DAPCU Coimbatore (Tamilnadu) Response to the Theme : DAPCU Led Single Window Model

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

DAPCU Coimbatore has been implementing the DAPCU Led Single Window Model in various ways to increase the number of people availing Social Benefit Schemes in Coimbatore district for the Financial Year 2016-17. The following are the efforts being taken and also activity plan by DAPCU to improve uptake of Social Benefit Scheme by PLHIVs/MARPs/CLHIV.

1. DAPCU Coimbatore has established 30 helpdesks in the NACP facilities and helps complete the application, collects the filled application which is then scrutinized by the Help Desk Nodal person.  

2. Help Desk activities are reviewed during the HIV facilities review meeting every month.

3. DAPCU has planned for an advocacy meeting with officials from the departments to provide Social Benefit Schemes.

4. Separate meeting is being conducted with ARTs/PLHIV Network/CSCs/NGOs every month.

Status of the Social Benefit Schemes during the year 2015-16.

S. No	Name of the Scheme	Applied	Sanctioned
1	Antyodaya Anna Yojana(AAY)	317	103
2	Ulavar Padukappu Thittam	479	176
3	OVC	286	71
4	ICPS	5	3
5	Free land Patta	102	67

DAPCU Coimbatore Response to : Stigma-Discrimination and DAPCU

Role and responsibilities of DAPCU with respect to stigma and discrimination:
• Main role is positive prevention which benefits and helps to reduce stigma and discrimination.
• Common reasons for stigma and discrimination are described to help counsellors understand the causes behind family and community attitudes and behaviour towards PLHIV. Self- stigma and enacted stigma are both discussed in detail and an assessment tool is provided that enables counsellors to identify the kind of stigma experienced by PLHIV. The DAPCU plays co- ordination of strategies to help clients cope with self and enacted stigma, such as communication skills and exercises to improve self- esteem.

Functions  &  Roles of DAPCU                                    
Coordination :

• Coordinate with PLHIV and reiterate the need for positive prevention.

Monitoring/supervisory :

• Reiterate the counsellors in providing positive prevention counseling to PLHIV.
• Reiterate the need to include prevention at every opportunity in prevention, care and support service delivery. 

    Measures:
• PLHIV can easily access to DAPCU and DPM on all days and their grievance are meeted out.
• In health care settings for surgery and LSCS, Delivery of PLHIV’S attention is immediately given by the DPM by talking to CMO, RMO, DEAN and JDHS.
• Inter department meeting was conducted and same was discussed and their coordination and help was sought by the DAPCU.
• In community setting advocacy work shop was held to minimize stigma and discrimination.
• Complaints was received from the PLHIV and the remedial measures had taken like we got ration card for a PLHIV in ONE DAY which was given by the COLLECTOR, This  PLHIV’s was under stigma by not getting ration card for the past 8 years. 
• THADCO loan, Self- Help group formation was done and the bank people hesitated and discrimination was there for giving loan which were settled by DAPCU and loan were given to PLHIV’s.
• To remove stigma and discrimination, PLHIV’s participated in Grama saba meetings and PRI members assured them to give houses for rental amidst common community.
  

Coimbatore Response to the Theme- Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Services to the HIV Positive Migrants

Intervention package for high risk migrants is outlined below

• Outreach and Communication.
• Peer-led, NGO-supported outreach and behavior change communication (BCC).
• Differentiated outreach based on risk and typology.
• Large-group format activities (e.g. street theatre, games, etc.)
• Interpersonal behavior change communication(IPC)
• Services.
• Promotion of condoms.
• Linkages to STI(sexually transmitted infection) services and other health services (e.g., ICTC, ART, drug/alcohol de-addiction)
• Strong referral and follow-up system.
• Enabling Environment.
• Advocacy With Key  stakeholders/power structures
• Linkages with other programmes and entitlements.
• Community Mobilization.
• Building capacity of migrants group to assume ownership of the programme.
• Prevention is done with the help of migrants programme by one to one and VPL involvements.
• Peer educators involvement.
• The migrants counselor  of various outreach workers distribute pamphlets printed in Telgu, Kannada , Malayalam ,and Tamil with the help of mobile ICTC.
• With the help of self help group follow up and facilities available in district like ICTC linking to ART treatment adherence follow up of MIS and LFU are done with help of M&E, PO & field workers with ART and with DAPCU and it is discussed in monthly review meeting of DAPCU every month.

Experience:

PPTCT services in Coimbatore are done new prophylaxis regimen is started (e. g 1) Name X of Bihar found positive and  then case was referred to ART centre and  CD count done and ART initiated on JULY 19.

 A case Bombay was delivered in CMC  case and ART prophylaxis was  initiated.

 A case Kerala  was delivered in CMC and both the cases PPTCT services were done.

DAPCU Coimbattore, Tamil Nadu Response-September 2012 Theme:

Positive Prevention Programs in Coimbatore District DAPCU

• Voluntary HIV testing and counseling that is confidential, consenting and with appropriate pre and post-test counseling.
• Diagnostic testing to monitor HIV and the immune system and regular screening, diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis.
• Antiretroviral therapy, including beyond first-line drugs, information and counseling on treatment literacy and services to support adherence to drug regimens.
• Regular screening, diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted infections.
• Prevention of opportunistic infections through drug prophylaxis and environmental interventions (nutrition, clean water, bed nets), and treatment when infections occur.
• Ensuring adequate, affordable supplies of male and female condoms and lubricants, and promoting their use.
• Sexual and reproductive health care like contraceptive services, maternal health services, and gynecologic and urologic care.
• Programs to support positive pregnant women and antenatal care to help them promote the health of their unborn child, including preventing parent-to-child transmission.
• Nutritional education, blood safety counseling and assistance.
• Diagnosis, counseling and treatment for depression and other mental health issues, which are common among people living with HIV.
• Counseling to build self-esteem, relationship counseling, risk-reduction counseling, including both individual counseling and skills-building.
• A person living with HIV and Positive Network NGO’s spoken openly and increase solidarity.
• Counseling for sero-discordant couples. These sessions should acknowledge the need for couples to express intimacy through sex and work to identify ways to have sex more safely. Counseling around exercise and encourage regular physical activity.
•  Peer support groups, especially for vulnerable groups including women, young people, young people born positive, sex workers, injecting drug users, and men who have sex with men.
•  Substance use interventions sensitive to the needs of people living with HIV.
•  Help in obtaining a safe, affordable place to live and services to ensure transportation to health clinics and places of employment.
• Child care services to enable parents to obtain health care, to work, and to participate fully in counseling and support activities.
• Employment assistance and income-generating and micro-credit programs
• Legal assistance to cope with issues such as HIV-related discrimination, insurance coverage. Advocacy and counseling trainings to support the greater involvement of people living with HIV.
• Specific training for health care providers in the health care needs of people living with HIV, as well as counseling and training on treating people living with HIV with dignity and respect
• Mass media campaigns to combat stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.
• Training for journalists in how to report accurately and sensitively on issues related to people living with HIV.

Coimbatore DAPCU is doing above Positive prevention programs in our district. At the same time, positive prevention is linked to other preventive health care efforts, including efforts to prevent HIV transmission. Everyone is responsible for stopping the transmission of HIV and everyone also has a role to play in making sure treatment is available, reducing stigma and discrimination, and reforming punitive and ineffective laws. Positive prevention will succeed “when everyone joins together for the same cause”; successful positive prevention will benefit everyone.

Coimbatore DAPCU's Response to May 2012 Theme - DAPCC Achievements

The advantages of having a DAPCC in the district

• The main objective is Coordination and support with all the departments related with HIV/AIDS programme.

Voter's Id Distribution

Achievements of DAPCU-Coimbatore, which have been the result of the coordination with the departments and stakeholders through the DAPCC. DAPCU in coordination with other departments and by contacting various officials in the district and major support from our District Collector, the following achievements are achieved or benefited by PLHIVs

• Voter ID for 2 FSWs.
• Ration card was sanctioned within one day for 5 PLHIV.
• Loan Rs.1,00,000 each for Self Help Group (SHG)-(2 groups) was sanctioned for positive people in coordination with DAPCU and network NGO.
• THADCO loan Rs.10,000/- each was sanctioned for 15 PLHIV members.(THADCO loan is the loan which need not be refunded)

Ration Card Distribution

Coimbatore DAPCU – Response to Question of the Month February 2012 - Facilitating ICTC to Pre ART Registration

This post was in response to the February 2012 theme

The following were the strategies  followed by DAPCU, Coimbatore to ensure that people diagnosed HIV positive from ICTCs reach the ART Centre for Pre -ART registration.

1. If positive identified then the details of the positive cases to be mailed to ART centre with a copy to DAPCU.
2. If the identified positive person is pregnant, in addition with the above process, the information is to be communicated to PPTCT NGO. From PPTCT NGO, ORWs are asked to undergo home visit at the earliest for the client registration in ART and further followup.
3. If the patient registered in ART, then the details of ART registration is communicated to all ICTCs on weekly basis with a copy to DAPCU.
4. In Coimbatore district the gap in ART registration has decreased when compared to the situation that was there when the DAPCU had just started functioning.
5. Also maximum all the positives are registered in ART during the month itself.
6. If any positive belongs to other district, the concern ICTC centre is asked to send a mail to other district and ensure the same for ART registration.

The DAPCU monitors these processes on a weekly basis.