NACP III. Email Campaign for Proper planning of NACP III

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

You all are requested to email a letter written below to the Positive People's

Networks, Project Directors of NACO & SACS, President, Prime Minister, Speaker,

INGOs, Leader of Opposition Chief Ministers, Health Ministers and public

representatives (MLAs & MPs) for inclusion of the below mentioned in NACP III.

Suman Jana

Email <sumanjana@...>

------------------------------

Dear _____________,

India has going to complete the second phase of National AIDS Control Project

(NACP) II and the planning for third phase (NACP III) is going on. Today it is

estimated that around fifty lakhs of Indians are HIV+. In past decade, the HIV

virus has spreaded from a handful to fifty lakhs. I personally call it a “Silent

Third World WarE The virus has the potential to engulf entire humanity if

immediate steps are not taken to prevent and control its spread. A major effort

also has to go into the care and support of not only those infected by the virus

but also those affected by it.

Without getting into the controversy of what has been achieved or what has been

the lacunas of these two phases (NACP I & II), let us focus on making the NACP

III a grand success and there by prevent the further spread of HIV. You can make

a lot of change in the lives of the people. In this regard you are requested to

take active interest and appropriate action in the following issues:

1. At least 60% of the board members of National AIDS Control Organisation

(NACO) & State AIDS Control Society (SACS /SAPCS) of every state have to be

HIV+. Out of the total number of Board members at least 50% be women as they not

only bear the brunt as care givers, have less information and access to health

care and support but also suffer at least double discrimination than their male

counterparts. There is a felt need to gender sensitize the nodal organizations

working on HIV & AIDS.

2. The Project Director of SACS /SAPCS has to have this only as her/his job.

When the Project Director has various other responsibilities then it becomes

very difficult to contribute qualitatively and also quantitatively for this

important issue. Accessibility to the Project Director also becomes a major

problem.

3. NACO & respective SACS /SAPCS has to have a coordination body at national

/state level involving all the stake holders (+ve PeoplesENetworks, Individuals

involved, INGOs, Medical Colleges, etc.). This coordination body can only help

in filling the gaps but also provide the pivotal point for a joint strategy to

address the issues.

4. There has to be specific HIV work place policy at national / state level.

This will not only be applicable to Government / semi Government organizations

but also to all the organizations (factories, schools, NGOs, etc.) including Lok

Shabha, Rajya Sabha and Vidhan Shabhas.

5. As the HIV issue is not someones/some organization personal/individual issue

Ethere is a greater need for transparency and hence the need for yearly social

audit of NACO & respective SACS / SAPCS for greater effectively.

6. For the future generation to cope up with HIV, time calls for HIV & AIDS

education in schools. The NACO & SACS /SAPCS have to develop in coordination

with Education ministry / department and include it in the educational

curriculum.

Please take up these issues with the concerned organizations and ensure that

they function efficiently to prevent the further spread of HIV and adequate &

timely care & support to infected and affected by HIV & AIDS. “You can make the

changeE

With warm regards.

__________________