DAPCU North Tripura (Tripura) Response to the Theme : Strategies for reducing ART-LFU at district

Action point taken to reduce the LFU & Pending CD4 count:

• DAPCU has worked in close coordination with Tripura SACS, health department officials and NACP facility staff to put in place a strategy to collect blood for CD4 count testing at the Facility Integrated ART (FI-ART) centre itself. This strategy has reduced LFU cases as clients can reach the FI-ART easily instead of going to the Agartala Government Medical College (AGMC) located at a distance of 190 kms.
  

• A sensitization workshop was organized for people living with HIV to discuss the importance of pre-ART registration, CD4 testing, ART adherence and reducing LFU cases.

DAPCU has initiated steps in coordination with facilities for tracing LFU cases through better outreach and improved counselling of people living with HIV. ANC mothers are  being tracked with the help of community members, ASHA and Multi Purpose Worker.

Mobilization and sensitization on CD4 testing for People Living with HIV at Dharmanagar, North Tripura

Blood sample collection by FI-ART centre at Dharmanagar, North Tripura

DAPCU North Tripura on Facebook

DAPCU North Tripura Response to the Theme: World AIDS Day-2013

DAPCU North Tripura Celebrated WORLD AIDS DAY-2013 on 1^st December,(Sunday) at Kailashahar Town Hall,with the help & Co-ordination from, Information & Cultural Affairs & Kailashahar Press Club.There was Well arrangemenet & facilitation from every nook & Corner.

Observation of the Day: The day was observed with felicitation of Special Guest on the dias & Inaugural song. Then,Special lectures was delivered by the Various Officials from various Departments.They focussed on the prevalance of HIV/AIDS at the district,state,Country & World,activities by the DAPCU & SACS.Thus,lectures was delivered by the Officials on the dias.

Secondly,Scientific & Technical sesions was delivered by the Medical Officers .They highlighted how HIV replicates,spreads,prevents ,Sign,Symbol &  Pre-caution of the disease.Then they also highligheted various measures of the treatment.

Then there was a Quiz Competition arranged by DAPCU on basics of HIV, through which awareness can be generated. Quiz participant was awarded with a Small Gift.

Then there was ART Competition at Sishu Vidya Bhavan, Gouranagar, Near by DAPCU Office Arranged by DAPCU on 30^th November on the eve of “WORLD AIDS DAY”. 40 Students participated in the ART Competition. The ART Competition was arranged by DAPCU & Certificates were given to participants. Every participant was awarded with a Certificate and 1st, 2nd & 3^rd prize winner in ART Competition was also given prizes.

At last there was a Drama on HIV/AIDS performed by a drama group.The drama theme was on spreading & threating scenario of HIV/AIDS.

Uniqueness in the Programme:  There was a Scientific Session in the Programme, through which HIV replication, prevention of HIV/AIDS & general messages was given to the participants.

There was also a Quiz Completion, through which General Messages on HIV/AIDS like, Full form of HIV & AIDS, High Risk & low risk factors, Full form of NACO & its Symbol, STI & location of the facility centres was conveyed to the masses.

Everyone was encouraged in the programme, as they were given Certificates.They were called  in front of microphone so that masses can be encouraged in the programme & awareness can be generated.

Besides, that there was an ART Competition arranged by DAPCU on the eve of WORLD AIDS DAY, so that they can be encouraged.  So, that was the strategy adopted by DAPCU & all Govt, Non-Govt, various associations was invited in the programme.

At last Drama Presented by a Drama group was excellent as it was on Spreading of HIV/AIDS & prevention.

Particiapnts was awarded with Certificates duly signed by the authorities, so that masses can be encourage to participate in such programmes.

There was almost 300 to 350 Participants in the Programme.

Challenges & Overcoming the Challenges: Did not face any challenges as the programme was arranged with the collaboration of CMO Cum DACO, Information & Cultural Affairs Department, Kailashahar Press Club, other line Departments including health functionaries.The Programme was organized successfully & the Programme was covered by Media.

        Group Picture during World Aids Day

Picture during Quiz Competition

ART Competition on the Eve of World AIDS Day

Drama on HIV/AIDS

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

District AIDS Prevention & Control Unit of North Tripura (DAPCU) is working since 2009 & providing services to the peripheral units in keeping liaising & Co-ordination with other line Departments in order to improve the programme.

DAPCU is covering two districts, North & Unakoti. Eastern part of North Tripura is connected with Assam and northern part of Mizoram, West side of North Tripura is connected with Dhalai District, North Tripura is connected with Bangladesh and South part of North Tripura is connected with Bangladesh and a part of Mizoram. The economy of the District is primarily agrarian. Majority of the people is below poverty line. Economic factor is the derivation of the problem.

North Tripura is having 2469.90 square Kilo Meter of Geographical area & near about 10 lacs population.

The Care, support & treatment needs of HIV positive people in the stage of infection, needs holistic care & support. Under the national program, a Community Care Centre (CCC) is a place with facilities for outpatient and inpatient treatment. Basically DAPCU, North Tripura is not having CCC in the district but the patient was referred to CCC.

• Integrating Care & Support services is being provided to PLHA in existing Govt. health facility & Services.

DAPCU faced problem after closing of CCC, because patients were coming from ICTC, F-ICTC, TI & other units at DAPCU to take services, as earlier they used to get services but now they are not able to access the service. So now where they will go? This is the major concern of DAPCU to facilitate the patient. PLHA used to get following services:

Medical Services.

Psycho-Social Support.

Nursing Care.

Counseling.

Free medicine & Services on Opportunistic Infection.

Providing Anti natal & Post natal care.

Free Accommodation to the In-patient.

Now, they are deprived of these above mentioned services & came at DAPCU to facilitate them, so now this is a major concern for DAPCU. They felt that CCC is “A home away from home”.

• DAPCU faced problem & took some initiatives on this issue:

1. During Meetings, Visits & discussion, discussed with MO/IC, MO, MS, SDMO & other officers to admit PLHA’s in case of OI’s & when they need admission. The matter was also discussed with CMO, DM & other line departments. So, now they are getting the care, support services from these peripheral units.
2. DAPCU also facilitated PLHA’s through PHC, CHC & IL & FS, and LWS to refer them at ART Centre.
3. Mobilized through different funds through discussion with MO/IC.

• DAPCU integrated & facilitated the In-patient & outpatient services through following measures:

1. During visits, meetings & discussion with MO & MO/IC discussed with MO & MO/IC to admit PLHA in case of OI’s & also provide care & support services. Now, they are getting the services.
2. Providing medicine intake to the patients as per doctor’s prescription.
3. Linkages & referral services as per problem concerned.
4. Mobilize pregnant women for PPTCT services & liaison with other health functionaries such as ANM, ASHA and Anganwadi workers.

• DAPCU is doing some good practices, those are as follows:

1. Linking with needed resources & centers, through concerned facilities to enhance their functional capacity & also provide care & support services.
2. Undertake field visits to verify the address of the person who has been enrolled on ART and sent to ART for counseling support.
3. Providing training to Doctors & Staff Nurses.
4. Mobilizing through outreach worker.

Staff Meeting at DAPCU on PLHA Issue Conducted by DAPCU

Meeting with line Departments on PLHA issue