AIDS Care Centre. Response from Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

This is a message from the " Karnataka state AIDS Prevention Society " (KSAPS) in

response to the messages on the issue of Bangalore Mahanagara Palike ordering

closure of AIDS Care Centre being run by Samraksha in Bangalore.

There are six NACO supported Care and Support Centres' run by NGOs which are

providing Care & Support to People Living with HIV/ AIDS (PLWHA) in Karnataka.

Samraksha and KSAPS have been working together as partners in several projects

in the State both for prevention of HIV/AIDS and for Care and Support for PLWHA.

No sooner Samraksha reported the incident regarding resistance from the

residents of the area to which Samraksha had recently shifted its Care and

Support Centre and also that the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike is being asked to

intervene and shift the Centre, the Project Director, KSAPS spoke to the highest

authority in Bangalore Mahanagara Palike that is the Commissioner, BMP regarding

this issue. The BMP was briefed regarding the national policy on HIV/AIDS which

particularly encourages community involvement in the care of HIV/AIDS patients

and that elimination of stigma of HIV/AIDS and developing positive attitudes in

the community towards people living with HIV/ AIDS is an important component of

national policy. The BMP was also briefed that this policy has been further

emphasized in the National Consultation on Care and Support held by National

AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) at Bangalore from 12th & #8211; 14th May 2003.

The Commissioner, BMP has personally spoken to the NGO and assured them that

the NGO would not be asked to shift its centre and even offered to share the

responsibility of care for PLWHA by offering certain Corporation premises if the

NGO found them suitable for its care requirements in the long run.

Although the residents have made a complaint to the police, the police has

understood the issue in its right perspective and have not asked the NGO to

shift the Care Centre.

Nevertheless a letter has been sent to the Commissioner of Police, Bangalore

City giving details of the National Policy in Care and Support for People Living

with HIV/AIDS and soliciting Police support in developing positive attitudes

among the community.

Not withstanding the fact that the issue is presently resolved, the need for

taking up an intensive awareness campaign in this particular urban setting has

been highlighted. KSAPS along with the Samraksha will be taking up awareness

programme in the area through community meetings with specific focus on changing

people & #8217;s perception regarding those living with HIV apart from dispelling

misconceptions regarding HIV transmission.

Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS)

Bangalore

E-mail: <ksaps@...>

Ps/ e FORUM would like to congratulate the KSAPS staff for promptly

addressing the issues and sharing the details of their response to the members

of this forum. Indeed this is a good example of a responsive ‘AIDS

governance’and advocacy. [Moderator]