Koraput Updates on PARAB

PARAB- A district level cultural programme is being observed in every year since 2000. PARAB is the word taken from the dictionary of traditional adivasi language of Koraput. Its actual means a celebration. The cultural programme is actually being organized by the local adivasi community since a long . The motto behind conducting  such celebration to gather their community in one place for merry making, enjoyment, a day for initiating a new work, a good time for preparation of new hut, marriage, offering natural god and goddess for their kind blessings upon them etc. and a moment for celebrating various types of holy celebrations. In order to remember the past celebration and in search of artistic ability among rural people as well as gathering the culture and tradition of other district and to promote Self Help Groups through Pallishree Mela district Administration observed such district level cultural programme since 2000.

As Koraput is one of vulnerable district for HIV/AIDS next to Ganjam having HIV +ve more than 1500, the information on prevention as well as control need to be disseminated among the general pulbic, DAPCU installed an exhibition stall as like the previous year. This year more than 10 lakhs people came to observe the celebration. The celebration is being observed in Koraput stadium.

Different activities conducted by DAPCU, Koraput

Installation of red ribbon

One big red ribbon has been installed at the front wall of the stall which disseminated the message on HIV/AIDS and attracted most of the people to enter into the stall. Some of the anxious people ask what is the motto behind installing such banner and DAPCU staffs understood the actual objectives of the banner installation as it is the symbol which represents No to HIV/AIDS and Yes to life. 

Display of flex on HIV prevention and control,

Inside the IEC stall different flex has been displayed showing: Routes of transmission, misconception, symptoms on HIV/AIDS and what are the suggestive measures to be taken for prevention & control of HIV/AIDS and post affected time management. The general youths, school children, college students, other official staffs, unemployed people, labours, workers groups were visited the stall and few among them also discussed to know more about HIV/AIDS. So staffs of DAPCU as well as PEs & ORWs of PPTCT.

Registration of visitors

The visitors who were visited the stalls and discussed with us on various routes of transmission, we made an arrangement for taking their registration as well as message for HIV/AIDS.  Registration of the people done by the PEs of TI-EKTA who were deputed for three days to take registration as well as consent from them.

Male & Female condom demo by PE of TIs

Some of the visitors showed their interest on proper use of condom and some difficulties while using the condom. In this connection, PEs of TI-EKTA demonstrated them the proper use of condom through male and female condom model. They also cleared the doubts of them on use of condoms and the advantages related to it. 

IEC demonstration inside the stall

Different IEC materials like leaflets, posters and booklets on HIV/AIDS and its prevention and care, support and treatment, information of different services being provided in the facilities, leaflet form of some selected flex banner etc. were arranged on an IEC table. These IEC materials were distributed among the visitors after taking their registration and the activities were conducted by the PEs of the TI-EKTA as well as staffs of DAPCU, Koraput.

Dissemination of message on HIV/AIDS through Pala & Magic Show:

A most important and innovative activity was undertaken by DAPCU, Koraput by disseminating information on HIV/AIDS related to care, support & treatment, prevention and control through Pala & magic show. About more than 800 nos. of people enjoyed each show conducted by these troupes. Every day 4 nos. of Magic Show and one Pala has been performed jest close to the stall by forming an stage. When we took consent from few persons randomly among the crowd, we found that they like such type of innovative activities and through these show the message on HIV/AIDS have been disseminated among the general public who were coming to observe the IEC van

Gathering consent & open discussion with the visitors on HIV/AIDS and its routes of transmission:

In between each Magic show DAPCU staffs took the consent from the interested visitors and tried to disseminate the message on HIV/AIDS like Routes of Transmission, Misconceptions, Stigma & Discrimination, PPTCT services, Services provided in different facilities. With such activity DAPCU evaluate the level of knowledge, Attitude and Practice of the topics of HIV/AIDS. Some of the specific issues on HIV/AIDS were also solved by the DAPCU personnel’s. In this ways, the message on HIV/AIDS disseminated and reached to the general mass through these visitors.

Installation of message/ slogan box for collection of HIV/AIDS messages  from the visitors:

DAPCU planned and installed a message box at the left side of the stall. All the visitors were motivated to put their messages and slogans in the regional language relating to routes of transmission, Care, Support & Treatment, Misconceptions, Stigma & Discrimination. Time to time DAPCU motivated the public at the stage to put their valuable message in the massage/ Slogan Box. One the last day of PARAB’12, i.e. on 18^th Nov’12 the best three among message and slogan writer were given prizes by Ms. Rasmita Mohanty, DPM, DAPCU, Koraput.  

Conduction of open quiz programme:

In continuous with the other programme DAPCU also conducted Open quiz competition among the general youths. In the programme the whole mass of public were asked one question and how among them able to speak the answer was awarded with a prize by DPM, DAPCU, Koraput. This type of event continued in every night i.e. from 7:30 Pm to 8:30 PM. Crowd also appreciated the open quiz programme and also acquired enough knowledge on HIV/AIDS and its routes of transmission as well as care, support and treatment.

Display of HIV/AIDS messages by other NGOs and UNICEF

As like previous year PARAB-11 festival, this year also few stalls of NGOs like Lepra-NGO, SOVA-NGO and Unicef had presented few demo as well as information on HIV/AIDS. Such type of activity shows that the HIV/AIDS programme is accepted by the few other line departmental organization and showing the mainstreaming activity.

Koraput DAPCU Shares Experiences on PARAB

PARABA is a district level cultural programme organized by District Administration in Nov 2011 for tribal communities. Koraput,, a tribal region where one can find simplicity of life and pure hearted greetings, emotional attitude for new comer, respectful behavior to the seniors and children grow up in love and care. Hence, in the ground of PARAB one can smell the fragrance of such beautiful flowery attraction from the tribal people of Koraput. District Administration has been organizing PARAB to bring together all culture on a common platform and present before the visitors these traditions and inviting them to be the part of celebration.        

IEC intervention by DAPCU at PARAB:

Keeping the view of huge gathering of different category of people DAPCU had planned to conduct IEC activity in the Parab. Similar to last year, DAPCU nstalled an IEC stall (24X20 FIT) for IEC intervention. So, this moment may create a good environment to aware the people about HIV/AIDS. 

Preparation for PARAB’11 :

Preparatory meeting was conducted at DAPCU office with the NACP facilities for better out come. In the meeting events were decided and finalized along with these responsibilities were also disseminated among the staff. Accordingly, banners were finalized.

Components

• Decoration of the stall: DAPCU had taken two stalls (10’X12’) each for display of information on HIV/AIDS. A giant red ribbon model (structure) was installed on the top of the stall which can be visible for all and reminding them of theme of HIV/AIDS. The Red Ribbon was decorated with lighting. More than 10,000 leaflet & Booklets of information have been taken by the visitors during five days. The present HIV scenario of the district printed at the flex banner was displayed in front of the stall which let the visitors to see the present situation of HIV AIDS in the district.
• IEC through audio visual: Video clippings of all chief functionaries of the facilities under NACP were captured stating their role in the NACP programme and their view on HIV/AIDS. The video clippings were taken from Dr. Nishikant Kar, CDMO, Dr. Srilata Sahu, ADMO (PH) and DACO , Dr. Bijay Kumar Mohapatra, ADMO (Med), Dr. Pattnaik MO ART centre and CCC , MO i/c STD clinic and Mr. Bidhan Ch. Nayak, DPM, DAPCU and all chief functionaries of service delivery units.
• Display of pictorial flex banner on: The stall was organized with the information regarding the programmes of NACP activities. Flex banner was designed accordingly as well as information was shown about linkages with the facilities. The banners were developed on themes like: stigma and discrimination, modes of transmission and preventive measures, Information on Surakhya clinic, Linkages and Referral among the facilities, PPTCT service, Sign and symptoms of HIV/AIDS:
• Demonstration of male and female condom:  Both male and female condom demonstration was demonstrated to the visitors in audio visual form. Apart from this, the proper use of condom was demonstrated by the Counsellor of ICTC through with the penis. The PEs of TI project facilitated the questions of the visitors regarding the proper use of condom, different brands available in the market and where they can avail free condoms.
• Counseling on HIV/AIDS, STI by ICTC Counselor: Some of the visitors were interested to know about the roots of transmission of HIV/AIDS and its prevention method, services available in the district and how the service can be availed etc.  The ICTC counselors were deputed and assigned for sessions with the visitors. Especially, it was observed that many queries were bases on STI, and RTI related issues and these were clarified by the counselor. 
• Quiz competition on HIV/AIDS: An open quiz competitions were conducted on 16^th & 17^th Nov’11, at the ground in front of the stall. The questions were based on HIV/AIDS. The activity was conducted to develop thirst to know about HIV/AIDS. More than five hundred people gathered for the competition and prizes were also given to the participants.
• Visit of Child Reporter to the IEC stall: On second day, a group of child reporters visited the stall and collected information on HIV/AIDS. They have been accompanied by the counselors and who helped them get appropriate information.
• Visit of PRI members, Collector and DM and Director of SC & ST Devt. Dept. to the IEC stall: During the inauguration of the ceremony, Sj. Pyari Mohan Mohapatra, Hon’ble MP, visited DAPCU stall along with Director of SC & ST Devt. Dept., Orissa, Bhubaneswar and Collector & DM, Koraput, Honble Zilla Parisad President sj Ashok Kumar Pangi, Honble MLA, Laxmipur, Sj Jhinna Hikka Honble MLA Koraput Sj. Raghuram Padal   including the media personnel. He discussed with District Programme Manager, DAPCU about the program. 

It is our immense pleasure to pay gratitude to OSACS and JD IEC Dr. Tripati Mishra and entire division for providing financial support for the event. At the same time  to CDMO Dr. N. K. Kar, Dr. Srilata Sahu, DACO, Koraput for support and being the person behind the event. The last but not the list DAPCU extend thanks for the financial as well as support of human resource by the NGO partners named TI- EKTA, CCC, DIC , Bilt ART centre and Lepra society.