DAPCU Balangir Response to the Theme of Women & HIV

WOMEN and HIV:  

•  In present situation women play a vital role in spreading HIV infection to others. In the case of a returnee migrant, when he returns to his home after a long gap, his spouse can not deny immediately for physical relation or after having HIV test whether he is infected or not.
•   Suppression of illegal sexual relation of an unmarried boy also invites harassment to that woman when she gets married to that boy.
•  As most of the women are not earning member of the family, they are many a times are deprived of their livelihood from their mother-in-law’s house. It some times yields commercial female sex worker to earn some bread and butter. 

What are the ways in which your district ensures that women have access to HIV services?

• All ASHAs / AWWs/MPHW (M/F) were sensitized on HIV/AIDS through out the district which enables them to know regarding HIV/AIDS and its vulnerability / prevention of transmission etc.
• In each monthly meeting, it is observed / reviewed the target of pregnant women in the district and how much they are tested by ICTC?
• In monthly doctors review meeting in presence of Dist. Collector & CDMO it is presented that how much ANCs were tested according to target / estimate? In turn it is impressed by CDMO to all doctors regarding HIV service provision to all estimated ANCs.
• Counselors are instructed to attend the ASHA sector meeting regularly for more no. of referrals of ANCs to access HIV services
• ASHAs are given incentives to promote the ANC referrals to ICTC for uptake of HIV services.
• In coordination with ICDS, HIV / AIDS related posters are prepared and distributed through them for more accessibility of HIV services.
• In each Mela / Utsav, IEC stalls on HIV involving counselor of concerned area, are installed with counseling aids and free condom distribution / demonstration.
• Doctors are also sensitized to refer more no. of suspected cases to ICTC for HIV service provision.

Have you made any Special efforts to address their needs and Vulnerability?

•    There are some NGOs working for HIV infected persons, those who are debarred from either from their father-in-laws house or from their mother-in-laws home.
•    They are given some interest free financial loans to make by themselves stand alone and self dependent.
•   In connection to vulnerability factor, it is observed from the line list of HIV positive persons, strategy of intervention is made time to time at district level in coordination with district health administration and SACS.

You can also share with us how women's day was observed in your district?

The INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY, 2013 observed at Town Hall, Bolangir on 8^th March 2013 in our District.

The occasion was chaired by Mrs. R. Prakash, wife of the Superintendent of police Bolangir as Chief Guest, Mr. Bikrant Kumar Kindo, CDMO, Bolangir as chief speaker, Dr. Jyotirmayee Sahu, DMO, DHH Bolangir, Dr. Manjulata Panda, ADMO, Bolangir & Dr. Jyotsna Mahapatra, Social activist as Hon’ble Guests. The participants were from public representatives of the district, SHG members from District & Block Federation, inmates of SWADHAR Home, Bolangir & Eminent women of the District.

CDMO emphasized and focused on the vulnerability of HIV/AIDS in our district in connection with women as they are the creator of new generation. In brief he presented the roles and responsibility of women in this context in our district.