episodes of "Kalyani" health magazine on Doordarshan is telecast. Special awareness programme through Song & Drama Division and Directorate of Field Publicity have been organized in the areas where regular mass media presence is low. Besides this, the sensitization of members from Gram Sabhas, Panchayati Raj Institutions, Aanganwadi workers, Self Help Groups and media is also undertaken on a regular basis. A Red Ribbon Express was launched on 1^st December, 2007 to spread awareness messages in 50,000 villages over a period of one year.

Phase III of the National AIDS Control Programme has been formulated to control the spread of HIV by up scaling targeted interventions among the high risk groups, behaviour change communication for improved awareness, expanding, counseling and testing services, blood safety, support and treatment of HIV infected persons including the treatment of opportunistic infections, provision of anti-retroviral drugs and mainstreaming of HIV intervention strategies.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Health & Family Welfare, Smt. Panabaaka Lakshmi in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha.

KR/SK/240 – LS

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=35660

Lok Sabha

The programme grant agreement has been signed between the Government
of India and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
(GFATM) on 20-12-07 for the phase-II of Round IV which will end in
August, 2010 under this project, antiretroviral treatment is being
provided to HIV/AIDS infected persons in 6 high prevalence states and
NCT Delhi.

Under this agreement financial grant of US $ 122,668,637
will be received from GFATM to establish 78 new ART centres,
including 10 centres in the corporate sector. Approximately 84.7 lakh
persons will be screened and 1.8 lakh PLHAs will be provided
treatment at the ART centres.

Facilities for CD4 testing will be made available at 188 ART centres in a phased
manner.

Medical, nursing, counselors, lab technicians and other health personnel working
in the ART centres will be trained.

The terms and conditions of the said agreement are:

(i) Funding is consistent with the funding policies that may be set
by the Global Fund Board;

(ii) No Grant fund shall be used to finance any customs duties,
tariffs, import taxes, or other similar levies and taxes associated
with the import, manufacture, or sale of products or commodities, or
the procurement of services for the programme;

(iii) The Auditor shall be the Comptroller and Auditor General of the
Government of India;

(iv) The Global Fund shall consult the Country Coordinating Mechanism
prior to selecting a new entity to serve as LFA.

(v) The Global Fund and the Principal Recipient commit to use their
best efforts to resolve any issues related to procurement under the
programme in a collaborative fashion;

(vi) The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) of the Ministry of
Health and Family Welfare will be the implementing agency for the
purposes of this Agreement.

GFATM Round IV covers 6 high prevalent States (Tamil Nadu,
Maharashtra, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur and Nagaland) and NCT
Delhi.

Under Phase I (September 2005-September, 2007) of GFATM Round
IV, 105 ART centres have been established. The total PLHAs covered
under ART in these centres were 79,390 as against target of 59,007
and 215,698 episodes of opportunistic infections were treated against
the target of 2,37,559 during Phase I.

A total of 51 health care facilities with laboratory capacity to
conduct CD4 counts have been established. 1129 services providers
including doctors, counselors, lab technicians, data entry operators
have been trained in counseling, technical and attitudinal areas.

4,068,929 persons were counseled and tested for HIV in high
prevalence States and NCT Delhi during phase I of GFATM Round IV.
Three operational research studies have also been undertaken.

This information was given by the Minister of State for Health &
Family Welfare, Smt. Panabaaka Lakshmi in a written reply to a
question in the Lok Sabha.

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=35659

Dear FORUM,

Concession for AIDS affected persons is a welcome move by Shri Lalu
Prasad. Indian Railways is running the Red Ribbon express in
collaboration with National Aids Control Organization (NACO). Taking
another step in this direction Hon. Minster announced a concession of
50% in second class passenger fares for rail travel by AIDS patients
to nominated ART centres for treatment.

I would like to congratulate the Honorable  Railway Minister, Shri
Lalu Prasad for his generous contribution to alleviate the financial
misery of the people living with HIV/AIDS. His decision is
commendable. The government of India is offering free ART. But, many
are unable to access this due to financial burden of traveling to ART
centers. Shri Lalu Prasad's Railway budget has addressed this issue.
So many more are likely to –benefit from the ART Scheme. This has
been a remarkable step taken by the Indian government. I would like
to thank the Government of India in it's continuing support for HIV
prevention care and support.

I would like to let all of you know that, the Congress Party Leader
Madam Sonia Gandhi has instructed, all the leaders of the student
wing of the Party, National Student of India (NSUI) to engage in
meaningful HIV responses.  In this context,  I would like to request
all the key players to pay additional attention to the HIV
vulnerability of young people of India.

  I hope agencies like, NACO,  US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief (PREPFAR),  Global Fund and Gates Foundation  to have programs
and resources specifically allocated to address the needs of young
people of India.

Kuntal Krishna

Spokesperson
National Student Union of India (NSUI)
National Secretariat:
5 A, Raisina Road, New Delhi - 110001.
Tele/fax : 011 - 23358686.
E-mail:       kuntalkrishna@...
Website      : www.nsui.in

Lalu plays Santa to students, women, AIDS patients

New Delhi (PTI): Railway Minister Lalu Prasad on Tuesday doled out
concessions to students, women and AIDS patients.

Railways have decided to extend free monthly season tickets for
second class travel between school and home for girl students up to
graduation and boys up to Class XII, Prasad announced in the Rail
Budget.

Earlier, this facility was available to girl students up to Class XII
and boy students up to Class X.

Prasad also announced a concession of 50 per cent in second class
passenger fares for rail travel by AIDS patients to nominated ART
centres for treatment.

Railways also increased the concession provided to woman senior
citizens in passenger fares of all classes from 30 per cent to 50 per
cent.

Prasad also announced the extension of the scheme for travel
concessions for decorated soldiers in Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.
Paramvir Chakra, Mahavir Chakra and Vir Chakra awardees are entitled
for travelling in AC-II tier along with one companion which is valid
in Rajdhani and Shatabdi trains.

http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/000200802261860.htm

Dear Forum Members,

During our project visits to Guntur District, the District Collector told us
that the District Hospital is having three orphan positive children below three
years and any organization working with the positive children want to adopt
those children, please contact Dr. P.Umadevi, Additional District Medical and
Health Officer (AIDS and Leprosy), III Floor, DM&HO Office, Collectorate Road,
Guntur - 522 004 Ph:  0863 2323213 mobile: 09849902339.

Thanking you,

Sincerely yours,

Dr.S.V.Raja, Ph.D.,
India Consultant
Elton John AIDS Foundation, UK
Mobile: 09443040631
e-mail: <mssss@...>

Experimental Anti-HIV Gel Shows Promise

New Delhi -- Experts said on Monday that they were closer to
developing a vaginal gel that will give control over sexual health
and against HIV/AIDS to women.

The study, released at scientific meeting for microbicides in Delhi,
was welcomed by those working in the HIV/AIDS field.

Microbicides are products such as gels, creams, suppositories or a
long lasting vaginal ring can be applied vaginally or anally to
prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and especially
HIV/AIDS.

At present, there is no cure or vaccine against HIV/AIDS, and
prevention of sexual transmission of the disease depends largely on
the use of condoms or abstinence.

This kind of vaginal gel will allow women to protect themselves from
the disease without having to rely on male consent to wear a condom.

"There is a need for products besides and in addition to condoms that
will prevent HIV/AIDS," said Dr. Sharon Hillier, Professor of
Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University
of Pittsburg School of Medicine.
A number of different gels are currently being tested around the
world but none have been proven to be effective and some have even
increased the risk of contracting HIV.
"There have been disappointments in the field of microbicides," Dr.
Hillier said. "But now there are encouraging studies."
This latest attempt by researchers in the United States and India is
still in the early stages.
Researchers asked 200 sexually-active, HIV-negative women in New York
and Pune, India to apply the Tenofovir gel either daily or before
intercourse for a period of six months. They were also asked to use
condoms in addition to the gel.
Tenofovir, US FDA approved drug, is marketed by Gilead Sciences under
the name Viread, an anti-retroviral drug which blocks enzymes that
are crucial to the viral production in HIV infected people.
In 2004-2005, the Cambodian government had ordered researchers to
stop a clinical trial to test Tenofovir in the form of a daily oral
pill after protests by commercial sex workers opposed the trial due
to the lack of information of the side effects and provision of
health insurance to treat those side effects post the completion of
the study.


It was found that over 80% of the women in the recently concluded
study actually did use the Tenofovir gel as directed.
The researchers found no disruption of liver, blood or kidney
function and found a significant willingness among the women to
follow the treatment guidelines.
Dr. Hillier said that 100% of the women in the clinical trial said
they would serious consider using the gel if it were approved to help
prevent HIV infection.
The UNAIDS estimates that there are 33.2 million people living with
HIV/AIDS across the world, of which over 45% are women. In high-risk
areas such as sub-Saharan Africa, over 60% of those infected are
women.

According the Indian government and UNAIDS, 2.5 million people are
infected with HIV/AIDS in India and similar to global trends, 40% of
those infected are women. HIV/AIDS is believed to be transmitted via
sexual contact in 85% of the cases in India.

At the same conference, Dr. Salim Karim from the University of
KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa said that if approved, anti-retroviral
gels can be used up to 12 hours prior to sex as a protection
mechanism against HIV/AIDS.

_______________________________________
Sonal Singh Wadhwa
MAITRI
J-92 A.R.D. Complex
R.K. Puram, Sector 13
New Delhi 110066, India
Telefax: +91-11-2412-2692
Cellphone: +91-98182-23494
email: Sonal.Singh.Wadhwa@...
Website: www.maitri.org.in
_______________________________________

Dear Sir,

I agree that this post is for HIV positive for them to employ gainfully or for
an opportunity. But, is that not injustice with the deserving qualified
professionals. If you want to run the organization properly I guess need to see
the professional training instead of the HIV status. This is will help in smooth
functioning of the project/organization.

I hope I am clear and not hurting the feeling but trying to voice my concern.
Organization needs experts and specially huge organization where, lot of burden
is on Coordinator if we find somebody sensible and professional they would be
much beneficial to the PLHA group than going for HIV status as criteria.

I apologize if I have hurt any body in this process

Regards
Yasmeen Shaikh
Chief Executive Officer
MESCO
e-mail: <yasmiins@...>

Dear FORUM,

Recently, an application under the Right to Information Act 2005 was
sought by me seeking information (Questions and answers as mentioned
is posted seperatly) from NACO concerning the interpretation by the
Indian Supreme Court to include the Right to Health to guarantee
citizen's Right to Life.

The answers itself reflects NACO's structural unequal policy and lack
of professionalism which is resulting the wastage of public funds.
Even policy makers do not bother to obey Indian Supreme Court's
interpretation for the protection of citizen's rights and to some
extent violation of RTI Act in a diplomatic way !

To

The Public Information Officer,
National AIDS Control Organization,
Ministry of Health and Family Welfare,
Government of India,
9th floor, Chandralok Building,
36, Janpath, New Delhi-110001

Subject: An Application under the Right To Information Act to seek
information concerning the interpretation by the Indian Supreme
Court to include the Right to Health to guarantee the Right to Life.

Name of Applicant: Snehansu Bhaduri (Living with HIV, on 2nd line ART
Since 2005, proof attached with this application)

Particulars of Information required:

i) Subject matter of information: Roll out of 2nd line ART by NACO in
India.

ii) The period to which the information relates: December 2007 to
February 2008

iii) Description:

I'm an HIV infected person entitled to free 2nd line Anti Retro-viral
treatment from NACO run ART centers. Under my statutory rights
provided by Right to Information Act, 2005, I seek information in
form of answers to the questions given below. These information is
sought within 48 hrs from receiving this application under the
section 7 (1) of the Right to Information Act as the information
involves issues pertaining to life saving treatments that prevents
aggravation of HIV positive person's health, therefore, concerning
the undersigned's right to life . Currently I am on 2nd line ART
supported by some private sector body, without any future treatment
guarantee. Also this situation is very common within a considerable
fraction of the society and thereby this involves the very critical
issue of life and death.

1) What is the combination of second line drugs and from
which pharmaceutical company (Including Trade Name) provided by NACO
and at what cost does NACO procure it?

Answer by NACO: The combination of 2nd line drugs under National
programme is Tenofovir + Lamivudine + Zidovudine +
Lopinavir/Ritonavir. The drugs are not purchased by NACO and are
being supplied by Clinton Foundation.

2) What is the latest number of patients that are
provided 2nd line ART from the two NACO designated Centers J.J.
Hospital, Mumbai and GHTM Tambaram ART Centers?

Ans: Presently 21 patients are receiving 2nd line ART from J.J.
Hospital, Mumbai and GHTM, Tamabaram.

3) What was the drug procurement policy for the 1st
phase roll out of 2nd line ART (apparently started in January 2008)?
Was any criteria followed in the disbursement of the same?

Ans: NACO is not procuring second line drugs presently and these
drugs are being provided by Clinton Foundation.

4)  What is the present data of people with HIV requiring
2nd line ART? Does NACO have the record of all the patients who
developed treatment failure in their ART centers? What is the head
count?

Ans: It is estimated that nearly 3% of patients(1,01,000) on ART
treatment will rwquire second line drugs at present. No records of
treatment failure are available at present.

5)  When is the 2nd phase of 2nd line roll out intended
to be started and from which ART Centers? What are the criteria of
choosing those ART centers?

Ans: The second phase of second line roll out is proposed to be
started in July 2008. However, the exact roll out will only start
based on experience gained from the first phase. New centers shall be
the ART centers with good infrastructure, trained manpower and high
adherence to first line drugs.

6) What is NACO's strategy for the provision of 2nd line
for people like me, who started 2nd line before or during the initial
stages of the roll out of 1st line by NACO to ensure concerning the
interpretation by the Indian Supreme Court to include the Right to
Health to guarantee the Right to Life of any India Citizen?

Ans: The 2nd line ART shall be provided to patients who are already
enrolled at NACO ART centers for last six months and have proven good
adherence record for first line drugs.

7) Does NACO developed operational guidelines for roll
out of second line ART? Was it developed in consultation with civil
society organization, positive networks and other bilateral and
multilateral agencies? If there are minutes of this consultation
kindly share the list of participants and a copy of this guideline?

Ans: The operational guideline for second line rollout were drafted
by technical resource group on ART consisting of ART experts from
public and private sector, NGOs, INP+, WHO, CDC and Clinton
Foundation. The guidelines are under pilot test at 2 sites and shall
be finalized based on experienced gained.

8)  How has NACO involved HIV positive people in phased
roll out of second-line treatment policy and ensured the commitment
towards Greater Involvement of People with AIDS policy as declared in
Paris AIDS Convention in 1984, to which India is a signatory?

Ans: In all consultations related to ART including second line, INP+
is a permanent invite and participated in draft of second line
guidelines.

9) Who represents PLHA communities in the National
HIV/AIDS Policy Making body? Who are the other representatives from
civil society organizations, NGOs, INGOs, and bilateral and
multilateral agensies?

Ans: The National AIDS Control Board which is APEX an HIV/AIDS Policy
Making Body has PLHA representation from INP+ and Voluntary Health
Association of India from NGO sector.

10) What are present constraints for NACO to deliver Universal
Access to Treatment for living with HIV from each district hospitals
throughout India? Dose NACO trying to explore alternate avenues to
overcome these constraints and how?

Ans: NACO is presently rolling out ART in a phased manner throughout
the country depending on relevance in the area and geographical
consideration. In addition to 250 ART centers it is planed to
operationlize 650 link ART centers also to make ART services
available nearer to patient residence.

Thanking you,

In solidarity,


Snehansu Bhaduri

Advocacy Associate
AHF India Cares.
New Delhi, India.
Phone: 9211957730(mobile)
E-mail: snehansu.bhaduri@...

Dear Friends,

In reference to the visit of Coalition for AIDS Treatment Access
(CATA) representatives at Indian Prime Minister's residence on 22nd
of Feb'08 to handover An Open Appeal to Dr. Manmohan Singh,
Honourable Prime Minister of India for Rollout of 2nd Line Anti
Retroviral Treatment in India with 10,000 signatures in favor of that
and to talk to him about CATA issues (As mentioned in the copy of
memorandum pasted below), we found his interest and assurance to take
immediate care of those issues.

At the same time, after listening to my deliberation about immediate
needs of people living with HIV, he instantly introduced me to
Principle Secretary of PMO to get in touch with me for further
communication and follow up.

This is an opportunity for the community of the people living with
HIV in India to put up immediate treatment and all the other relevant
issues to him through larger community deliberation.

Under this circumstance I would like to urge to all community members
to help and suggest me by this week to work on to take the maximum
advantage of the opted opportunity given by Honourable Prime Minister
to protect the rights of people living with HIV in India.


Thanking you,

In solidarity,


Snehansu Bhaduri

Advocacy Associate
AHF India Cares.
New Delhi, India.
Phone: 9211957730(mobile)
E-mail: snehansu.bhaduri@...

By Sonal Singh Wadhwa

New Delhi -- Experts said on Monday that they were closer to
developing a vaginal gel that will give control over sexual health
and against HIV/AIDS to women.

The study, released at the international conference on microbicides
currently being held in New Delhi, was welcomed by those working in
the HIV/AIDS field.

Microbicides are products such as gels, creams, suppositories or a
long lasting vaginal ring can be applied vaginally or anally to
prevent the spread of sexually transmitted diseases, and especially
HIV/AIDS.

At present, there is no cure or vaccine against HIV/AIDS, and
prevention of sexual transmission of the disease depends largely on
the use of condoms or abstinence.

This kind of vaginal gel will allow women to protect themselves from
HIV and other diseases without having to rely on their partner
decision to wear or not wear a condom.

"There is a need for products besides and in addition to condoms that
will prevent HIV/AIDS," said Dr. Sharon Hillier, Professor of
Obstetrics, Gynecology, and Reproductive Sciences at the University
of Pittsburg School of Medicine.

A number of different gels are currently being tested around the
world but none have been proven to be effective to preventing the
transmission of HIV.

"There have been disappointments in the field of microbicides," Dr.
Hillier said. "But now there are encouraging studies."

This latest attempt by researchers in the United States and India is
still in the early stages.

Researchers asked 200 sexually-active, HIV-negative women in New York
and Pune, India to apply the Tenofovir gel either daily or before
intercourse for a period of six months. They were also asked to use
condoms in addition to the gel.

Tenofovir, a drug approved by the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, is
marketed by Gilead Sciences under the name Viread, an anti-retroviral
drug which blocks enzymes that are crucial to the viral production in
HIV infected people.

It was found that over 80% of the women in the recently concluded
study actually did use the Tenofovir gel as directed.

In 2004-2005, the Cambodian government had ordered researchers to
stop a clinical trial to test Tenofovir after protests by commercial
sex workers who opposed the trial due to the lack of information of
the side effects and provision of health insurance to treat those
side effects post the completion of the study.

In the current study, researchers found no disruption of liver, blood
or kidney function and found a significant willingness among the
women to follow the treatment guidelines.

Dr. Hillier said that 100% of the women in the clinical trial said
they would serious consider using the gel if it were approved to help
prevent HIV infection.

The UNAIDS estimates that there are 33.2 million people living with
HIV/AIDS across the world, of which 46% are women. In high-risk areas
such as sub-Saharan Africa, over 60% of those infected are women.

According the Indian government and UNAIDS, nearly 2.5 million people
are infected with HIV/AIDS in India and similar to global trends, 40%
of those infected are women. HIV/AIDS is believed to be transmitted
via sexual contact in 85% of the cases in India.

At the same conference, Dr. Salim Karim from the University of
KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa said that if approved, anti-retroviral
gels can be used up to 12 hours prior to sex as a protection
mechanism against HIV/AIDS.
___________________
Sonal Singh Wadhwa
MAITRI
J-92 A.R.D. Complex
R.K. Puram, Sector 13
New Delhi 110066, India
Telefax: +91-11-2412-2692
Cellphone: +91-98182-23494
email: Sonal.Singh.Wadhwa@...
Website: www.maitri.org.in

The world through the eyes of a gay person

Shobha Warrier in Chennai, February 26, 2008

It was at a drive-in restaurant in Chennai that I met Sunil Menon. As
he walked towards me, I noticed people staring at him. The way he
walked, his colourful costume and the ornaments he wore attracted
their attention but he ignored them.

It is about this behaviour of the public that Menon complains
about. "Out in the open, those who do not know me treat me like
this." But to all those who know him, he is Sunil Menon, a well known
fashion designer, the man who started Sahodaran (an organisation for
MSM [men having sex with men]) and an HIV/AIDS activist. He is a gay
person.

As the curious public started at us unashamedly, we stood under a
tree and he spoke to me about his life in India as a gay person and
his journey from a zoologist to anthropologist to HIV/AIDS activist
to a fashion designer (Incidentally he designs Rose's dresses for the
talk show, Ippadikku Rose).

Childhood:
Looking back, the first time I got attracted to the male body was
when I was seven. Whenever I saw a masculine person removing his
shirt, I used to stare at him. When I stared at our servant, he
advised me not to do that as it was bad. After that, I didn't even
think about such things, and immersed myself in my studies and other
extracurricular activities.

At the age of 13, I got into a relationship with a 21 year old and it
was he who told me society was not yet ready to accept a person like
me. He also told me if people got to know about our relationship, it
would be really bad. It remained our little secret and he made me
remain stable.

When I came to realise that I was different from other men, and got
attracted to men and not women, I was extremely disturbed. The first
question that came to my mind was, why me? I wanted to live as normal
a life as everybody else, and not be ridiculed for being feminine. I
loved dancing, the performing arts, etc. When people ridiculed me, it
hurt a lot. I would rather be a normal guy.

I tried not to focus on my sexuality by studying really hard. Those
were the eighties and talking about sexuality was taboo and unheard
of.

After doing my Masters in Anthropology with a gold medal from the
Madras University, I started my PhD.

What changed my life:
While I was doing my PhD, I got a call from an anthropologist asking
me to do some work on HIV/AIDS for the World Health Organisation.
That was in 1992. My research was on a group that was hidden; it was
a network of men. I would use the acronym MSM (Men having sex with
men). After meeting them and talking to them, I realised that I was
not the only person who was like that. Till then, I hadn't come
across another gay person. I would say the work changed my life; it
was a kind of awakening for me and I got the courage to deal with my
own sexuality.

I saw these sex workers and MSM fighting against all odds all the
time and still smiling even though there was nothing to look forward
to for them. I stopped wallowing in self pity after that. I felt I
had no right to feel sorry for myself.

Family support:
My father came to know about my sexuality when one of our relatives
in Kerala [Images] blackmailed him. When he started crying, I asked
him, 'If this upsets you and you cannot accept me the way I am, I
will walk out of the family forever. But do I stop being your son?'
My sister, who is in the US, was my biggest support. I called and
told her everything, and she handled the whole thing. After that, the
topic never came up for discussion in the family.

I still feel guilty because I feel my 43-year-old sister never got
married. Because I am openly homosexual, a lot of families would not
accept my sister. But I am extremely lucky to have a sister like her.
She told me, 'I don't want a husband who can't accept my brother.' At
that moment, I felt I was really blessed.

Starting Sahodaran:
Though I started my research in 1992, I had a break in between. I had
some disagreement with the WHO group here, and I left them. I was
quite disillusioned by then.

What I had done on MSM in 1992 was pioneering work. Nobody had done
any work on them till then. In 1993, my paper was presented in Berlin
at the International HIV/AIDS conference. What I presented was an eye
opener to a lot of people. Still many people thought I was crazy.

They now realise that if you want to tackle HIV/AIDS, you have to
deal with this community. Interestingly, the latest WHO report says
MSM along with IV drug users are the most high risk group. It took
them these many years to come to this conclusion. At least I feel I
am vindicated.

From 1994-98, I explored my love for fashion. But then a friend of
mine who works for the Naz Foundation in the UK asked me, 'With your
expertise, why are you not working on HIV/AIDS? Why are you wasting
your time on fashion?'

He then asked me to run a program on MSM the way I wanted in India.
That was when I started Sahodaran.

I came up with the name Sahodaran because all of us are lonely.

Sahodaran is not just a friend or a brother to gay people but someone
they can turn to in need. It's a safe environment where they can be
themselves. They don't have to be scared of anyone when inside the
offices of Sahodaran. It's a sexual health organisation too where
mental, psychological and physical health of the members are looked
into.

There was Hum Safar in Mumbai but it targeted the upper class gay
group. But here, I work with boys who are extremely disempowered,
specifically Kothis (males who are very feminine in behaviour), a
highly vulnerable group. Most of them are sex workers.

Living as a gay person in India:
It is very difficult for a gay person to live in India. I wanted to
get out of India and live in an alien environment. After my masters,
I wanted to migrate to the US and live there. But that did not
happen. Perhaps God had different plans for me.

After Sahodaran was born, I felt I could not move from here; many
people needed me here. I also felt, who would bring about change here
if I also left my country?

Rose is lucky because she is starting her mission now but when I
started my activism way back in the nineties, it was terrible here.

Fifteen years ago, I wouldn't have been able to talk to you like
this.

I admit I have used the media to talk about sexuality, minorities and
all the issues concerning us. It is a powerful tool that can make
society realise we are also normal human beings. What I do in private
doesn't make me a bad person. My sexual preference is different but
that doesn't make me evil. I admit society has become a little more
tolerant now. Slowly there will be acceptance too. But it will take
time.

But I want the harassment to stop. From childhood onwards, I have
been teased for being feminine. It was very painful. For no fault of
mine, people called me names. I didn't know at that time why I was
called names.

I feel we should be treated with the same sensitiveness of how you
treat a differently-abled child. I feel mothers are more accepting of
the child. It's the fathers who find it difficult to accept because
they see it as a blow to their manhood and ego.

Luckily for me, I have earned a name for myself as a fashion
choreographer and designer. So, I am looked at as Sunil Menon the
fashion designer but out in the open, with those who do not know me,
it's still the same. I use fashion to work as an HIV/AIDS activist.

Moving from a zoologist to anthropologist to fashion designer to
HIV/AIDS activist was a natural process for me.

At the age of seven, nobody asked me to look at men. Obviously, I am
born this way. I do a lot of reading on the scientific aspects of why
some men are born like this. It is found that it has something to do
with the genetic make up; it can also be environmental. I do not want
to know the reasons now. If it can convince the public and the law
that we don't want to be this way, and we are born this way, life
will be a lot better. We had no choice. This is God's making.

When I look at it in a satirical way, I feel it is God's way of
controlling the population! It's a natural process of nature to
balance out!

Photograph: Sreeram Selvaraj

http://in.rediff.com/news/2008/feb/26spec.htm

Changes to the Global Fund's CCM Guidelines

At its meeting in November 2007, the Global Fund Board modified its
CCM Guidelines ("Guidelines on the Purpose, Structure, Composition
and Funding for Country Coordinating Mechanisms and Requirements for
Grant Eligibility"). The Board made three major changes or additions:

1. The Board added "key affected populations" to the list of sectors
that the Global Fund recommends be represented on CCMs (as reported
by GFO in Issue #80).

2. The Board adopted a new mechanism for funding the administrative
costs of CCMs (as reported by GFO, also in Issue #80).

3. The Board adopted new guidelines on the types of civil society and
private sector representation it believes are most relevant to the
work of CCMs.

The purpose of this article is to describe some of these
modifications in more detail, and to indicate where readers can
obtain additional information.

Note: The revised CCM Guidelines document is available in English at
www.theglobalfund.org/en/apply/mechanisms/guidelines. Versions
provided on that page in other languages do not yet reflect all the
changes discussed in this article.

Key affected populations

In the revised CCM Guidelines, the Global Fund states that "in order
to ensure vulnerable and marginalized groups are adequately
represented, the Global Fund strongly encourages CCMs to consider how
to improve the representation and participation of representatives
from such groups on the CCM, taking into account the scale of the
national epidemic of the three diseases and the key affected
populations in the national context." The CCM Guidelines cite the
following UNAIDS definition of "affected populations": "women and
girls, youth, men who have sex with men (MSM), injecting and other
drug users, sex workers, people living in poverty, prisoners, migrant
laborers, people in conflict and post-conflict situations, refugees
and internally displaced persons."

The CCM Guidelines recommend that key affected populations should be
among the non-government sectors making up at least 40 percent of the
CCM.

The CCM Guidelines do not provide any guidance with respect to how
CCMs can improve representation from key affected populations. (The
issue of how best to achieve representation from vulnerable groups is
discussed in "The Aidspan Guide to Building and Running an Effective
CCM – Second Edition," available at www.aidspan.org/guides.)

Funding for CCMs

On 21 December 2007, the Global Fund Secretariat issued a communiqué
(in English) to CCMs providing details on the new funding policy for
CCMs, and explaining how CCMs can initiate a request for funding. The
communiqué says that the Secretariat will start accepting
applications as of 1 January 2008. The text of the communiqué is
available at

www.theglobalfund.org/en/media_center/press/an_071221.asp.

The Secretariat has also prepared a CCM Funding Request Form. It is
available in the six official U.N. languages ( English, French,
Spanish, Russian, Arabic and Chinese) at

www.theglobalfund.org/en/apply/mechanisms. The Form, an Excel file,
includes a section for the CCM to provide details on the CCM funding
budget. Finally, the Secretariat has prepared guidelines on the new
CCM funding policy. English, Spanish, Russian and Arabic versions of
the guidelines are available at

www.theglobalfund.org/en/apply/mechanisms; versions in French and
Chinese are expected to be posted on the same site shortly.

Guidelines on Civil Society and Private Sector Representation

The English version of the revised CCM Guidelines document contains
an annex entitled "Guidelines on Types of Civil Society and Private
Sector Representation Most Relevant to the Work of CCMs"

(hereinafter "Representation Guidelines"). The Global Fund says that
the Representation Guidelines "are intended to provide guidance for
CCMs wishing to strengthen and/or improve" representation from these
sectors, particularly in light of the CCMs' roles in proposal
development and grant oversight.

The Representation Guidelines contain lists of the types of
representation from civil society and the private sector that the
Global Fund suggests be included on CCMs. The list for civil society
representatives is as follows:
•vulnerable groups/key populations
•women's organisations
•children and young people
•international NGOs working in the three diseases
•experienced national NGOs working in the three diseases
•religious and faith-based groups
•academia

The list for private sector representatives is as follows:
• large for-profit companies with a proven commitment to fight the
three diseases
• organisations representing small- and mid-sized enterprises and the
informal sector
•business associations to fight HIV/AIDS, TB and malaria
•representatives from exposed industries
•private practitioners and for-profit clinics
•charitable foundations established by corporations

The lists are not meant to be exhaustive.

The Representation Guidelines provide a rationale for including each
type of representation on the lists. For example, for women's
organisations, the Guidelines state that "women and young girls are
often most affected by the three diseases and are particularly
vulnerable due to physiological as well as socio-economic factors. It
is important that women's organizations, as well as other
organizations representing the concerns of women, are well-
represented on CCMs to ensure that programmatic issues relating to
gender are reflected in proposals to the Global Fund."

Reproduced from the Global Fund Observer Newsletter
(www.aidspan.org/gfo), a service of Aidspan.

Dear Forum Members,

With NACO and SACS all over India speaking about involving greater
number of Positive people in planning, decision making and also giving
them opportunities of employment which helps reinforce their economic
independence we can say that things are begining to look up for the
positive community.

But have we in this context forgotten on have not given due importance
to other vulnerable communities for whom the risk of HIV/AIDS and
other Sexually Transmitted Diseases looms large.

With HIV and STIs spreading at a rapid rate among the MSM/ Kothi
community indicating that the current prevention and awareness
measures to reach out to this section of the vulnerable population is
still understated and largely ineffective.

Then would things change if we begin to appoint qualified and
experienced members of this community as counsellors, Yes i am sure it
would and hope that many of you too agree with me. When we can relax
appointment procedures for PLHAs, then why can we not do the same for
this community also, especially since it is in the government mandate.

Regards,
Yashi.
e-mail: <yashi_edna@...>

MEMORANDUM RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED TO   THE HONORABLE PRIME MINISTER OF INDIA,  
DR.MANMOHAN SINGH ON THE 22ND FEBRUARY 2008 NEW DELHI
BY COALITION FOR AIDS TREATMENT ACCESS (CATA) AND HIVAIDS ACTIVISTS IN INDIA.

The Coalition for AIDS Treatment Access lauds your   landmark decision to take
on the responsibility to Chair the   National AIDS Council (NAC) in 2006, the
highest   authority to address HIVAIDS in our country. The NAC   gave new hope
to the millions of people living HIVAIDS   and to the general population of
India

In recognition of the positive initiatives that you have   created to support
and assist people living with HIVAIDS   in India. We appeal to your good office
to consider the   following vital issues that require your leadership
intervention:

Whereas, HIVAIDS is a preventable disease, we call for revitalized prevention
campaigns that will reach communities at risk and will stop the transmission of
the deadly virus.

Whereas, it is unknown how many people in India are currently HIV positive and
in need of Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) care and support. We call for free
universal access to treatment for all and accessible HIV testing services that
will reach all of the communities including rural India.

Whereas, first line Anti-retroviral therapy (ART) is failing and clients are
increasingly facing resistance nationally. We call for unlimited provision and
availability of life saving second line Anti-retroviral therapy for all needing
second line drugs.

Whereas, women and children are the most at risk to HIVAIDS. We call for an
increase in access to Antiretroviral therapy (ART) treatment centers especially
in rural areas as well as - women specific and pediatric treatment centers.

Whereas, stigma and discrimination of people living with HIVAIDS continues to
exist especially in healthcare delivery system when related medical and surgical
interventions are required. We call upon your office to intervene to reduce
denial of services on the above
grounds.

Whereas, there is a pending HIVAIDS bill in the Parliament to safe guard and
protect the right of people living with HIVAIDS in India. We need your office to
intervene in passing the bill at the earliest.

Whereas, an acute need exists for a grievance redressal mechanism for the people
living with HIVAIDS in India.

We call upon you to establish a mechanism to bring together government and civil
societies including people living with HIVAIDS to address such issues.

Whereas, the HIV epidemic in India require multidisciplinary  intervention
efforts from various ministries and departments. We call for a de-centralized
approach to  increase responsibility in addressing HIVAIDS prevention, 
education, treatment, care and support.

Whereas, the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) is responsible for the
provision of appropriate HIVAIDS prevention, treatment, care and support
services.

We call upon your office to make NACO more accountable, transparent and more
people friendly in providing comprehensive prevention, treatment in India.

We appeal to you for your immediate intervention leadership and support.

Respectfully submitted by:


Coalition for Treatment Access (CATA)
Secretariat Office: S 7 Panchsheel Park, New Delhi
110017Telephone: (011) 41745541/42 Fax: 41745543
Mobile: 9911331998
(CATA Convener - Dr. Mahesh Ganesan)
e-mail: Cata.india@...

CATA MEMBER ORGANISATIONS:

AIDS Healthcare Foundation – India Cares
Students Global AIDS Campaign
World Vision
UDAAN
Bharat Uday Mission
Youth For Justice
OPNP+
Love Life Society
ACCAD
NIPASHA
Amnesty International India
Naz Foundation International
Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement (SVYM)
AIDS INDIA e_FORUM
Positive Lives Foundation
Centre for Legislative Research and Advocacy
Gwalior Children Hospital, Snehalaya
Project Concern International
EFICOR
Indian Medical Parliamentarian Forum (IMPF)
Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+)
Maharashtra Positive Network (MPN+)
Humana People to People India
SEVA
Saubhagya
UPNP+
CCBOS
Kahchh NP+
Pehel – A Jagran Social Initiative
Aligarh Positive People Welfare Society
Rajasthan PWN+
Jagriti HIV/AIDS Organization
Trinity Healthcare Charitable Trust
Rotract RI 3010
Baanyan Tree Productions
Aadhar
Gwalior Catholic Seva Samaj
India HIV/AIDS Alliance: Andhra Pradesh
Jeevan Sagar Trust, Bangalore
Citizens Foundation

Dear Sir,

Re: http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/AIDS-INDIA/message/8474

Greeting from Mr. Elango, KNP+ Bangalore

I saw the Add in the News Paper, The Times of India & Kannada Prabha dated on
8th feb 2008 in Bangalore, there is an vacancy of GIPA Coordinator & PLHA
Coordinator. According to NACO guidelines these two vacancies reserved for
people living with HIV to reach the community.

Since it is an Add in the paper & many of our PLHA’s are not aware of this
vacancy & even though the people are completed the Degree & having HIV status
they are not ready to apply due to stigma.

The last of applying for the following post is on 27th of Feb 2008. In case
KASAP not able to get the right candidate to the following post, our
organization KNP+ is  working more than 10 years in Karnataka & also trained
many of the degree holders with HIV Status,  we are ready to help you to
referring the people through our KNP+ .

We believe the above said positions are given to Right PLHA’s candicate, not for
other HIV negative people. This is for your Kind information


Regards,
Elango. R
Advisory to INP & KNP+
Cell: 9448060409
Elango Ramachandar <elangoraam@...>

Dear All,

We have several reports about the lack of any ready
candidate microbicide readily available as a part of
the new preventive strategy/methodology including the
latest press report as follows.It necessitates the
need to share the observations,deliberations and
recommendations of the very useful conference which
many of us are unable to participate in person due to
varied reasons:-

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@...>

[This is a very significant news. Thanks Anindya for posting this message.
Editor]
______________________________
Centre asks states to give condoms to prisoners
Rajib Chatterjee

KOLKATA, Feb. 23: The Union home ministry has requested directors-general
(prison) of all states to distribute condoms among HIV-infected inmates of major
correctional homes to stop the growth of HIV population in correctional homes.
The Centre has observed that “close physical proximity” of the inmates and
homosexual activities among them have made some jail inmates vulnerable to HIV.

The Centre has written a letter (Number: F.N. 17013/24/2007-PR), to
directors-general of prison of all states recently in this regard.

The letter, which is available with The Statesman, reads: “The prevalence of HIV
within prisons is usually several times than that in the outside world.”

The letter further reads: “It is requested that all prison inmates be provided
access to primary prevention services. It is also requested that counselling and
testing centres be set up with the support of State Aids Control Societies in
major prisons like central jails.

Condoms may be distributed among the inmates.” The order was issued by the
director (CS-II), Mrs Rita Acharya.

A senior state jail department official said, 16 out of 977 inmates of
Presidency correctional home have been tested positive for HIV in the past 11
months. The percentage of HIV population in Presidency correctional home (2%) is
higher than the world’s average HIV population (0.04 %), he said. He added,
voluntary testing and counselling centres would be set up at Dum Dum
correctional home and Alipur central jail next month.

The letter states:
“Prisons have a number of characteristics, which are conducive to the spread of
Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV infections. It happens due to low
awareness levels on STIs , HIV/AIDS, lack of access to preventive practices,
overcrowding, poor sanitation conditions, close proximity of the inmates,
loneliness, lack of social control, lack of entertainment.” The letter mentioned
that several jail inmates have developed homosexuality for staying away from
families for a longer time.

“The prison population is inherently dynamic with releases, admissions and
transfer (of inmates) occurring regularly. The vulnerability of (HIV) population
can be prevented through awareness,” the letter states. The Union home ministry
officials feel that the measures such as setting up “counselling and testing
services” in correctional homes will help in “bringing about a behaviour change
among prison inmates”.

The Centre has requested the state governments to give proper care and special
treatment to HIV infected inmates at correctional homes in order to stop the
disease from spreading to other prisoners. It also requested the states to train
prison personnel on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS and organise workshops
with the help of the State Aids Control Societies.

(Sunday Statesman, The, Kolkata Edition, February 24, 2007)
http://www.thestatesman.net/page.arcview.php?date=2008-02-24&usrsess=1&clid=1&id\
=218949

Anindya Hajra
<anindyahajra@...>