Dharna by People Living with HIV/AIDS to Voice their Rights

[Guest guest]

Over 500 outreach workers and representatives of state level PLHIV Networks,

NGOs and others have gathered in Delhi on May 4, 2010, to hold a silent

dharna/rally to voice their rights against the termination of services of 1000

PLHIV outreach workers hired by SACS under Global Fund Round 2 project and

scaling up of access to free second line ARV treatment.

 

Organized by Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+), the

protesters marched from Jan Path to National AIDS Control Organization (NACO)

expressing their concerns towards the termination of 1000 PLHIV outreach workers

hired by NACO/SACS under Global Fund Round 2 project of National AIDS Control

Programme Phase II (NACP II).

Soon after the completion of the project all these outreach workers were

terminated and were left aloof.

The outreach workers were terminated by NACO/SACS without any further discussion

with INP+ and its affiliated networks. It is very unfortunate to see why

NACO/SACS has taken such a decision to do mass termination of all these out

reach workers who are skilled at different levels.

Somehow NACO/SACS should find ways to utilize their services and expertise.

Under NACP-III NACO has mentioned about appointment of Link workers, CCC

outreach workers and ART peer educators.

NACO rather than identifying and recruiting new candidates, can think about

utilizing the services of these outreach workers who already have the necessary

skills.  INP+ also request NACO to re-visit the salary package of these out

reach workers (to be increased from Rs. 2500 p.m to Rs. 6000 p.m).

 

Secondly, INP+ has repeatedly brought to the notice of NACO the urgency and need

to substantially scale up access to free second line ARV treatment in the

country.

There are numerous bureaucratic hurdles and administrative red tape that

prevents second line treatment being provided to those who are in need. INP+

demand for the establishment of a second line ARV diagnostic/treatment centre in

each state.

 

In addition to this, we also request NACO to monitor the proper implementation

of GIPA in each state.

Even though in NACP-III and draft GIPA operational guidelines NACO has mentioned

about the establishment of Drop-in centers(DICs) manned by PLHIV networks, only

a few SACS has started implementing DICs through PLHIV networks. DICs are the

only service delivery component manned by PLHIV networks. So NACO should

monitor/guide SACS for the establishment of DICs without any further delay.

 

For more information, please contact Hari Singh, National GIPA Coordinator,

INP+, at 9891263535 or hari@...

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