Re: Mapping of Vulnerable Groups in Manipur

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

It's been a while since I posted a message on this list server, so in a sense

pardon me if some of my comments have been already addressed.

While I commend Mr. Singh, MSACS and others for taking up a mapping exercise in

Manipur. I wonder as to what kind of actual impact this will have on

conceptualization, programme design and implementation in Manipur or any other

State. I also see huge gaps between Policy / Guidelines/ and implementation. I

say this from the experience of many such initiatives from the other states and

NGO's in the country. All state SACS basically follow the guidelines of the

National Aids Programme designed and facilitated by NACO. (I do not see the same

kind of pro-activeness or urgency that was briefly there a couple of year's

back.)

I see very few states (SACS) suggesting and advocating for change based on

findings of mapping exercises. There are states that have been front runners on

interventions, who have done these similar exercises. The only relevance that I

have seen has been in terms of sentinel surveillance wherein prevalence in

certain communities have been highlighted. Also many of these studies are

outdated and have no relevance to the impact of the epidemic in the present

context.

Manipur has an advantage to learn from these experiences and to ensure that

leadership and advocacy prevail in bringing about necessary change.

Finally I my experience of working in the field for the last sixteen odd years,

my biggest concern on Targeted Interventions has been the unintended prize we

have paid and continue to pay in terms of increasing Denial, Stigma, and Fear of

the same communities that we continue to Target. My biggest concern has been

that we are dealing with a generalized epidemic, there are far too many so

called communities where prevalence rates of infected and affected are soaring,

but do not figure in the " Target List " . This has already been the experience of

many North Eastern States apart from other states in the country.

Regards

Ashok Rau

Executive Trustee/CEO

Freedom Foundation-India

180, Hennur Cross, Hennur Main Road,

Bangalore-560 043. India

Phone-0091 80 5440134,5443114(Dir) 5449766, Mobile-98452 47616

Fax-0091 80 5449766(Tele Fax) 5294651

E-mail: ashokrau@...

[Guest guest]

Dear all,

I worked at the ground level for HIV/AIDS and drug related issues for quite

sometime before becoming a feature writer on the issue for a newspaper. This is

my first posting to the forum and I hope that other forum members contribute to

the discussion on the so called mapping exercise that is to be carried out in

Manipur.

I would like to add on to Mr. Birendra Singh’s posting and Mr Ashok Rau’s

comments: is a mapping exercise relevant right now….after various targeted

interventions are already in play. More pertinent is the question of whether it

is just a way of spending money: is it going to be cost effective. My

experiences in the field and my understanding of the situation is that NGO’s

implementing programs/projects have their own grasp of the subject including

their perception of “vulnerable population”.

Another point: What is meant here by the word “vulnerable population”…especially

in context to Manipur: For eg: we do not have street children

here..we do not have red light areas though we have sex workers operating on a

mobile basis…what of the rural and hill areas?

I hope that NGO’s will discuss the issue before going forth with the venture

which could well turn the issue of HIV/AIDS on its head.

Chitra Ahanthem

Feature writer (HIV/AIDS)

Imphal Free Press

Palace Gate, Imphal

Manipur – 795001

Phone no. 0385-2441705(o) – 2225108 ®

E-mail:chitrahanthem@...

________________________

[Hope you must have reviewed the Manipur State HIV project implementation plan.

If you are interested to receive a copy of the Project Implementation Plan

Of National AIDS Control Programme, Manipur, 1999 – 2004. MANIPUR STATE AIDS

CONTROL SOCIETY please contact the moderator]

Particulars of the Project Implementation Plan

1. Block-1 : Project Description 1

2. Block-2 : Project Rationale 14

3. Block-3 : Implementation Plan 16

4. Block-4 : Monitoring and Evaluation 19

5. Key Indicators to be used 20

6. Appendix-I : Component-wise Activities 1

7. Appendix-II : Roles and Responsibilities of the Manipur State AIDS Control

Society 33

8. Appendix-III : Roles and Responsibilities of the major participating

agencies. 34

9. Appendix-I : Component-wise and year-Wise fund allocation during 1999-2004.

36

10. Appendix-V : Training Needs Assessment 66

11. Appendix-VI : Completion Rates 75

12. Appendix-VII : List of Works to be completed 80

13. Appendix-VIII : Estimates of Bid Packages 100

14. Appendix-IX : Procurement Schedules 103

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

Mapping of Vulnerable Groups in Manipur could be a good exercise to uncover the

gaps left so far. My experience with Manipur has been, we have given more than

90% of our thrust to programming towards prevention of HIV through injecting

drug use. In the process probably, the sexual route of transmission has been

missed. Currently, the epidemic has become generalized. There is a need for

intensifying the general community programmes along with the TIs.

Dr Ashok Kumar Agarwal, MBBS,MD

108, Rastraguru Avenue,

Nager Bazar, Kolkata -700028, India

E-mail: <drashok_1963@...>

Dear Members,

______________________________

Dear Forum,

It is a welcoming step that such a thing is going to take place for the state,

however the concern is what would be the real impact of such a finding

(mapping), who and how is it going to be done, who are the vulnerable groups in

the state, will the finding give an impact to the present policy and program

implementation. Is'nt it high time that we start giving proper attention to

those who need care and support. If the finding is going to lead to such a

thing than we should be all out for it. Otherwise we better invest the resources

in supporting those who need it cause today everyone knows whether official or

unofficial the magnitude of the problem in the state of Manipur.

regards.

Anand

Kripa Foundation

E-mail: <chanand43@...>

__________________________________

Lamabam and others from Manipur,

Let me offer some comments for the effective targetting of HIV-BBV infected or

affected residents of Manipur.

Fund a testing centre, equip it with trained counsellors most of whom should be

+ve people skilled enough and trained well enough to cope and provide ART's to

those that need them.

If this is done properly and without discrimination and stigma eventually you

will find them all once trust is obtained and ensure that those that need care

will be afforded it and those that are apparently well but likely to be highly

probable to be vectors of the virus can learn some behaviour change techniques

to avoid further spread of the virus.

While you are doing that you could also train some of your influential law

enforcement officers in the area of harm minmisation best practice using the

many examples from India and overseas. Only then will the problematic guess work

cease and some headway be made.

Please don't accept the excuse that this process is unaffordable. India in

general and Manipur in particular cannot afford the alternatives.

I am not saying that the infection process will suddenly cease but it will

delivery the best option for braking the pandemic and ensure better targetting

of interventions. The biggest problem will not be cost it will be establishing

trust for those whose route of sero-conversion and transmission most likely

involves illegal behaviours.

Geoffrey

E-mail: <gheaviside@...>