AEGiS-14IAC: Supporting PLHAs to form their CBOs ...a TOOL for empowering PLHAs experiences from rural Andhra Pradesh in India.

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Supporting PLHAs to form their CBOs ...a TOOL for empowering PLHAs experiences from rural Andhra Pradesh in India.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11775)

Yarru YS
AIRTDS, Kattevaram - 522 295, India

ISSUES: In addition to metro cities the infection rate is increasing among rural population with 3 to 4 youth and women. Counselling facilities, povery, exploitation, high stigma and discrimation makes life miserable. Action for Integrated Rural and Tribal Development Social Service Society (AIRTDS) is a local NGO which works with 12 Community Based Organisations (CBOs) on HIV / AIDS Prevention programme and reaches 200 microsites. It has experience of facilitating Commercial Sex Workers (CSWs) to form their com CBOs. AIRTDS started Care and Support programme recently supporting PLWHs in partnership with Vasavya Mahila Mandali and India HIV / AIDS Alliance. This paper analyses the importance of supporting PLWHAs to form CBOs.

DESCRIPTION: The Programme is designed to support PLHAs to form their CBOs and in three years the Project to be handed over to these CBOs a) Components of the Programme: Emphasis is laid on counselling with better living status. Linkages with access to reduce discrimination which ultimately facilitate the formation of a local CBO and to run these activities them selves. b) Advantages of CBOs: PLAWs CBOs develops confidence, emotional support which leads to be stronger resulting society acceptance leads lesser discrimination with quality of life. c) Strategies: The strategies to form their CBOs are Developing right values, Creating ownership with "we" feeling, increasing management skills, building stronger referrals to allow more PLWAs to join, stronger advocacy and increasing knowledge on rights. LESSONS LEARNT: 1. PLHAs feel empowered when they are organized and have access to decision making in their region. 2. Such CBOs can be a key approach to make community based care and support a sustainable reality.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The paper argues for and recommends NGOs supporting PLHAs to form such CBOs which will empower them.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Counseling, India, Organizations, Human Rights, Human, Female, Education, organization & administrationKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,counseling,india,organizations,humanrights,human,female,education,organization&administration

020707
F11775

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.