DAPCU Vizianagaram, Andhra Pradesh Response-September 2012 Theme:

Why is Positive Prevention important? 

After 3 years of experience in coordination and monitoring of HIV Prevention and Care & Support Programmes in the District, we understood that HIV Prevention is in the hands HIV infected people only and their knowledge levels towards HIV/AIDS.  They are in different groups in the community but our focus has been fixed on HRG since beginning of the Programme.  If we see the HIV infected people, among HRGs they are hardly 1% to 5% and our focussed preventive services are reaching those 1% to 5%.  We are getting new HIV infected cases every month (1 or 2) among HRGs. On the other side of the coin 100 to 130 new HIV infections are coming out every month at ICTCs among general clients who have risky heterosexual behaviour.

We can understand that the cases that were infected with HIV, they got infection either through sex with HIV positive people or through HIV infected by blood & blood products.  But our reports inform us that, 99% of the cases are getting infection through sexual route only.  

As per the above statement is concern the “Positive Prevention” activity is very important and plays vital role in HIV Prevention in the District/Sate/Country.

Here I would like to show some data evidence of Vizianagaram District for understanding how is ‘Positive Prevention’ important. 

 What are the Strategies for Positive Prevention underway in your District?

• Proper Counselling to PLHA for understanding that they are carrying HIV infection throughout life.
• Referral to ART as and when found HIV Positive
• Identification ART Un-registered PLHAs
• Home visits of PLHAs
• Pre-ART Registration
• Counselling services
• Referrals & Linkages (Networks/DIC/CCC)
• Periodical follow-up of High Risk PLHAs (Discordant Couple, Unmarried, Adolescents, FSW, MSM and etc)
• Ensuring availability of Condom for those High Risk PLHAs (Either in person  or through outlets)
• Ensuring STI check-ups  for High Risk PLHAs while visiting ART Centre for follow-up

 What role does the DAPCU play in this regard?

             As per as Vizianagaram District as concern we took some steps to implement “Positive Prevention” activity in the district.

1.  We did analysis to know ICTC wise how many PLHAs didn’t reach the ART Centre in the district.
2. Developed mechanism for tracking each PLHA whether they reached ART or not every week by comparing line list with ICTC and ART like HIV-TB referrals.
3. Insisting our ICTC Counsellors to do follow-up of unreached PLHAs on Saturdays in outreach activity and using ORW/PE/LW services also in this regard.
4. Preparing a master PLHA line list for avoiding duplication or double testing of PLHAs.
5. ART Medical Officers were sensitized for referring PLHA to DSRCs on regular basis.
6. Planning of Folk Media /Mid Media Campaign according to PLHA load in the villages.
7. Insisted LWs and other Interventions to put Condom outlets where high load of PLHAs were found.
8. GIPA/MIPA (Greater/Meaningful Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS) at all levels in the projects like PE/LW/ORW/Counsellors/PC.
9. Providing Govt. Schemes like AAY/Doubt Nutrition/Loans for improving their quality of life.
10. Encouraging PLHA Networks to improve their membership with involving more number of PLHAs.
11. The Project Director, APSACS initiated Daily tracking mechanism to know each PLHA ART registration status and implementing very seriously and closely monitors through video conference regularly which makes DAPCUs to focus on Positive Prevention in the State.