Discussion

December - January 2018 Theme : PLHIV - ART Linkage System (PALS)

NACO Supports the development, Implementation and Maintenance of the Integrated PLHIV – ART Linkages System (PALS) a web based tool to strengthen Case management.

Initially started as PPTCT-ART Linkage System to capture individual wise details of HIV positive pregnant women who fall under the PPTCT cohort. After successfully implementing PPTCT-ART Linkage system; NACO decided to capture individual wise details of all HIV positive male and female including the PPTCT cohort.

DAPCU as the district program management unit is expected to ensure that, all PLHIVs data are entered in PALS by all NACP facilities in the district. DAPCU staff are expected to review the progress of data entry, validate and address the gaps in PALS regularly.

Discussion Point:
How does DAPCU use PALS to review the ICTC – ART Linkages?

Please send your Responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words by 25th January 2018.

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July - August 2017 Theme : Data Quality

Strategic Information Management System (SIMS) is a web based tool to manage the entire data system of NACO. SIMS is used to enter data by NACP facilities, analyze data and develop customized reports.

DAPCU is expected to ensure that data quality is maintained in reporting from all NACP facilities in the district. Quality of data collected poses a major challenge to the M&E system which needs to be addressed carefully. Data reported by facilities must be timely, consistent, complete and correct. The data flow for collecting data involves multiple points where data quality can be verified and improved by DAPCU. The process begins with using standardized formats by ICTC Counsellors and extends to conducting desk reviews and facility visits of reporting units by DAPCU staff to verify the quality of data submitted.

Discussion Point:

How does DAPCU ensure data quality of ICTC SIMS report?
You are encouraged to consider the following aspects while developing your response.

-  Unique process or method adopted by your DAPCU to ensure that ICTC data entered in   SIMS is correct and complete.

- Innovations introduced in terms of formats or techniques for ensuring data quality.

Please send your Responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words by 20th August 2017.

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April - May 2017 Theme

DAPCU's role in addressing stigma and discrimination and mobilizing support for high risk groups and people living with HIV.

Introductory Statement:

Stigma and discrimination are critical barriers that restrict high risk groups and people living with HIV from accessing health services, availing social entitlements and finding their rightful place in society. A key function of DAPCU is to work closely with the district administration, health system, line departments and key influencers in the community to build a stigma and discrimination free environment at every level.

Mobilizing wider support across the district for securing social entitlements and safeguarding rights of high risk groups and people living with HIV would help effectively address cases of stigma and discrimination.

Discussion Point:

Describe the progress made by the district in the last two years in mobilizing support and addressing cases of stigma and discrimination faced by high risk groups or people living with HIV.

Please provide a brief case study to demonstrate the steps taken by DAPCU.

Please send your Responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words by 25th May 2017.

            Click here to view Responses

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January - February 2017 Theme

Strategies for reducing PRE-ART LFU at district

The theme for November-December 2016 covered "steps taken by DAPCU to reduce the number of LFU cases in the district." Given the importance of decreasing LFU, the theme is being continued for the January-February 2017 period. The focus would be on "Pre – ART LFUs."

In continuation to our on-going theme, DAPCUs are requested to respond to the following.

Discussion Point:

Recommend innovative strategies used or may be put in place by DAPCU for tracing lost to follow up Pre-ART patients.

Please send your Responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words by 15th March 2017.

Click here to view Responses

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November-December 2016 Theme

Strategies for reducing ART-LFU at district

DAPCU plays a vital role in effectively managing the district level response to HIV through networking and coordination with NACP facilities.

Building effective linkages among ICTCs, ART Centres, Link ART Centres, Care and Support Centres and networks of positive people helps ensure that all clients diagnosed with HIV go through pre-ART registration, followed-up for CD4 testing, initiated on ART and retained on treatment. 

Despite concerted efforts, tracking and follow-up by DAPCU and service facilities, some HIV positive clients registered for pre-ART or on-ART miss their visits to the ART centre, which contributes to the growing burden of Lost to Follow-Up (LFU) cases.

Discussion Point:

Describe the steps initiated by DAPCU to reduce the number of LFU cases in the district.

Please send your Responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words by 26th December 2016.

             Click here to view Responses

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September-October 2016 Theme:

DAPCUs role in strengthening referral between ICTC - ART

One of the key functions of DAPCU is to coordinate referral and linkages between service facilities at district and sub-district levels. By strengthening linkages between ICTCs and ART centre, DAPCUs play an important role in preventing linkage loss and facilitate access to care and treatment services. While you respond, you may like to consider the following questions in organizing your thoughts:

Discussion Point:

1. What strategies are currently being adopted to ensure linkages between ICTCs and ART centre in your district?

2. What steps can DAPCU take to link all the patients who are detected positive for HIV at the ICTCs to ART ? [This will include patients from outside the districts, who do not have any ID Card, etc.]

Please send your Responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words by 20th October 2016.

Click here to view Responses

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August 2016 Theme
            Views on DAPCU's role in Non-DAPCU Districts

Under the National AIDS Control Program (NACP), 188 DAPCUs have been set up in A and B category districts. DAPCUs play a crucial role in planning, monitoring and coordinating the implementation of NACP activities at district and sub-district levels. However, a similar institutional mechanism is not available in non-DAPCU (C and D category) districts for managing and coordinating HIV/AIDS control activities.

Discussion Point:

How can the DAPCUs extend their support to non-DAPCU districts to manage/coordinate the NACP activities? 

The option suggested should not have any major financial implications on the system. 

Please send your Responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words.

Last date of submission of reply as 20th August 2016.

August 2016 Theme - Responses Closed

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June 2016 Theme

DAPCU Led Single Window Model

One of the key concerns for the National AIDS Control Program (NACP IV) is to facilitate access to government social benefit schemes for people infected and affected by HIV and those at high risk.

DAPCU Led Single Window Model (DLSWM) has been introduced by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) in 188 DAPCU districts to function as a single point of access for information about social benefit schemes. To implement this model, Helpdesks have been setup at NACP facilities for creating awareness about the schemes and guiding eligible beneficiaries through the application process. The DAPCU acts as an apex body in the district to facilitate improved access to social entitlements and social protection.

The role of DAPCU is to advocate with various government departments on behalf of affected populations and ensure that beneficiaries are able to avail the schemes without facing any stigma and discrimination.

Discussion Point:

 Describe efforts taken or Planned by DAPCU to increase the number of people availing Social  Benefit Schemes in your district in FY 2016-17.

Please send your Responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words.

 Last date of submission of reply as 15th July 2016.

June 2016 Theme - Responses Closed

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December 2013 Theme 

World AIDS Day-2013

We have all observed 1st of December as the World AIDS Day. Let us discuss a few aspects related to World AIDS Day.

• How did you observe this day at the district level? What was unique about your programme?
• What are few challenges faced by you and how did you overcome it? 

Please send your responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words. Attach photographs as relevant.

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October 2013 Theme - Responses Closed

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Integrating Care and Support Services to PLHIV in the Existing Government Health Facilities" in the Absence of CCCs in the District.

1. Has DAPCU faced any problems after closing CCC in the District?
2. What measures have been taken by DAPCU to replace the services given by CCC?
3. How did DAPCUs integrate the In Patient & Out Patient services in the existing Govt. Health facilities?
4. What are the good practices or approaches adopted to provide medical care to PLHIV within the district?

Send your responses in not more than 500 words to dapcuspeak@gmail.com.

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September 2013 Theme - Responses Closed  Click here to view all Responses

DAPCUs and Stigma and Discrimination

As district level coordination and monitoring units of the National AIDS Control Programme what are the roles and responsibilities of DAPCUs with respect to Stigma and discrimination relating to HIV

What measures have you initiated to facilitate reduction of stigma and discrimination in

o   Access to services
o   Health care settings
o   District administration and it departments
o   Community settings

Have you received complaints from PLHIV regarding stigma and discrimination? If so how have you addressed the issue?

Share any achievements of your district in fighting stigma and discrimination


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August 2013 Theme - Responses Closed - Click here to view all responses)

How do DAPCUs ensure comprehensive HIV/AIDS service are provided to the HIV Positive Migrants  (within District, out of District & State)" give specific examples on :

• Prevention & Early Detection
• Linking  to ART, Treatment Adherence, Follow-up of MIS & LFU
• PPTCT services

Give examples from your experiences and send responses in not more than 500 words to dapcuspeak@gmail.com. You can also send a maximum of 3 photographs along with it.

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July 2013 Theme (Responses closed- Click here to view responses)

Coordination Among DAPCUS

Is there a need for DAPCUs to work in coordination with each other? If so share how are DAPCUs in your state are doing this.

• What are the issues on which DAPCUs support each other and how is this coordination achieved?
• What role do the SACS play in enhancing this co-ordination?
• Share a few examples in which you have taken the support of other DAPCUs and how it has helped you. 
• Share a few examples of the results achieved by inter DAPCU coordination. 

Give examples from your experiences and send your responses in not more than 500 words. You can also send a maximum of 3 photographs along with it.

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June 2013 Theme (Response closed - Click here to view the responses)

DAPCUs and F-ICTCs

What is the role of DAPCUs in establishing F-ICTCs? How do you help in

• Locating a suitable health facility to establish  F-ICTCs

• Capacity building of the F-ICTC (i. e. training of staff, providing registers/ formats, providing guidance, supervision etc.)

• Strengthening of linkages between F-ICTC and Designated ICTCs

• Monitoring and evaluation of F-ICTCs

• Share a few achievements from your districts in this regard

Give examples from your experiences and send your responses in not more than 500 words. You can also send a maximum of 3 photographs along with it.

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May 2013 Theme (Response Closed)

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Supervision is a key role of DAPCUs.

• What according to you is supervision?
• How do you plan and implement your visits for supportive supervision?
• What should DAPCUs keep in mind while undertaking supervision? 
• List a few Dos and Don’ts.

Send your responses in not more than 500 words to dapcuspeak@gmail.com. You can also send a maximum of 3 photographs related to the theme from your district.

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March 2013 Theme (Response Closed)

WOMEN and HIV: Click here to View the Responses

This month many districts have observed women's day. Please share in brief (500 words and 3 pictures)

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

·  Have you made any special efforts to address their needs and vulnerability?

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

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As DAPCUs have been extremely busy with AAPs, therefore DAPCU Speak Team has been decided to extend the time line of theme response till 24th of March 2013.

February 2013 Theme ( Response closed) Click here to View the Responses

Role of DAPCUs to help & support Targeted Interventions

        ·What strategies have you used in your district for

o coverage of HRGs registration

o strategies to improve ICTC service to the HRG’s (twice a year)

o pre ART Registration and Testing for CD4 Count of HRGs found HIV Positive

o measures to improve the STI service to the HRG’s and ensure RMCs

o distribution of condoms, needle & syringes to all  HRGs 

·  How do DAPCUs and TSUs coordinate to support TIs. Please give examples

·  Does DAPCU support TIs in accessing the district administration? Are there any good practices related to getting social benefit schemes for PLHIV. 

Please share your successes and challenges in and share photographs as appropriate. Do discuss this theme with the TIs in your district as well as TSUs. We welcome independent contributions from TSUs on “Working with DAPCUs for supporting and coordinating TIs” 
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December 2012 Theme (Response Closed)

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District Coordination Committee for TB – HIV will ensure the implementation of TB – HIV collaboration activities in the District and review the performance of the same.

1.      What are the advantages of DCC in HIV-TB  collaboration activity

2.      Share examples from your districts - How can DCC for TB – HIV strengthen the cross referrals between the ICTC and RNTCP (diagnostic and treatment services, and ART and DOTS services, and overall implementation of the National framework for TB – HIV Collaborative activities)

3.      Share examples from your districts - Appropriate measures are taken to prevent the spread of TB infection in facilities caring for HIV – AIDS and spread of HIV infection through safe injection practices in the facilities providing RNTCP treatment services.

4.      Share examples from your districts - Role of ICTCs, ART, and Care and Support Centres in intensified TB case findings

5.      Share examples from your districts - What are the strategies DAPCU should opt for 100% treatment, care and support for TB – HIV co- infection cases?

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November 2012 Theme (Response Closed) Click here to View the Responses

Mainstreaming with line departments to spread the message of HIV/AIDS prevention in the district under the following subheads-   

• Importance of this activity
• Strategies
• The Role of DAPCU 

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October 2012 Theme (Response closed) Click here to View the Responses

National Voluntary Blood Donation Day

We have all observed 1st of October as the National Voluntary Blood Donation Day. Let us discuss a few aspects related to Blood Donation.

1. What is the significance of voluntary blood donation and how can DAPCUs promote it?
2. How did you observe this day at the district level? What was unique about your programme?
3. What are few challenges faced by you getting voluntary donors and how did you overcome it? VBD Camps is one of the strategies used, what other strategies have you tried in your district?

Please send your responses to dapcuspeak@gmail.com in less than 500 words. Attach photographs as relevant.

Last date for responses - 20th November 2012

Note: In addition to the above - DAPCU SPEAK blog team would also like to invite contributions from DAPCUs on their ideas on observing– World AIDS Day- 2012 by recognising efforts of line departments and stakeholders. What plans can we DAPCUs and district administration, develop to ensure that World AIDS DAY 2012 is used for recognizing contributions of individuals, organizations and departments in the districts?  

Download the theme by clicking here Click Me to download Theme

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September 2012 Theme (Responses Closed)
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The theme for this month is based on suggestions received from DAPCUs- POSITIVE PREVENTION. So please write to dapcuspeak@gmail.com to share

• Why is positive prevention important?
• What are the strategies for positive prevention underway in your district?
• What role does the DAPCU play in this regard?

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June 2012 Theme (Responses Closed)  
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Social Benefit Schemes, offer critical support to PLHIV and HRGs. DAPCUs are expected to facilitate the access to schemes by coordinating with the line departments and NACP facilities. Each district has its own strategy for social benefit schemes and this month we will share these strategies and outputs.

• What (name) social benefit schemes are PLHIV and HRG accessing in your district?
• How did the DAPCU and District Administration support them in getting the schemes?
• What was the role of facilities such as , DIC , DLN, LAC , ART , ICTC etc?
• What are the achievements - Scheme wise number of beneficiaries or other data as applicable?
• What are the challenges?

Send us a relevant photograph. Please ensure that if PLHIV or HRG are part of the photographs, you have their consent for sharing it on the DAPCU blog.

Recommended word limit -700

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May 2012 (Responses Closed)  
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District AIDS Prevention and Control Committees (DAPCC) have been 

formed in DAPCU districts across the country. These forums bring

together various stakeholders at the district level to provide support to the HIV programme. Let us share with each other successes of these forums.

• What are the advantages of having a DAPCC in the district?
• Highlight – 2-5 achievements of your district, which have been the result of the coordination with the departments and stakeholders through the DAPCC
• Send 2 -4 photographs along with your write up.
• Recommended word limit- 500

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April 2012 (Responses closed)
Click here to View the Responses  
When a new DC joins the district, what can DAPCUs do to familiarise the DC with the HIV scenario in the district?

Involvement of the district collector and district administration in review and support of the HIV programme is of great value. However, DCs often are transferred and new DCs take their place. Have you faced this situation??

• If so, please share how you orient the new district collector regarding the programme in your district?
• List the details that you present to help her/him in understanding the problem of HIV in your district and how the district administration can support the HIV programme. (If you have made a presentation to a new DC, you can email us the presentation too and we will be glad to review and upload it!)

If you have not done this till now, what do you think should be major areas on which the new DCs should be informed and oriented?

Recommended word limit – 500

Please send 2-3 relevant photographs (Please obtain consent of the people in the photograph)

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February 2012 (Responses closed)
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Facilitating linkages between ICTC and ART – to ensure that all individuals diagnosed as HIV positive reach the ART Centre for Pre ART registration

1. Provide maximum 5 strategies which you have used in your district to ensure people diagnosed HIV positive from ICTCs reach the ART Centre for Pre - ART registration. Please remember to tell us what improvement/change was noticed in the Pre ART Registration after you tried these strategies. Try to include these points

• What was the situation/problem/gap when you had initiated action? This will include time (month and year), the number of PLHIVs identified in the district and the number of PLHIVs who reached ART centre for Pre ART Registration. Eg. In April 2011 the total number of PLHIVs was__, the number of PLHIVs with Pre ART registration were ___. Or information regarding new PLHIV identified in the month and their Pre ART registration
• What are the strategies adopted? This may include specific action steps you have taken.
• What were the results/outcomes of your actions in the district? This may include the number of PLHIVs identified vs number of PLHIVs now registered for ART.  Eg, by Dec 2011, the total number of PLHIVs identified in the district was ___ and the number of PLHIVs registered on ART was___. Or information regarding new PLHIV identified in the month and their Pre ART registration.
  
  
  The above is only for your guidance. Feel free to write in any other format also. Use relevant text, photographs (only with permission of people photographed), and flowcharts creatively.
  
  
  Note: Word Limit -500. Your submission will be reviewed and if approved put up as it is on the blog.   Send all your responses by email only to dapcuspeak@gmail.com. Last date for response is 25^th February 2012. 

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December 2011 - Closed
DAPCUs were provided the following information from a  DAPCU Monthly Report and asked

1. How can district XXX reduce LFU cases in their district? Suggest strategies.