Introduction to a new member of AIDS INDIA e FORUM from Dehradun

[Guest guest]

Introduction to a new member of AIDS INDIA e FORUM from Dehradun

Dear Members of AIDS INDIA,

We really feel happy to be part of AIDS INDIA e_network. Ever since we become

partner of this FORUM, we are getting such a useful information through the

posting of messages from other partners. We are finding all postings and

information very useful for our work. I must congratulate the moderator for such

a significant contribution in our society to combat AIDS and protect precious

lives of the people.

We would like to inform you all that, through the information we have received

from this FORUM

our application for accreditation to the High-level Meeting on HIV/AIDS (HLM)

has been favorably acted upon by the United Nations General Assembly. Two

persons from our organisation has been invited to participate at the High level

Meeting on HIV/AIDS which is scheduled on 10-11 June 2008 in New York .We are

also invited to participate in the related preparatory civil society meetings on

9 June 2008.

Our organization, Mamta Samajik Sanstha is a non profit, registered voluntary

organisation working for all round development of women, children and

disadvantaged groups in 2 States. Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh since 5th Feb,

1992.

We have undertaken several projects for above groups on issues like RCH,

sensitization about TB,HIV/AIDS, water and sanitation, gender equality, women

and children rights, women empowerment etc with the support of national and

international agencies, particularly we have worked with UNICEF for more than 8

years.

HIV/AIDS has been integral part of our comprehensive health care programmes,

particularly with women, adolescent girls and college students in more than 600

villages of two states in North India. We have also addressed this issue with

some high risk groups like truckers, professional blood donors, migrant

communities etc.

Our approach has always been to integrate HIV/AIDS as one of the component of

RCH, keeping in mind the stigma about the disease. One should not have a feeling

that we are targeting him as suspected HIV case. Rather they should get feeling

that we should fight HIV/AIDS like any other dreaded disease with sensitivity.

Our senior staffs have been in the field of community health for more than 20-25

years. We are giving our services as Master Trainers and Resource Persons to the

State government, NGOs and civil Society Organizations and conducting various

training programmes, seminars, and workshops on different health topics

including HIV/AIDS for managers, middle level workers and grass root level

workers. In the past 16 years Mamta has conducted trainings and taken awareness

drive in more than 600 villages of Uttarakhand and western U.P., India on

various components of RCH and Primary Health Care.

HIV/AIDS is one key component of our programme. We provide trainings to

community health workers and college students and teach them to integrate

HIV/AIDS in their RCH programme.

There is social stigma, misconception and terror about HIV/AIDS among the

people. We deal with this issue with great care and sensitivity. So that people

should take it as any other disease. It is challenging and sensitive if we deal

with HIV in isolation. It gives better understanding of the issue if we deal it

in integration with other issues. It helped us a lot with high risk groups like

truckers, migrant communities, slum dwellers and youth.

Our state is a hilly state. Where many people, particularly youth migrates to

big cities in search of job. Also it is a place of temples and tourist

destinations from India and abroad. So it is a high risk state as far as

HIV/AIDS is concerned.

We wish to learn more about programme and approaches as how to deal with issue

of HIV/AIDS in our state and how to make youth and other high risk groups of our

state more sensible and responsible towards their own health and their family

health.

We hope to develop a network of NGOs and concerned departments and link them

with national and international networks on HIV/AIDS for regular interaction and

update on the issue.

With Kind Regards,

ph M.Singh

Chief Functionary

Mamta Samajik Sanstha

53-C,Rajpur Road

Dehradun-248001(Uttarakhand)

India, Mobile:09719294888

e-mail: mamtasanstha@...