Fighting in election: New way to fight against discrimination felt by PLHAs.

[Guest guest]

Dear Form,

As we know there are so many myths and misbelives regardin HIV/AIDS transmission

and PLHAs health conditon in our society. We are trying heard with the support

of so many NGOs and CBOs to reduce discrimination felt by PLHAs and prevent

people to become HIV positive. Also, we have achived lot but still it is not

complete.

We belive that main reason that every one is not so much sensitise or want to be

aware about basic information is that they have never seen any PLHAs. As they

have never seen any PLHAs they do not understand seriousness of the situation.

Also, if they have seen any PLHA then in the conditon of AIDS or heard about it

from others. So, they strongly belive that PLHAs are not able to do much more

activities and they can't live long.

If we want to change behaviour of the people and belives of the people then more

and more PLHAs have to be open with his own willingnes. We are doing it by

organising Positive Speaker Beaura in which PLHA share his case study in front

of group.

Mr. Umesh Patel (president of GSNP+) has selected new and inovative way to give

view to epedemic.

In the month of December election of Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) is

coming. Mr. Umesh Patel is fighting in election with his open HIV status.

Vicotory in the election is not much more importance but from this election we

are looking forward for following

1. We will be able to create strong enabling environment for PLHAs. Because

people will see that Mr. Patel is living with HIV since last 8 years and still

healthy.

2. Those people who are hiding their status and other people of our society will

understand that HIV is not a kind of disease that we need to hide. It is like

any other diseases. Also, we should not discriminate them as there is not any

need of it.

3. Also, people will see that HIV is not transmitted by social intercourse with

the person. And all these will lead us to creation of healthy enabling

enivronment.

4. As the environment will look like normal diseases, and people will see that

there is not stigma for HIV, those who were hesitating to test themselves

volunteerly will be motivate to test themselves.

5. Most HIV infected people are not aware about their status. So, as they will

be motivated to test themselves they will know their status and they will then

not transmit diseases to other. So, we will be able to make our prevention

programme much effective.

6. Those PLHAs who know their status but suffering psycologically and not able

to share their status with any one or any counselor will see that with HIV

people are living so long without any problem and also are doing everthing like

normal person. It will feel them good and generate confidence in them.

7. We are also looking forward to strenthen our networ to all district of

Gujarat. We feel that somany PLHAs will come forward to form group in their

respective districts.

8. during our campaign we will also give messages for prevention.

All these will be possible with the good media coverage. We are hoping for media

coverage and in the first step we succeed also.

On the 25/11/2005 we organised rally as we submited nomination form of Mr. Umesh

Patel. Media of national level and local level gave a quite good coverage of the

rally. And most probably will telecast today or tomorrow.

GSNP Plus

E-mail: <gsnpplus@...>