NACO is failing to allocate GIPA Coordinator post for GOA state.

[Guest guest]

Dear NACO and Forum Members, After all long discussions on GIPA & MIPA in various forums and practical experienced shared by the many individuals, still NACO’s as well SACS are playing a dirty politics with the PLHAs in the country. This is very discomfort and bad situation of PLHAs, were we lives in such worst system. Particularly where we have a world’s second largest HIV/AIDS cases in the country and system itself discriminate. Billions and Billions dollars have been spend on HIV/AIDS control program in India, but still a number of new cases keep growing and majority of people already died due to its lack of quality of HIV/AIDS programs on Prevention, Care and Support including treatment. Moreover, NACO sitting at the central making policy’s and guidelines which doesn’t not really help at the ground level, also not followed properly by the SACS locally due to the bad politics games all the time and NACO’s control over the SACS. NACO

sitting in big luxury’s rooms with the cold air conditioned can increase the figures from 2.7 millions to 5.3 millions and decrease figure from 5.3 million to 2.7 millions good number game. (We would like to ask who is this numbers are? And for what NACO has been made?) Will NACO & SACS change its mind set towards PLHAs and work honestly to deliver the services to its best for the society infected and affected by the HIV/AIDS in the country? Will NACO address the issues of PLHA sincerely? We were just observing a discussion on the GIPA & MIPA past many months and thought to share some of our experienced from Goa. We are being advocating these issues of PLHAs involvement from last so many years locally and nationally that time the word was not known GIPA or MIPA, we had found it very useful tool ending up the stigma & discrimination, bringing empowerment among PLHAs, motivating towards positive living etc. with own experience’s being openly with HIV status. In addition, it also brings a lot of effectiveness to the of programs implementation as well policy, which already shows a good result. Most of the issues and importants of GIPA already covered and shared related experienced by our friends. We have experienced dealing with our Goa SACS their don’t want PLHAs coming in their cabin or working environment, what we have found negative outlook towards PLHA in our Goa SACS. Most of them are just working for good monthly pay

package and for good name and fame etc. It is great to know that most of the SACS from other states are in process to appoint a GIPA Coordinator Post in their SACS and discussion is going on to improve the selection criteria. Finally, we would sadly like to inform you and bring to your kind attention to this forum once again lately issues of GIPA Coordinator post to Goa state. NACO has not been sanctioned GIPA post to Goa state, as per our communication, it has been learnt that NACO has not given importants in regards to GIPA post to Goa state. NACO’s comments: it is not required for Goa, because it’s a small state. This is very disappoint for a PLHAs in Goa Therefore, we would like to question to NACO, we don’t have PLHA here in Goa? We don’t have PLHAs issues in Goa like other state? If you have sanctioned to other state than why not for Goa? This is really injustice? We won’t keep quit against. This is clearly reflects that there is no unity among PLHAs and Civil Society Organizations/Networks/Groups working towards end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country “India”. Looking forward to hearing from the individual forum members. Regards In Solidarity Jaffer Inamdar Positive Lives Foundation (PLF-GOA) 4th Floor, Ganga Apartments, Near. Municipality, Opp. St. JeromeChapel, Feira-Alto, Mapusa, Bardez, Goa. Pin: 403507. India. Tel : +91 – 832 – 2252810 /

Mobile: +91 - 9371186773 Email: plf@... / plfgoa@...