DECEMBER 2006 — A 5,000-person rally to advocate for access to treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS and a "medical camp" to introduce Nepali migrants to prevention, care and treatment services are just two of the noteworthy ways that five FHI-supported NGOs in India commemorated World AIDS Day, December 1. Read more about their activities below.
The Aastha Project
The Aastha Project, which conducts HIV/AIDS prevention and provides health services to sex workers in Maharashtra, India, commemorated World AIDS Day with street plays, puppet shows, and dance and song competitions. The project also staffed STI and AIDS awareness booths in Mumbai and hosted a self-help gathering.
Aastha peer educators and supervisors participated with FHI in an exhibition organized by the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS) in Nashik, Maharashtra. Managed by peer educators, the Aastha information booth attracted sex workers, their clients, and government officials including Cabinet Minister for Public Works Shri Chhagan Bhujbal; MSACS Project Director Prakash Sapde; Health Secretary Vijay Singh Satbeer; and Hari Menon and Alkesh Wadhwani, program manager and deputy director of the Avahan AIDS India Initiative.
Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+)
Three hundred members of networks of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA) and more than 5,000 supporters participated in a rally organized by INP+ in New Delhi to advocate for second-line antiretroviral treatment (a second ARV drug regimen for when the regimen a patient initially receives is no longer effective). Second-line ARV treatment is currently not available to PLHA in India. INP+ delivered recommendations on second-line treatment to the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
The president and the national advocacy officer of INP+ participated in the World AIDS Day program, which was organized jointly by the Heroes Project, UNAIDS and NACO to generate awareness among youth about HIV. They shared their positive life testimonies and presented awards to youth who have helped raise awareness of HIV/AIDS in their fields.
Reaching Across Borders
Reaching Across Borders is a cross-border project providing HIV prevention, care and treatment for Nepali migrants at source and destination communities in India and Nepal. FHI supports the South Asian Research and Development Initiative (SARDI) in implementing the DFID-funded program. With participation from 1,200 Nepali migrants, SARDI and its local partners (AIDS Awareness Group and Nirmana) organized community events including street plays, speeches, songs and a "medical camp" to observe World AIDS Day in Delhi. At the medical camp, a panel of doctors provided general health services and information on sexually transmitted infections and HIV prevention to Nepali migrants, encouraging them to visit the project's drop-in center. In Mumbai, 225 Nepali migrants participated in cultural events including dance and street plays.
ENHANCE SAMARTH Project
FHI, Salaam Baalak Trust, Women's Action Group-Chelsea, Michael's Care Home—Sahara, and Young Women's Christian Association and Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI) organized an HIV/AIDS awareness-raising magic show, role plays, dance and song programs and information booths in Delhi to commemorate World AIDS Day. In addition, CMAI organized an interdenominational march by faith-based organizations. Representatives from USAID and FHI hosted a ceremony to recognize peer educators for their contribution to HIV/AIDS awareness-raising.
Photo: USAID/India Mission Director George Deikun congratulates an ENHANCE SAMARTH Project peer educator at a community event to commemorate World AIDS Day in New Delhi, India, on November 30.
IMPACT Project
On World AIDS Day, the Government of Tamil Nadu recognized K.K. Abraham, general secretary, Indian Network for People Living with HIV/AIDS (INP+); G. Karunanidhi, president, Tamil Nadu Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS (TNNP+); B. Sekar, founder and president, Social Welfare for Men (SWAM); and others for their perseverance in working to reduce HIV/AIDS stigma and discrimination. Through the USAID-funded Implementing AIDS Prevention and Care (IMPACT) Project, FHI supports the awardees' networks.
The Government of Tamil Nadu also presented FHI with an award for its outstanding contribution to HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment in Tamil Nadu. The Government of Andhra Pradesh and Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Societies hosted a celebration in Hyderabad. Twenty children from projects supported by IMPACT attended.
Photo (top): Aastha Project peer supervisor Asha Shettigar places a lapel pin on Mr. Chhagan Bhujbal, Cabinet Minister for Public Works, Maharashtra, during his visit to the project's booth at an exhibition organized by the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society at Nashik, Maharashtra, on World AIDS Day. FHI Program Officer Amit Srivastava looks on. (Abhijit Ahir)
