Guest guest Posted April 7, 2009 Report Share Posted April 7, 2009 Dear Forum, Re: /message/10081 Rama needs to be thanked for mooting the issue in the forum. Most of these most unfortunate developments are a culmination of a series of undercurrents of stigma and discrimination fuelled by the misconceptions which are still prevalent after decades of the advent of the epidemic and resonable responses from the different stakeholders. The need is to rededicate ourselves in pursuits like positive speaker bureau activities, strengthening of socio-psychological support for the PLHIV besides working for strengthening the income generation activities and faciltating a meaningful insurance scheme for them which may reduce the likelihood of such cases. Prevalent recession,retrenchments and rising dearness, however ,may worsen the milieu predispossing the vulnerable irrespective of the serostatus to take such drastic steps. An active involvment of the networks and the GIPA coordinators (now in place in most of the states) may tide over the situation which is emerging like a crrisis at this time by the follwing suggested MAP model for them. We must faciltate helplines and crisis management cells specially dedicated to prevention of suicides through effective counselling and ensuring of linkages for faciltation of services. Early identification of danger signs which must be picked by by the counsellors, network and civil society at large by increasing the outreach of regular counselling and follow up services has to be ensured.It may sound difficult at the moment because of several constraints but is definitely doable. Let us reinvigorate our endeavours accordingly. ______________ MAP approach for GIPA (Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS) GIP coordinators must ensure for themselves and the PLHIV Meaningful Roles, Active Participation in and Proactive facilitation of the entire continuum of activities for prevention, care, support and treatment under all the components of the National AIDS Control Programme-Phase III including (but not limited to):- Prevention of new infection (TIs, ICTC,STD clinics, Blood Safety etc.)through effective counselling,adequate follow up and sustainabilty of changed behaviour Care, support and treatment (ART,OI, Psycho-social Support, legal support, income generation programmes ) Surveillance, studies, Operations Research etc. Monitoring and Evaluation/Strategic Information Management Active contribution in Policy formulation/revision and all the planning activities. Zero tolerance for stigma and discrimination faced by the PLHIV and/or core population Facilitation of myriad activities in accordance with the NACO guidelines and directives besided working for income generation activities and faciltating insurance in liasion with the SACS. Best wishes, Dr.Rajesh Gopal. Dr. Rajesh Gopal,MD Joint Director, Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS), O/1 Block, New Mental Hospital Complex, Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. PIN 380016 Phone (O) 079-22680211--12--13,22685210 Fax 079-22680214 e-mail: <dr_rajeshg@...> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted April 9, 2009 Report Share Posted April 9, 2009 Dear Forum, Re: /message/10081 I would reiterate my request for formation of suicide prevention cells,collating the meta-analysis of identifiction of risk factors in suicides/parasuicides (from AIIMS,PGI,NIMHANS etc.), roping in psychologista and psychiatrists along with faciltation of ways of income generation and insurance for the PLHIV in the troubled time of recession aggravating the troubles for all. Would like to share the report about the cited incident as communicated by the GSNP+. Report (17th March) Deepakbhai had been an active member of the AP+(Association of Person Living with HIV/AIDS-Vadodara) since 7th January, 2008 . The AP+ is the district Network of GSNP+ (Gujarat State Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS. The GSNP+ is state Level network of people living with HIV/AIDS of Gujarat and working to advocate the issues of people living with HIV of Gujarat. When Deepakbhai came in contact with AP+, he had some family problems. His wife, Pannaben was very sick and living with her parents. Her parents did not want to send her to her husband and also did not want to start her on treatment. Deepakbhai shared all these things with the counsellor of AP+. Counsellor of AP+ organized counselling session on 31st March and 1st February, 2009 with Pannaben and her family members. After this counselling session her family agreed to send her to her husbandâ's home and also started her treatment. AP+ advised Pannaben for registration at ART centre. Doctor of ART centre recommended for CD4 test and she got it done. Her CD4 count was 29 only and doctor started her ART treatment. Deepakbhai attended every support Group Meeting organized by AP+. GSNP+ conducted one paediatric medical camp with the support of Gujarat State AIDS Control Society in all over Gujarat. AP+ informed to do the HIV testing of his daughter in this camp. Unfortunately both his daughters were found to be HIV positive. When he knew about HIV status of his children, he became nervous and depressed. AP+ did registration of the both the daughters of Deepakbhai for CD4 count in this camp and also explained Deepakbhai to get CD4 count done for his entire family and he complied . (CD4 count of Deepakbhai 311, Pannaben 215, Divya (His elder daughter) 744, Vaishnavi (His younger Daughter) 900) Deepakbhai and her elder daughter started the ART from B.J. Medical College Ahmedabad and transferred them to ART centre Vadodara on 26th February, 2009. He was leading a happy life with his family till the time his factory workers knew their HIV status as he disclosed HIV status of his family to his colleagues. No workers were ready to work with him in his factory. It had a very bad impact on his business. He shared this problem with AP+ and AP+ advised him to give employment to uneducated HIV positive people and he did the same. He worked actively again in his business. But now he wanted to work for HIV positive people and he attended the interview organized by District AIDS Prevention and control Unit (DAPCU) and he worked as outreach worker in CHC, Por (Vadodara). He felt relaxed and got relieved from his anxiety. His wife never went outside alone but he came in the support group meeting alone with her children. In this support group meeting AP+ distributed the gifts to the children and AP+ also invited her children for children get to gather. She and her children became very happy. AP+ built the capacity of this family so that he joint in the job and her wife came in support group meeting alone. AP+ supported them whenever need and guide nicely and saw the path of positive Living. GSNP+ and AP+ were not aware about this unfortunate incident. A reporter of Indian Express informed Dr. Gaurang Jani (Professor, Sociology Department, Gujarat University, Ahmedabad) and Dr. Jani informed Mr. Laxman Meena (Vice President, GSNP+) Mr. Meena got all the information from the Indian Express and verified the news from AP+. AP+ sent one volunteer to know the truth about the incident and he verified that this news is truth. Bharatbhai (Volunteer of AP+) shared with Laxman Meena that he met Deepakbhai before two days ago of his death. Deepakbhai shared that their another family member wanted his property and every day they tormented him for his property. Deepakbhai said Bharatbhai that he was not disheartened about his HIV status but he was disappointed that if he died then what would happen with his wife and children. AP+had advised him to meets the lawyers(with whom GSNP= has signed memoranda for provision of free legal services) and make a will for the children and write your property and assets in the name of his children. On 19th March, AP+ conducted meeting of board members and staff and finalized some strategy to reduce such types of incidents. AP+ organized meeting with all the media partners of Vadodara and sensitized them for giving positive messages and utilize appropriate terminology so that people living with HIV can live long and healthy lives AP+ also decided that they will give more focus on positive living in counselling session as well as in the support group meetings so as to reduce such incidents. Whenever any HIV infected person thinks about or attempts suicide, we always think about this as an impact of HIV/AIDS alone but we never think that HIV positive person is also a common man and he has also lots of other problems like any other common man. We should try to determine the reality and find solutions rather than starting a blame game against each other. Best wishes, Rajesh Gopal. Dr. Rajesh Gopal,MD Joint Director, Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS), O/1 Block, New Mental Hospital Complex, Meghaninagar,Ahmedabad, Gujarat. PIN 380016 Phone (O) 079-22680211--12--13,22685210 Fax 079-22680214 e-mail: <dr_rajeshg@...> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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