Brief Report of First State Level PLHA Conference in Maharashtra.

[Guest guest]

Dear friends,

We are happy to inform you that the First State Level PLHA conference (23rd &

24th August 2003) at Pune, organized by UDAAN+ and NMP+ was a grand success. We

expected around 100-125 PLHAs from diff. Districts of Maharashtra but 175 PLHAs

participated.

Mr. Eknathraoji Gaikwad - State Minister, Public Health and Family Welfare,

Maharashtra, inaugurated the conference by lighting the lamp, followed by a

strong community supportive speech in which he also much appreciated the work

being carried out by UDAAN+ and NMP+ and assured of providing support to PLHAs

whenever needed.

Other Inaugural Speakers were:

Mr. Naveen Kumar – Principal Secretary, Public Health, Dr. Subhash Salunkhe –

Director General of Health Services (Govt. of Maha.)

Mr. Abraham Kurien, President (INP+)

Mr. Mahesh Jadhav, President (Udaan+)

Mr. Manoj Pardesi, General Secretary (NMP+)

Mr. Pratik Kumar, Deputy Director – IEC (NACO), Mr. Hari Mohan (Asso.-

NACO-UNDP).

Dr. Sanjay Sawant, Project Director (MSACS), Dr. Subhash Dodwad, Addl. Project

Director (MSACS), Dr. Alka Gogate, Project Director (MDACS), Mr. Vaidyanathan –

Project Director (AVERT Society).

Mr. Aseem Gupta - Commissioner (Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation), Mr.

Prakash Rawale - Mayor (Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation),

Speakers – Topic wise

GIPA & MSACS - Dr. Subhash Dodwad, A.P.D. (MSACS)

DIC/CCC - Dr. V.L. Kulkarni, Asst. Director

(MSACS)

VCTC & PPTCT - Dr. Tripathi, Asst. Director (MSACS)

Conducted Workshops on the following topics:

Basics - HIV/AIDS - Dr. R.R. Gangakhedkar (NARI)

Life After Infection - INP+

Importance of SHG - Vijay Nair (Udaan+) & Manoj Pardesi (NMP+) &

Ashay Kurnurkar (PPF)

ART & OIs - Dr. Sanjay Poojari

Vaccine/Research - Dr. Paranjpe (NARI)

Pediatric Aids - Dr. Mrudula Phadke

Home Based Care - Dr. Gore (PATHWAY)

It was indeed a great experience for PLHAs coming from different parts of

Maharashtra. Participants requested the organizers to arrange for another such

conference so that people attend the same in numbers and cater to the needs of

People Living with HIV/AIDS at all levels, especially those at the villages.

Our special thanks to Dr. Sanjay Sawant, Project Director, MSACS, without his

help this conference was impossible.

A detailed report on this conference will be released soon.

Thanks and regards,

Vijay Nair

E-mail: <udaanpanchis@...>