HIV – AIDS

Major interventions of MPVHA in the field of HIV/AIDS are summarized below.

MPVHA initiated its interventions in the field of HIV/AIDS in the year 1992 through organizing awareness programmes for students, NGOs and general public. MPVHA organized ‘World AIDS Day’ in the year 2000 by conducting Inter-Collegiate debate competition, an essay competition and pamphlet distribution.

MPVHA established AIDS Helpline (1097) in 1999 with support from M.P. State AIDS Control Society (MPSACS). The Helpline provided scientific and need based counseling services telephonically as well as face to face and referral on HIV, AIDS and STD. In addition orientation/training programmes and counseling services were organized. Helpline continued till 2004.

In 2004 the MPVHA implemented ‘Healthy Highway Project with support from MPSACS. The objective of the project was to reduce transmission of HIV/AIDS among truckers in and around Indore city and on Agra-Mumbai National Highway Number 3.

MPVHA in collaboration with MPSACS took initiative to combat the disease amongst female sex workers of Indore city during the period 2007 to 2010. Main objectives of the programme were:

• to create enabling environment for effective delivery and utilization of sexual health services,
• to increase correct knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention
• to increase consistent and correct use of condom,
• to ensure quality STD care,
• to mobilize the community sex workers to organize themselves and form groups.

MPVHA implemented a project on ‘Community based initiative to reduce stigma and discrimination and create supportive environment for HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons with special emphasis on children’, with support of Pharmaciens Sans Frontieres and Terre des Hommes (TdH). The programme was implemented, during 2010 to 2015, in 15 slums of Indore through formation of parent’s and children’s associations. Objectives of the programme were:

• Empowering parents and guardians to help prepare children for changes in their family circumstances caused by entry of HIV into their households.
• Enabling children to cope with circumstantial changes caused by their parents being affected with HIV.
• Mobilization of community and stakeholders as a support group for safeguarding the children, increasing sustainability and reducing stigma.

Developing linkage with government systems, civil society bodies, various NGO Networks of positive people, faith based organizations to create a supportive environment and ensuring child friendly services.

To promote livelihood of infected and affected families by making them meaningfully occupied in a sustainable manner with dignity to meet requirements of the self and household a general network was formed of all families and another network was formed exclusively for women. The members of the network were provided financial assistance to start new business or support ongoing income generation activities. Vocational training programmes were organized for the needy persons as per their requirements

• Reduced stigma and Community Support System generated in favour of infected and affected families.
• Promoted livelihood activities for infected and affected families.
• Around 150 families directly and 250 families indirectly benefitted.