Our Correspondent
Kohima | August 9
Project director, Nagaland State AIDS Control Society Dr. Neiphi Kire today stated that there are 19,000 suspected HIV positive persons in the state of which 10,000 have been detected so far. Dr. Kire was Addressing the inaugural function of the five day long refresher training for ART/CCC counselors of Nagaland and Mizoram got underway here today at the DUDA Guest House under the aegis of the department of education, SSR, Nagaland University (NU) Kohima, Saksham, GFATM Round- 7, Counseling Component. Dr. Kire asserted that counselors have to play a crucial role to ensure that HIV positive persons get proper treatment through ART centres. The project director also called upon the counselors to see that NACO module is followed and at the same time congratulated the Nagaland University for taking up such training programmes in the state.
Source said that although ART is not a cure for HIV, it helps and HIV positive person with low CD4 count lead a normal life for many years by slowing down the spread of HIV in the body, keeping the HIV infection level in check and preventing development of opportunistic infections. Taking ART regularly, maintaining a healthy environment, a positive mindset, a good nutrition and regular exercise are all essential aspects of leading a healthy life with HIV and AIDS, source said.
“A timely start of ART and strict adherence to it can help you lead a normal life for many years, source added. Dr Buno Liegise, head, department of education, NU also attended the inaugural function as the guest of honour. Narola Chuba, Asst Professor, department of education, NU chaired the function while welcome speech was delivered by Dr Lungsang Zeliang, faculty in charge, Saksham, SSR-GFATM, NU. Vote of thanks was proposed by Lobeni Kikon, capacity building officer, Saksham, SSR-GFATM, NU.
The training programme, to go on till August 13, will focus on ART centres, link ART centre, CCC, treatment preparation counseling, using tolls in counseling, basic skills in counseling, counseling for side effect and disclosure, stigma and discrimination in HIV, positive living and HIV, reproductive health and family planning, pediatric ART adherence counseling, good nutrition in the nutritional care and support of PLHIV, nutritional care for children with HIV or children born for HIV positive mothers etc.
It may be recalled that the term Saksham comes from an Indian word which means, “Capable” or “Self- reliant.” Saksham is one of the GFATM Round 7, HIV/AIDS Counseling programme in India launched on September 29 last year at Delhi. The objectives of GFATM-7 includes; enhance the nurses and institutional capacity of 55 nurses training institutes, enhance the institutional capacities of 40 counselor training institutes and conduct capacity building for counselors and build a rural community outreach model to address the complex needs of rural prevention, care and support requirements in 121 high prevalence/high vulnerable districts.
Saksham aims to fulfill one of GFATM R- 7 programme objectives; i.e to “enhance the institutional capacities of key counselor training institutes and conduct capacity building for counselors.” In the long run, the Saksham programme aims to become potential resource group for South and South West Asia on HIV/AIDS counseling and training. Saksham is accountable to the India CCM. National AIFS Control Programme and the Global Fund, persons living with HIV/AIDS and marginalized communities.
Source said that Saksham is committed to responding to the needs of the national programme with regard to HIV/AIDS counseling training through enhancement of quality trainers, improvement of the quality of training infrastructure and training system and support and supervision of training institutions and counselors.
Saksham is a unique partnership between 41 academic institutions, who are working in close coordination with public health system (NACO), as part of their commitment to be socially relevant and responsive to national needs. The implementing partners are located in 25 states of India.
Saksham is committed to building relationships, networks and alliances with different stakeholders since the complex nature of the epidemic calls for multi disciplinary, multi stakeholder and integrated response. Thus it values its collaboration with the public health system, NACO, State AIDS Control Societies, experts, NGOs, representatives of Positive People’s Networks, civil society and corporate agencies.
Source also said Saksham respects the diversity and richness of local contexts, systems, experiences, strengths, and challenges derived from these partners. The programme has a ‘right based paradigm’ and emphasized transparent, supportive and consultative processes for all strategy development.
In Nagaland, NU registrar along with the FIC has signed a MoU with TISS and SR on March 17, 2009. SSR- NU is attached to the department of education, Kohima campus, Meriema. The SSR-NU has a collective of 19 master trainers from various fields of NGOs, institutions and SACS, along with 2 project staffs and FIC.
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