AEGiS-15IAC: Innovative method to sensitize the staff of hospitals to take care of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) in the city of Mumbai India.

15th International AIDS Conference


Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

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Innovative method to sensitize the staff of hospitals to take care of People Living With HIV/AIDS (PLWH/A) in the city of Mumbai India.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. B10338)

Vaswani DV, Gogate AS
Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society, Mumbai, India

BACKGROUND: The of shunning away of PLWH/A by the staff of the hospitals was not an uncommon phenomenon in the city of Mumbai. To overcome this various training programes for all the categories were undertaken which brought a little change in the attitude of the hospital staff. Development of Core Committee and Drop-in-Center in the hospital campus showed a marked improvement in the attitude of the staff. METHOD: Core Committees were developed involving all the head of the Departments. The objective of the Core Committee is to see that PLWHA who genuinely requires hospital facility is admitted and gets proper care. The Core Committee came up with an idea to establish a Drop-in-Center in the hospital campus for supportive facilities like resting, entertainment and family counseling etc. The Center being in hospital campus increases the contact between the hospital staff, the PLWHA and their families, thereby creating a friendly atmosphere and the attitude of rejection is not seen. A referral system has been developed between the NGOs, the Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centers and the drop-in-Centers.

RESULTS: More than three hundred PLWHAs are registered in the Drop-in-Center in one of the city's hospital during the last nine months since its insecption.

CONCLUSION: The development of Core Committee in the city's hospitals since last two years has definitely improved the care of PLWHA. The devlopment of Drop-in-Centers nine months ago has definitely shown positive improvement in the attitude of the staff. Participation of PLWHAS in the working of the Drop-In- Centers has brought about a positive change in their life style, Thereby reducing the Opprtunistic Infections and leading a better quality of life.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, Hospitals, Counseling, Cities, Attitude, Demography, India, Hospitals, Urban, methods, organization & administration

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Copyright © 2004 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.