Re: Comment invitged on Draft GIPA Policy Guidelines for HIV Programmes

May 8, 2010

Dear All,

There is no denying the fact that involvement of People Living with HIV (PLHIV)

is crucial for the success of HIV control efforts in the country.

I had been working as an implementer of the National AIDS Control Programme

(NACP) for 17 years in Gujarat and later in Madhya Pradesh as Additional Project

Director and State Epidemiologist respectively in the State AIDS Control

Societies (SACS). Based on my experience, I have two observations to share:

Among PLHIV themselves, there is a lot of discrimination taking place.

For example, if we look at the people who are members of networks and

beneficiaries, Sex Workers or Men having Sex with Men (MSM) are hardly seen.

This is in spite of the fact that there are a lot of PLHIV from these

Most-At-Risk Populations (MARPs) in the community.

Perceptions about PLHIV as victims and culprits are rampant even among PLHIV.

The present policy document does not reflect any strategy for this lacuna.

In some states, vested interests have emerged and the office bearers of PLHIV

groups and networks are working in connivance with the so-called AIDS

Specialists and misguiding PLHIV.

They have grabbed control of the whole Community Based Organisations (CBO) and

are functioning in an autocratic manner. Such practices defeat the very purpose

of GIPA, by not allowing real participation of PLHIV.

The dissenting voices are suppressed by threats of taking away the jobs and

benefits given to them. I could not find any attempt in the new guidelines to

take care of this anomaly too.

I strongly feel that both these issues need to be taken care of in the new GIPA

policy guidelines.

With Regards,

Dr. D. M. Saxena

Laxmi Narayan (L. N.) Medical College and Research Centre,

Bhopal

e-mail: <dineshmsaxena@...>

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