Re: NRHM, NACP, Convergence Policy

[Guest guest]

Dear Friends,

Re:/message/11949

NACO has been engaging in strengthening the basic health facilities that are

served by NHRM to ensure convergence of services in accessing HIV counseling,

screening, testing and PPTCT services for the people in their nearest services.

It is directed that by the end of FY 2010 -11, states are able to roll out all

the identified packages.

Of course, the roll out is the consequences of initiatives taken by

departments' officials and most of these services have been in health related

aspects. In general opinion, all these tasks have been taken up most

ceremoniously and how long this could be sustained over the period is a

pertinent question.

It is naturally expected that all vertical programs need to be ultimately

converged but in the context of HIV/AIDS Interventions, it is presumed that the

convergence process has pre maturely been initiated.

The first reason being that most of the funds hitherto utilized for NACO

services are external and when there is block of external sources, one need to

either stagger the roll out or face resource crunch by way of shrinking the

service facilities.

Secondly, still there are many concerns and unresolved issues under NACPIII.

Unless these are addressed, the roll out may not yield the desired results.

Thirdly, there is utter confusion at the grassroots. When the services are

converged, what are the alternatives available to the hitherto serving

functionaries, mostly people from civil society organizations? How their built

up capacities and workforce for which crores of amount had been spent, would be

made use of?

We have very recently observed a similar misfortune in respect of Avahan

Projects, Freedom Foundation's Comprehensive Care and Support Center and INP+

Treatment Counseling Center.

In our opinion, this needs elaborate discussion and debates among civil

societies.

And finally, there are bottlenecks in taking up roll out across the country as

the quality of delivery of health system are not the same in all states and this

shall bring differences in service access and utility.

Further, most of the health related services on HIV/AIDS are provided by the

government and hence the roll out on convergence focuses on strengthening the

health facilities.

But, it is not only health but many socio economic services provided by civil

societies both by external and local grants need to be taken into consideration.

How far the NACO or for that matter NRHM has taken steps to initiate dialogue on

this front?

Converging services are not the concerns of government departments alone. The

roll out would have set in multiplier effect and every stakeholder involved in

NACO operations needs to be involved in consultation and implementation.

It is strongly felt that both the government and NACO shall begin the process

on consultation on the issues and set the process in motion to arrive at

consensus to the many unresolved issues.

Best Regards,

KK Abraham

General Secretary,INP+

e-mail: <inp@...>