We the People in India:Working Together Works - Break the Silence on HIV/AIDS.

[Guest guest]

Greetings to all,

National Leadership and Indian initiative on HIV/AIDS - Political and

Policymakers Action on AIDS is a guiding force to all of us - Citizen of India,

to make it a mission:

We the People in India......Break the Silence on HIV/AIDS

a.. Describing the AIDS epidemic as a grave challenge, our Honorable Prime

Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee called on the affected states to wage a " JOINT

WAR AGAINST AIDS EPIDEMIC " , Including an intensified prevention drive and youth

education programs. The Times of India coverage on 2th May, 2001 refers.

b.. Indian Draft Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS to the UNGASS in 2001.

a.. The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India Policy

papers:

- Developed National Health Policy 2001 (NHP-2001),

- Developed The National AIDS Policy by the National AIDS Control

Organisation (NACO).

a.. Delhi Declaration: Evolved a Declaration of Parliamentarians Commitment

towards A WORLD WITHOUT AIDS, at the International Policymakers Conference on

HIV/AIDS held in New Delhi on May 2002.

a.. and towards " Prevention Strategies for the 21st Century " , an offer of our

Hon.ble Health Minister, Mr. Shatrughan Sinha, to host the " XVI International

AIDS Conference in Delhi in 2006 " , is a bold step of Indian Commitment to

combat the spread oh HIV/AIDS in India. Also proposed to convene a " Indian

Special Session of Parliament on HIV/AIDS " . Rotary since committed to " Working

with New Generations for a Safer World " , are proud of such political leadership

and dedication.

National Gains, a review: If this Conference is awarded to India, we are sure,

our gain towards combat the spread of HIV/AIDS in India would be in multifold:

1. " Bridge the Gap " between the Political Leaders / Government /

Parliamentarians and NGOs /

Civil Societies " grass roots " level leaders, to uphold their Commitment

and Declarations

on HIV/AIDS.

2. " Create a Strong National Harmony " for close networking and for an action

" War foot based

attention to fight against AIDS epidemic in India " creating spontaneous

all out public

awareness : " We the People in India......Break the Silence on HIV/AIDS " .

- During the preparatory period (2002-2004: the national initiative shall

attempt to catch -up the

root cause of spreads and prevention, increase in the Health budget,

etc.),

- Pre-hosting period of two years (2004-2006 - considering as the

post-initial period of the AIDS

epidemic in India), gain the momentum to Break the Silence in every walk of

the leadership and

attain tremendous positive response in the struggle of combating the

spread of HIV/AIDS.

Encourage every Citizen of India to reach out to every corner of India,

from urban to rural to

creating grass-roots level awareness on HIV/AIDS - a major step towards

prevention strategy

on HIV/AIDS.

- " Live Wire Connection and Talk of the Town - HIV/AIDS threats and review of

the Break the Silence " (Host year 2006), make every Citizen of World to

look at India,

to learn model programs embarked on the eradication of HIV/AIDS in India,

and review " Global

Crisis-Global Action: Break the Silence " the Declaration of the UNGASS on

HIV/AIDS.

- " Lessons for a Safer World " , India will demonstrate good example of

awareness and

prevention strategies on HIV/AIDS to the rest of the world.

Learning Curve and Country benefits: In recent years, though such events are

hosted by effected countries for direct global knowledge transferency and

sharing the country experience, the host country is always a major beneficiary

to creating a wider knowledge bank for education and prevention strategies. Such

beneficiaries are : South Africa: Durban 2000; Spain: Barcelona- 2004 ; and

Thailand: Bangkok - 2004. Why not India ?

In this response, HIV/AIDS Task Force, Rotary International D 3140, while on

their " Commitment to Action -Break the Silence on HIV/AIDS " , and to encourage

leaders of Rotary International as well as Rotarians at the grass roots level,

complimenting the leadership qualities and extend our fullest grass roots level

support to our Hon' ble Health Minister, Mr. Shatrughan Sinha and the Ministry

of Health and Family Welfare, and to National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO)

for our gainful national achievement.

Under Rotary-UN Partnership Programs, to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS and its

epidemic effect in India, Rotary Mission on HIV/AIDS is to encourage the

leaders of Rotary International as well as Rotarians at the 'grass roots' level

to :

a.. Working with New Generations for a Safer World.

b.. Break the Silence on HIV/AIDS.

c.. ILO Code of Practice on HIV/AIDS and the World of Work

d.. Working with PLWHAs and forging grass roots level Partnerships for

prevention strategies to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS.

We honor the inspiration from international leadership:

1. U.N. Secretary-General Kofi n: ``The Declaration of Commitment on

HIV/AIDS - Break

the Silence, is a blueprint from which the whole of humanity can work in

building a global

response to a truly global challenge.''

2. Mark Mallock Brown, Administrator, UNDP, NY: AIDS is devastating in terms

of creating and

deepening poverty, reversing achievements in education, and diverting

meager health budgets

away from other priorities. And by cutting deep into all sectors of

Society, HIV/AIDS undermines

vital economic growth -perhaps reducing future GDP in Africa by a third

over the next 20 years.

Moreover, by putting huge additional demand on already weak, hard to

access, public services it

is setting uo the terms of a desperate conflict over inadequate resources "

3. Dr. Piot, Executive Director, UNAIDS, Geneva: 'AIDS has become a

permanent

challenge to humanity and solidarity, let us take up this challenge and

work in unity towards a

safer world " .

4. Mr. Somavia, Director General, ILO, Geneva: " AIDS has a profound

impact on

workers and their families and national economies. It is a Workplace

issue and a Development

Challenge " .

5. Former South African President Mandela: " AIDS is a war against

Humanity..... "

and many more.....

" Break the Silence on HIV/AIDS " ,

remember the World AIDS Campaign for 2002-2003; on Stigma and Discrimination:

" Live and Let Live "

HIV/AIDS Task Force RID 3140 " from Commitment to Action - Break the Silence on

HIV/AIDS " is in action in 32 Rotary Districts in Rotary International Zone V

and VI-A (South Asia).

Rotary program to install 1000 + Condom Vending Machines (CVMs) in India:

Rotary initiative on HIV/AIDS is on a long-term operational and prevention

program - Reaching out to thousands through Condom Vending Machines (CVMs) in

Metros and Major Cities. Aiming to provid a Happy and Healthy Family Life,

Prevention from HIV/AIDS and Population Control have initiated to installing 100

+ CVMs in Mumbai in the first phase, and 1,000+ in all over India during Rotary

year 2002-2003.

Partnerships Invitation under " We the People of India....Break the Silence on

HIV/AIDS : Rotary believe in " Working Together Works " , and invite International

Development Organisations, Private and Corporate Sector, Foundations and

Charitable Trust to make it a reachable prevention program and help protect our

YOUTH and WORKFORCE from the HIV/AIDS infections and its spread.

Project Mission:

Reaching out to over thousands of target beneficiaries per month through per

installed CVM to bring home the Triple benefits: Prevention from HIV/AIDS,

Healthy and Happy Family Life and Population Control.

The Merits of the Project:

1.. Long term operational and visible Community Service program and Rotary

initiative to " Break the Silence on HIV/AIDS " , by reaching out to over 1,000

target beneficiaries per month through per installed CVM, achieving Triple

Goals:

- Prevention from HIV/AIDS,

- Healthy and Happy Family Life and

- Population Control.

Social Marketing of Condoms for public Health and Welfare.

2.. Contribution to the National Health and Welfare Program, reaching out to

people and show Rotary Cares.. " Sow the Seeds of Love " .

3.. Income generating scheme to CVM Care Takers - Handicapped / Blind STD

Booths, Sulabh Souchalaya, Shop Owners, etc, at 30 % share of the sale of

Condoms and making them partners of Social Service.

4.. Service to Communities like: Industrial and Transport Workers and Target

beneficiaries installing CVMs at Petrol Pumps, Industrial Estates, BEST Depots.,

Educational Centers, STD booths, Sulabh Souchalayas, Octoi Points, Public

Places, Market Places, Hutment Areas, etc.

Project Cost :

PRICE of Condom Vending Machine (CVM): Dynavend Condom Vending Machine - Model

RDK -50/C, available to Rotary at a special price at Rs. 11,000 each, based on

the quantity negotiation for 100 CVMs. Dynavend CVMs are manufactured under

United States Agency for International Development (USAID) grant, under the

Program of Advancement of Commercial Technologies / Child and Reproductive

Health (PACT/CRH) Project.

ROTARY SUPPORT PACKAGE for ready installations:

HIV/AIDS Awareness Task Force, RID 3140 and RRR Industries (a SMI leader of

business initiative on HIV/AIDS) shall jointly coordinate to supply followings

under support package against every purchase order to Rotary Clubs :

a.. CVMs shall have printing of Rotary and CVM Sponsoring Partner logo and

Red Ribbon -Break the Silence.

b.. A standard printed HIV/AIDS Massage Sign Board (size: 3.00 X 2.00 feet),

c.. A set of Break the Silence Car Stickers, and

d.. A set of FAQ on HIV/AIDS in English and Hindi.

e.. A free maintenance and servicing support through a NGO - Aditi

International / FPAI.

f.. Supplies of Condoms at Government subsidized price.

CONDOM AND SUPPLY MANAGEMENT:

a.. " SANGAM " brand Government of India approved, mfg. by Hindustan Latex

Limited, marketed by Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) a pack of Two

Condoms available at Rs. 1.40 for Social Marketing.

b.. Cost of Condoms to Public: A Condom packet containing two condoms in each,

are dispensable from CVMs by insertion of two One Rupee Coins (at subsidized

price of Rs. 2.00) for Public.

c.. Income generation to CVM Care Taker: Out of Rs. 2.00 per packet of

Condoms, Rs. 0.60 will go to the CVM Care Taker as his income to maintain the

regular feeding of Condoms into CVMs. Balance Rs. 1.40 will go to FPAI / Aditi

International to procure Condoms for circulation.

d.. Condoms Supply: Condoms could be collected on payment at Rs. 1.40 per

packet basis from FPAI, Mumbai / Aditi International, Thane / RRR Industries (a

SMI LEADER of business initative on HIV/AIDS), Saki Naka, Mumbai, whichever is

convenient to Partners and to CVM Care Takers.

e.. Assigned Local Rotary Club will take care and provide direct support to

CVM Care Taker and lookafter its operational effectiveness.

PARTNERSHIP ARRANGEMENT AND PAYMENT:

Partner Organisations are requested to contact the undersigned for a contract

and make payment favouring to " HIV/AIDS TASK FORCE RID 3140 -CVM PROGRAM " .

Kindly read and forward the same to other Partner Organisations to act on " We

the People in India.......Break the Silence on HIV/AIDS " .

" Working Together Works " . Best Regards. Ganesh.

Dr. Ganesh P. Rane.

A/109, Ansa Indl. Estate,

Saki-Vihar Road, Mumbai 400 072 . India.

Tel.: 91-22-8521974 / 8526685;

Fax.: 91-22-692 5178 / 6312814.

e-mail.: drrane@...

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