CD4 Testing Camps in 24 Districts in Gujarat.

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

Gujarat State Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (GSNP+) and Gujarat State

AIDS Control Society (GSACS) jointly organized CD4 testing camp in 24 districts

of the Gujarat on 1st December 2007 (World AIDS Day). It was joint effort of

GSNP+ and GSACS along with awareness messages on World AIDS Day, we wanted to

provide some care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS. It is the

first ever effort in whole country.

The program was organized with following objectives,

- Through this camp PLHAs become able to know their health status.

- GSNP+ and GSACS can identify future need for the ART so that planning can be

done accordingly.

- Those PLHAs still out of the reach of the network can get platform to become

part of the network. So, networking of PLHAs can be enhanced in Gujarat.

- Those PLHA who are in need of ART at present can be enrolled to ART with

present ART centers.

- Through this camp message was delivered in the society that PLHAs are well

accepted in the society.

- Those PLHAs who has still not done their Pre-ART registration can be motivated

for the same.

- Linkages with between network of PLHAs and government sector can be increased.

Following is the detail of the program,

- GSNP+ and GSACS combined take the initiation for the program.

- Whole program is funded by GSACS and Clinton HIV/AIDS initiative.

- In this program government hospitals are also involved and they give their

important role for the camp.

- District level networks of PLHAs in the Gujarat worked as a nodal organization

and made necessary arrangements. Also, they according to the guideline by GSNP+

and GSACS developed linkages with VCTCs, civil hospital, NGO, ICTCs, etc.

- Partnership is formed with Superatrack Micro Laboratrary for the CD4 testing.

They made necessary arrangement for blood sample collection.

- Press note was given in the media before program so that most PLHAs can take

the benefit of the camp.

- The PLHAs who were still not tested through government centers (ICTCs), they

have been tested for HIV confirmation through ICTC.

Following are figures showing No. of beneficiaries in each district of Gujarat.

Sr. No.Name of DistrictNo. Of people tested for CD4

1Navsari56

2Narmada11

3Mehsana33

4Dahod31

5Kheda39

6Junagadh93

7Jamnagar93

8Anand48

9Porbandar65

10Ahmedabad71

11Amreli30

12Baroda86

13Palanpur30

14Modasa76

15Bharuch39

16Bhavnagar95

17Surendranagar43

18Kutch61

19Valsad32

20Gandhinagar21

21Patan41

22Godhara24

23Rajkot86

24Surat84

Total1288

Finally, we GSNP+ family believes that the success of the camp is not only

credit to one organization but it was collaborative effort of all. And we are

thankful of every organization and individual who gave their contribution for

the camp. We believe that this program will benefit to PLHAs in real sense.

On behalf of GSNP+ family,

Daxa V. Patel,

President,

GSNP+

e-mail: <daxa1999@...>,