DAPCU Kanyakumari (Tamilnadu) Response to the Theme : DAPCU's role in addressing stigma and discrimination and mobilizing support for high risk groups and people living with HIV

To address stigma and discrimination and mobilize support for high risk groups and people living with HIV, DAPCU Kanyakumari has conducted sensitization programmes for Government departments, schools and the general public.

Government Departments

 Incidents of stigma and discrimination were discussed with Heads of Department to mobilize their support. Sensitization and training programmes have been conducted for department staff, which has resulted in improved delivery of social welfare services to high risk groups and people living with HIV. When beneficiaries approach departments to apply for social benefit schemes, staff now respond to requests with greater sensitivity and understanding. Since participating in the sensitization and training Programme, staff offer necessary support to the client for claiming social entitlements and even enquire about the person’s family situation.

Schools

 School Headmasters have been sensitized to carefully handle cases of stigma and discrimination experienced by students living with or affected by HIV as well as take steps to prevent any harassment due to their status.

Case study

The following case study highlights the role played by DAPCU Kanyakumari in mobilizing support and addressing stigma and discrimination in our community.

In one of the villages, a person living with HIV was not being considered for daily wage work and neighbours were maintaining a distance from her knowing that she was positive. When the lady approached with a complaint, DAPCU took immediate action. With support from the Ward Councilor, a sensitization Programme was conducted in the village. DAPCU raised awareness about HIV, routes of transmission, and common myths surrounding HIV and AIDS. During the Programme, the audience sat near the HIV positive person and shook hands to demonstrate that they accept her as any other person. DAPCU has observed a change in the community’s attitude towards the person since the sensitization Programme was organized.

DAPCU Kanyakumari Response to the Theme: Care and Support Services for PLHIVs in the Absence of CCCs

Problems Faced after the closing of CCCs:

For minor OIs we find very difficult to get admissions in Medical College hospital. And patients who are new and need to do basic investigations had have to come long way for two to three days to ARTC. CCC was a good place where only PLHAs can share there problems with out any hesitations as all the patients are PLHAs and the bystanders also know about them.They could talk to everybody in CCC openly.But in hospitals even the staff know about the HIV status the patient in the near by bed is not aware and the PLHA is always in a fear that whether anybody tell them about the HIV satus.Until they are discharged from the hospital they under the fear that the HIV status will be disclosed to others by any of the staff.

Measures have been taken by DAPCU to replace the services given by CCC:

Discussed with DACO and other medical officers about the minor Ois when the PLHAs need admission in the hospital.Now all the MOs of peripheral centres are willing to admit the PLHAs and to give  care to them and also trying to give any other support needed for the PLHAs. Previously when one PLHA come to peripheral centre usually the MO refer them to ARTC. Now the descrimination has come down and most of them are treating the PLHAs in Govt hospitals.

Kanyakumari Response to Theme - Coordination between DAPCUs

Coordination between DAPCUs is very necessary in all the AIDS control activities.

When one patient from some other district is identified in our district we usually contact the concerned DAPCU and share the address of  the patient with them if the patient is not registered in our ART Centre or not coming for regular follow up.Thus we are able to update the details of the patient .

More important thing is if an ANC Positive case is identified the DAPCUs help in following up the clients.We have one ANC positive client who was identified in Nagapattinam District and delivered in Kanyakumari district .We shared the data with Nagapattinam DAPCU .So coordination between DAPCUs not only with in the state but with all DAPCUs in the country is very essential for following up the patient

Also when some other district is doing some good work and sharing the same it can be applied for our DAPCUalso .