Elected Leaders Forum against HIV/ AIDS in Vasai

[Guest guest]

VASAI Shows the Way: Vasai Region AIDS Control Society VRACS

Responds to the call of the Prime Minister of the Nation Elected Leaders Forum

against HIV/ AIDS in Vasai ELFA On the 14th of Aug. The Eve of Indian

Independence Under the leadership of Shree Hitendra Thakur

Member of legislative assembly, Vasai Assembly Constituency

Background: At the end of 2002, the estimated HIV infected population in India

is at 4.58 million; a significant leap from the 3.97 million in 2001. Of this

61.5% are males. Pregnant women account for a full 1 percent of the infected

population, a clear indication of the movement of the epidemic into the general

population.

New Delhi, In response to the need for urgent action against HIV/AIDS the

Parliamentary Forum on HIV/AIDS organized the first-ever National Convention for

elected representatives in New Delhi from 26-27 July. The Convention was

inaugurated by Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee and has brought together

over 500 political leaders from across the country, including ministers,

parliamentarians, legislators, and mayors.

" This Convention is a historic event, " said Dr Piot. " Never before, in any

nation of the world, has there been such a large and committed gathering of

leaders from every level of decision-making, dedicated to the common cause of

fighting AIDS. " Political leadership is a vital tool in turning back the

epidemic. By holding the Convention, India has become a model for other nations

in the region,

The Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee called upon elected representatives

to generate strong political will to combat HIV/AIDS and carry this message from

national and state levels to district and village levels. The Prime Minister

said that the fight against HIV/AIDS requires greater political commitment and

requires leadership that is ready to go to heart of the problem and even go

against the stream of public opinion. In his inaugural speech on the occasion

here today, Shri Vajpayee stressed the need for a solid partnership between all

sections of society, including the political establishment.

The Background of VRACS: VRACS is a sole private sector modeled project of

collaboration between Kripa Foundation, India and CHART-INDIA, An Indo American

initiative of the University of South Florida. It is a comprehensive

clinico-community project based on a Model of being a " NICE PROGRAM FOR SMART

SERVICE " (Networked Initiatives by Community Empowerment Program For

Surveillance, & Management of cases along with, Awareness, Research and

Treatment Service).

Vision and Mission Statement: VRACS attempts to visualize Vasai as a controlled

zone for HIV and co-infection. This model attempts at implementing various

public health projects by networking to care and control this epidemic by

community empowerment. VRACS sees itself to be a nationally replicable model in

the private sector with a large community participating base, which supports

this integrated Clinico-Community system.

Goals and Objectives

· To create an integrated and comprehensive Clinico-Community program.

· To maintain this system by community empowerment and participation.

· To diagnose via a properly Counseled and Confidential system.

· To create a continuous awareness program for clinicians and community which is

run by both the clinicians and the community.

· To create a Clinical Care Center for treating and caring for patients with HIV

and Infections. This will offer coordinated care and specialized care if needed.

·To create surveillance systems, which monitors the changing trends in the

epidemic and acts as a national indicator for the disease.

· To develop a prevention and care initiative for children

· To include research into every project it undertakes either on social or on

the clinical front.

Why Vasai?: Some of the salient features supporting the need in Vasai are-

a. Vasai lies in Thane district, which is a declared a high prevalence zone for

HIV in Maharashtra.

b. There is lack of initiatives in this zone to tackle HIV / AIDS.

c. There is no surveillance of Infectious diseases like HIV /AIDS.

d. There is a lack of knowledge about caring for HIV Positives.

e. There is no care and support for women and children with HIV.

f. The public is grossly unaware and misinformed.

g. Clinical knowledge is efficiently lacking for treating HIV positive subjects.

h. The public sector hardly participates in any public health projects.

i. There are a growing number of colleges and so inadvertently the numbers of

educated youth are also increasing thus sighting an increased need for awareness

and a greater chance of success with any awareness project.

j. There are large populations of medical Practitioners who are a part of the

local chapter of the Indian Medical association (IMA).

k.. This clinical population does come across HIV positive individuals on a

routine basis, however lacks the training and capacity to provide care and

support.

l. There is considerable prevalence of high-risk behaviors specially that of

alcohol consumption and commercial sex work.

m. There is no other organization in the region specifically dealing with HIV

and related issues.

Ms. Tasneem Raja

Project Director

VRACS: Kripa Foundation

E-mail: <tasraja@...>