Re: Involving Panchayaths in HIV Care and Support: A Case Study

[Guest guest]

Dear Associates,

Re: /message/11580

Involving Panchayaths in HIV Care and Support presents an interesting case

study.

I reckon, Nehru Yuva Kender Sangathans (NYKS)also provides similar scpe. Being a

resource group member of NYKS I interacted with students who are drop out of

school. Though they missed out on education, nonetheless, they had learnt some

essential growing-up lessons. NYKS plays pivotal role to rope in Panchayats for

the holistic development of the village.

Through the service of NYK many girls now know that as a girl enters womanhood,

they undergoes physical and emotional changes. They learnt how to maintain

menstrual hygiene, how to communicate better and how to prevent contracting HIV

infection.

They came to know all this and much more by interacting with other young people

of her age and by becoming a part of a Youth Information Centre, located in the

premises of the locally-elected village council or Gram Panchayat office in

their respective villages. These programmes are implemented by NYKS.

 

The programme is being implemented by Panchayat system (a three-tier structure

for self-governance and decentralization of power to people at the grassroots

level) in partnership with NYKS.

 

Equipping young people with knowledge and life skills helps preventing HIV

spread, in building self confidence and thereby building a better tomorrow.

Under the ages of NYKS the youth are learning about HIV/AIDS and other issues

pertinent to their lives as they pass through a critical phase in life. The NYKS

has been on the forefront of involving youth in the battle against the deadly

virus.

Under the mandate of NYKS we talked about addressing the issue of HIV/AIDS

prevention in a holistic manner, for example, empowerment or education,

achieving sustainable answers to HIV/AIDS problem would prove futile.

Many who have benefited from NYKS-supported multi-sectoral programme called peer

educator outreach that is aimed towards prevention of HIV spread among school

drop outs, which are considered to be at high risk of contraction HIV/AIDS. The

programme is being implemented in 45 districts.

 

A peer educator is a youth from a village who is nominated by the community,

undergoes training on governance, life skills, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS

prevention. Each village has Teen Clubs for girls and boys separately who act as

peer educators. The peer educators further conduct at least eight hours of

session among their friends who dropped out from the school and are most at risk

to make them aware about their vulnerability to contracting HIV/AIDS and how to

protect themselves.

 

Some common meeting places called Youth Information Centres (YICs), Panchyat

Dharm Shala, Temples etc.  are the centers for the purpose of facilitating

interaction between peer educators and young people.

These YICs are usually located at Gram Panchayat offices, youth clubs and other

existing structures. Here young people interact with one another, learn about

HIV/AIDS and life skills through various games and materials like carom board,

playing cards, flip charts, leaflets, among others that incorporate key messages

on HIV/AIDS and Drug abuse.

 

In addition, large-scale sensitization and orientations to involve elders,

parents, members of the locally elected village councils and religious leaders

are being carried out in the districts.

The impact of the intervention is already visible in terms of creating an

enabling environment in the districts. The awareness level, however, is below

required levels, I personally feel.

 

NYKS has played a key role in involving Panchayat, District and Health

administration in HIV/AIDS prevention programme. Impact of the intervention has

already been observed. Preventing HIV among young people is at the core of NYKS

global and India response.

Along with partners NYKS has been implementing Unite for Children, Unite against

AIDS campaign that focuses on Four Ps ­-- primary prevention among young

people; prevention of mother-to-child transmission; pediatric Anti-retroviral

treatment; and protection and care for children affected by HIV/AIDS.

We also invite slected teen clubs members in National Youth Festivals and give

them opportunity to understand and participate in different activities. With

UNFPA support, NYKS developed partnerships with a range of agencies like the

Panchayat system, government departments, networks of people living with

HIV/AIDS, NGOs and other stakeholders in the Country.

 

However, I feel we are lacking in consistent follow-ups in the projects.

Avnish Jolly,

#3008,Sector-20D,

Chandigarh 160020, India.

Cell: +91-9814213809

e-mail: <avnishjolly@...>