Invitation to participate in a workshop series: Cross- learnings between the National AIDS Control Programme and the National Rural Health Mission

[Guest guest]

Dear Moderator

This is an open invitation to attend a workshop series titled : Cross -

Learnings between the National AIDS Control Programme and the National Rural

Health Mission. Kindly post this for AIDS-India subscribers information

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A Workshop Series

Cross-Learnings between the National AIDS Control Programme and

the National Rural Health Mission

[A Collaborative initiative of CSMCH-JNU, ICW (Asia-Pacific), NHSRC and NACO]

A new and sexually transmitted disease that was also fatal, presented a very

specific set of conditions for programme design and management. The National

AIDS Control Programme (NACP) attempted initiatives that were new to the

conventional public health approaches. It has developed very different

management structures from the other disease control programmes. It has also

contributed to a change in mindset among the healthcare professionals and

general public to sensitive issues such as human rights & health, sexuality and

social vulnerability. Besides communicating about a new disease to the general

public and training health professionals in dealing with it, the NACP had to

engage with the groups most vulnerable to HIV infection, often the socially

marginalized, on an urgent basis.

Provision of preventive, diagnostic and treatment services as well as research

for developing new technologies was an essential part.

The National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) is the Government of India’s concerted

initiative at strengthening the public health services for rural areas. It has

made major impact in terms of galvanising the State governments’ into taking

steps for improving the infrastructure, human resource, management and financial

flows and quality of facilities, through decentralised and more inclusive

governance structures. It has also provided for setting of health service

standards and service guarantees with a human rights perspective.

Arriving at a juncture when Public Health was at a cross-road, both the NACP and

the NRHM have addressed a host of issues that needed a fresh examination and

creative solutions. Both have involved civil society in developing initiatives

and in implementation. Much international technical and financial support has

contributed to both.

However, the vertical nature of the NACP as it evolved within the National AIDS

Control Organisation structurally situated outside the Department of Health &

Family Welfare has prevented sharing of ideas, experiences and efforts across

the two.

Integration of several elements of the programme with the general health

services is now being initiated at various levels.

Interaction between the two is likely to provide useful cross-learnings between

them. Current attempts at health service system strengthening of the NRHM may be

able to learn from AIDS control efforts, lessons both positive and negative,

while they provide an understanding of how the latter can be integrated with

least hurdles and to the benefit of both. However, even as we reflect on the

potential cross-learnings, we need to remember the difference of objectives and

inputs between the two, and draw lessons appropriately.

It is with the above understanding that we are initiating a series of workshops

to discuss the various dimensions involved in the two complex initiatives

currently underway within the ambit of public health. To share the benefit of

the deliberations with a larger number of concerned persons, we hope to bring

out the report of proceedings as well as policy briefs as outcomes of each

workshop.

The First Workshop

Communication on Health & Disease: Public Health & the Media

Programme

Date: 27th November, 2009

Time: 10am-4pm

Venue: National Health Systems Resource Centre (NHSRC), NIHFW, New Delhi

Morning Session: 10am-1pm

Chair: Dr.Sundararaman, NHSRC

Welcome: Anandi Yuvaraj, ICW (Asia Pacific)

Introduction to the Workshop: Ritu Priya, NHSRC & JNU

Introduction of Participants

Presentations:

Mayank Kumar Agarwal, JD (IEC), NACO--NACO’s communication policy: Role of Civil

society; IEC-BCC

M.N.Mishra, Chief Media Officer, Dept of Health, MOHFW--Media & IEC-BCC under

the NRHM

Geeta Bamezai, IIMC, JNU -- Discussant

Lunch: 1-2.00pm

Afternoon Session: 2-4pm

Chair: Prof. Shalina Mehta

Presentations

Akhila Shivadas -- Experiences of Dialogue between Media & The Community

Pradeep Krishnatray --Communication Strategies & Destigmatisation: Lessons for

Public Health

Discussion on Policy and Programme Implications- Ms. Sujatha Rao, Secretray (H),

MOHFW, GOI to preside

NOTE:

A Book titled, ‘Dialogue on AIDS: Perspectives for the Indian Context’ edited by

Ritu Priya & Shalina Mehta will be released at the workshop.

The Second Workshop will be on ‘Building Home to Hospital Continuum of Care &

Support’. The date will be communicated to you as soon as it is confirmed.

Anandi Yuvaraj

Asia Pacific Regional Coordinator (ICW)

Delhi

anandi@...