Gujarat' experience : PLHA empowerment- showing results

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

 

Unlike all other Health Program, AIDS Control Program is definitely unique where

actual beneficiaries can contribute a lot rather then being mere

passive receivers. Post of GIPA coordinator is the firm step of NACP towards it.

Post of GIPA must be filled by the PLHA only, than  " prefferabily " . Based on the

experience in Gujarat I can reassure that PLHA GIPA can better help in shaping

the policy and implementing the activties.

 

In Gujarat for last three years we are having a Positive People discharging his

meaning full duty as GIPA cordinators. Not only that to have a further reach,

for last one year we are having three Zonal GIPA coordinators, who are PLHA.

 

Encouraged by the good results, committment and hard works put in by PLHAs,

in Gujarat we are regularly using PLHA in different activities. We have created

Positive Speaker Bureau - where more than 150 PLHAs are trained in carrying out

the pubic speech on issues of PLHA with disclosing their identity.

 

Further, by roping in the Gujatat State Network of Positive People & its'

Disrict Network a unique program for mainstreaming the HIV issuse and

brining Zero level stigma, a program- Jeevandeep' is being implemented in 20

districts for around one year.

 

In 'Jeevanddeep Project', planning, implementation & monitoring of the program

is carried out by the PLHA. Total fourty PLHA are recruited as an communicator

for advocacy,  &  positive speeches. Need not to mention that under project two

PLHAs are hired but more that that numbers, PLHA volunteers are working toward

the objective of the progam, because actually the program is  " FOR the PLHA, OF

THE PLHA & BY THE PLHA " .  

Definetely Empowering PLHA will go a long way in halting the HIV epidemic,

reversing the trend and reducing the stigma.

 

Dr. A. M. Kadri

Joint Director (BSD & IEC)

Gujarat State AIDS Control Society

Gujarat

e-mail: <amimkadri@...>