Re: Counsel cushion at HIV test labs

[Guest guest]

Hello to the Forum:

As someone who has submitted to some post test counselling with the

presumption of being positive so I can evaluate the content of the Post +ve

test counselling it is nice to see that the abysmal lack of hope messages is

at last being addressed.

I too have been keeping a record of all the suicide cases that resulted from

bad post +ve test counselling or no counseling at all.

I need to highlight one important distinction that is deliberately

overlooked and fought against almost everywhere I went but the first bad

experience was in West Bengal.

That is the idea that the best person to be delivering the +ve Post Test

Counselling messages is another positive living person.

You might think that a highly skilled and trained clinical psychologist

would be the best placement for this task. Often it is the worst. These

people should be being used to train +ve living +ve people with aptitude so

that most of the message is actually heard across the counseling table.

I don't want to dwell here on why that is an important principle but unless

most of the counsellors on the team are themselves positive the credibility

of the team and the ongoing professional development suffers.

I can prove that but people in decision making positions say the concept has

got a snowball's chance in hell of becoming policy.

I am using this response to raise the issue for discussion and invite more

people to respond.

Geoffrey

E-mail: <gheaviside@...>

[Guest guest]

Re: Counsel cushion at HIV test labs

I personally agree with you on the fact that positive people are the only ones

really qualified to teach others--it is easy to say to someone this is how is

should be. It is a whole different world to know what it is like to be positive

and the problems that they must face.

Too many times, programs are developed by people who have never even met someone

who is positive.

Being positive and talking to someone who has many unknown fears about the

future is really the only to go. People who are positive KNOW what the problems

are in their particular culture and can relate that information very well.

Hoyt

E-mail:<dusty@...>

________________________

Best counsellors are the HIV positive trained counsellors

Geoffrey Heaviside has reminded us of a very important fact that wea re not or

pretend not to be aware of. That it is the wearer who knows where the shoe

pinches and therefore the best counselling in HIV/AIDS , counselling that is

sympathetic and emphathetic and at the same time practical can be provided only

by a person who is going or has gone through the experience. Therefore training

HIV positive persons as counsellors would be better option than training the HIV

negatives. In uganda I am told HIV positives are doing a great job in

counselling and providing home based care to their fellow sufferers. Thank you

Geoffrey for sharing this thought.

kind regards

Matt

E-mail:<matmoova@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

I am agree too that its very difficult to convince people who are HIV +, to work

on issue or become counselor for their own community fellow. But same time want

to support Geoffrey Heaviside suggestion and I would like to know HOW many NGOs

approach this people to work? There are thousands of NGOs who are working and

claiming that they are working on HIV/AIDS issue or for HIV infected and

affected community but hardly offer job to the people livging with HIV.

One must know what are the fears of this people in coming out. As my

interaction with the infected Community and experience, they are facing one big

poblem is economica. Most of them are afraid that they will loose their job and

that's why they are not willing to come out. There are many more additional

reasons exist but once they are sure that although they are infected they can

earn and survive , they will come forward to help others or to become counselor.

If we can show and job opportunity they will work with full commitment and

motivation to save others life as well as remove stigma and discriminations from

society .

Govt and funding agencies made policy that all organization preferly appoint one

infected person for their office work but till today even most of SACS does not

have a single staff from the infected community. Funders/Govt and Policy makers

should make this as a policy.

I would suggest that all organizations who are working on HIV/AIDS issue they

should recruit 50 % staff from infected and affected community. Other wise

funding agencies or govt should stop funding that particular organization

funding. I know its difficult but not impossible. I am in process to develop

this model and soon I will implement this with your blessing and support.

I would like to share my IDEA with you if you want or help to implement this

strategies in your district if you want .

Birendra K.Soni

Mission Highway - to fight against HIV/AIDS

Post Box -6200 , Malabarhill , Mumbai - 400006

Phone - 02234340530 / 01132577401

E-mail - stopaids@...