HIV positive people as AIDS policymakers

[Guest guest]

HIV positive people as AIDS policymakers

8-March-2004

Kolkata, India may soon involve people suffering from HIV in government

programmes to fight AIDS to make such policies more effective. AIDS activists

are hailing the step as a major social victory as the authorities recognise " the

need for involving people for whom the policies are meant " .

" We were asked to suggest a framework for involvement of people living with

HIV/AIDS in policy formulation. We submitted our proposal in December, " K.K.

Abraham, president of the Indian Network for People Living With HIV/AIDS (INP+),

told IANS.

The proposal was submitted to the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) that

will discuss the matter with the federal health authorities.

We expect a decision to be taken within two months, " Abraham said. INP+ and

other voluntary organisations working in the health sector had been demanding

the inclusion of people with HIV/AIDS into policymaking bodies

This is necessary to understand the needs of people with HIV/AIDS and make the

programmes more effective, " Abraham said. " We have to understand that care and

support and treatment are as important as anything else in stopping infection, "

he said.

People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) met in the city for a conference on

developing and strengthening the leadership and capabilities of PLWHA.

" The programme is unique in that it looks to generate possibilities and

capabilities of the PLWHA movement, " Abraham said.

The one-year leadership programme that began in May last year resulted in

several breakthrough initiatives such as the formation and registration of

district-level networks of PLWHA and setting up of legal literacy workshops for

HIV positive women by HIV positive women.

http://www.keralanext.com/news/index.asp?id=28663