Re: NACO Calls Proposals for HIV/AIDS Component of GFATM Round 7 - WHAT ABOUT AREA 7 of care?

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

It would be extremely important to develop proposals regarding Area 7 under

prevention and care of NACO's concept papper for Global Fund round 7

applicatons. (Area " 7 " is : Promotion of safe practices and injection control)

Epidemics of Extreme Drug Resistant TB have emerged everywhere, and the spread

is primarily NOSOCOMIAL (Dr Friedman, Director of Yale AIDS Program and

investigator of South Africa outbreak that killed 53 out of 54 PLWHAs - patients

and health workers said that much- While Zacki Ackmat Action TReatment advocate

said infection control had broken down in many parts of South Africa)

Of course, India is not South Africa, but the similarities are; a fast spreading

HIV epidemic, a long lasting severe problem with

TB, including MDR TB (and MDR TB are generating XDR TB a bit verywhere now-

lastest WHO mtg attested that much)

The INCLEN study published two years ago showed 55% unsafe injection practices

throughout India, which is a very high figure, and

which means that PLWHAs are at risk from contracting Hepatitis and other

bloodborn pathogens

It is not possible to continue treating HIV patients in unsafe life threatening

health care structures because of unsafe practices.

It is not possible to continue to tolerate a continued risk for non HIV patients

to contract HIV in health care settings.

SAFE INJECTION and SAFE HEALTH CARE IS A BASIC HUMAN RIGHT.

Decreasing to zero the risk of contracting HIV in health care will further the

struggle to destigmatize HIV.

Researchers such as Dr Mariette Correa, working with leaders in PLWHAs movement,

such as Dr Deodatta Gore has identified ways and

means to improve reduce bloodexposure to HIV in health care setting, including

community involvement.

Promotion of safe practices and injection control packages would improve the

quality of life for all. This INDIA Forum could be

used to put together good wills to achieve these results. In the WHO,

I am sure that Dr Khamassi, in charge of the safe injection

department could provide all the necessary data for safe injection. Dr Correa's

Nowegian Church Aid sponsored study identified the improvements that could be

made in VCT and welcoming of, notably, women.

The World Alliance for Patient Safety has lots of documentations on studies for

safe care (and is holding a SEARO seminar of

Patients for Patient Safety in July, tentatively scheduled to take place in the

Philipines.

Many PLWHA groups and Patients and consumer groups would be ready to invest in

safe care.

The People's Health Movement will also bring up the issue in Bangladesh, for the

35th anniversary of our founding NGO, Gonoshaya

Kendra, at the end of April.

Garance Upham

General Secretary, Safe Observer International

People's Health Movement, Disability and Economics Circle

(Member , Steering group , Patients for Patient Safety, WAPS- the WHO)

e-mail: <g_upham@...>