PREVENTION OF HIV/AIDS AND STRENGTHENING OF PLHIV SELF-HELP NETWORK IN TIRUNELVELI DISTRICT – NELLAI NET

In response to the grave situation in Tirunelveli District in the context of HIV/AIDS and in continuation of the initiatives of Family Health International, in 2007, Pro-Vision initiated the Project on Comprehensive HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care and Support Project in eight blocks of Tirunelveli District implemented by four partner NGOs in 2007. Later in 2009, it was extended to five more blocks with the aim of reached the unreached areas with the support of Malteser International. While Pro-Vision partners covered 13 blocks, the Salvation Army Community Health and Development Programme covered the remaining blocks. Thus the entire district of Tirunelveli was covered and the PLHIV from the district were organised into self sustaining support groups, co-ordinated at the block level and federated at the district level as Nellai Sutram.
GOAL OF THE PROJECT
The long-term goal aimed at over five to ten years is Enhancement of the quality of life of the PLHIV and their family members and prevention and control of the transmission of STI, HIV/AIDS in Tirunelveli District.
SPECIFIC RESULTS AIMED AT
While the overall goal remains the same over the period of time, the specific results aimed at vary according to the development in the field and the emerging needs:
1 Nellai Sutram gain more experience in managing programmes, finance and documents and undertake advocacy in favour of the PLHIV
2 Existence of self reliant SGs enabling positive living of PLHIV
3 Increased awareness on STIs, HIV/AIDS among the public and MARP
4 Interventions at source and transit areas facilitating safe migration and industrial sites preventing transmission.
5 Early identification of PLHIV and facilitating HBC, CBCS and access to treatment to PLHIV and FAA
6 Enhanced community involvement and support for the PLHIV and their families without discrimination
7 Utilisation of the existing schemes and concessions of the government
8 As a strategic means, strengthened project team for effective implementation, co-ordination and sustaining the interventions
PARTNERS AND TARGET AREA
PARTNERS
TARGET AREA
ACTIVITIES BY PRO-VISION
    • Capacity Building
      • Orientation to Directors, Coordinators and Accountants
      • Training to Programme staff
      • Training to Care Givers
      • Training to Peer Educators
      • Follow up trainings
    • Promotion of IEC
    • Co-ordination
    • Monitoring
    • Review and Planning
    • Strategic Support
ACTIVITIES BY PARTNERS
Prevention of STI, HIV/AIDS
    • One to One Interaction
    • One to Group Interaction
    • Awareness programmes
    • Life Skill Education
    • Street Theatre
    • Poster Exhibition
    • Training / sensitization to different categories of secondary stakeholders
    • Counselling
  • Condom demonstration
  • Condom distribution
  • Referral to STD clinic, VCTC, ICTC, PPTCT
  • Mobile information Booth
  • Train intervention
Home and Community Based Care and Support
    • Promotion of community based care givers
    • Counselling to PLHIV
    • Home based care to PLHIV
    • Training on self care
    • Training to family members of PLHIV
    • Referral for management of OI / STD
  • Formation of support groups
  • Co-ordination and federation of support PLHIV
  • Nutrition Support
  • IGP Support
  • Formation of Friends of PLHIV forums
  • Integration in existing community based organizations
  • Legal Support
  • Lobby and advocacy
MAJOR INDICATORS AS ON DECEMBER 31, 2012

NO
INDICATOR
AT
PT
CPE
AC
TOTAL


1
PLHIV reached from Sep 2003 to
December 2012
463
505
327
721
2016

2
PLHIV identified from April 2007 to
Dec. 2012
418
460
305
470
1653

3
PLHIV under HBC as on Dec. 2012
400
400
261
374
1435

4
Registered in ART centre
395
397
253
370
1415

5
PLHIV on ART
159
212
98
131
600

6
Support groups
17
13
12
16
58

7
Membership in support groups
172
189
131
160
652

8
Block Co-ordination
3
3
4
3
13

9
Membership in block cordination
51
39
39
45
174

10
Effectively functioning IGPs
39
35
21
32
127

11
Friends of PLHIV forums
11
10
21
11
53

12
Widows getting pension
72
49
34
44
199

13
PLHIV benefited in Govt. schemes
(widow pension, Free patta, cluster house)
83
60
39
47
229

TREATMENT SEEKING BEHAVIOUR AMONG THE PLHIV
Working with the PLHIV and their family members through its networking partners, Pro-Vision developed a better understanding of their existing and emerging needs and issues to be addressed. The innovations and trends in the field of HIV/AIDS are fast changing that needs dynamic and creative response. With the advancement in medical and health care and the changing perceptions at the community level, the need to prepare the PLHIV and their family members to access the available health care facilities become imperative, more specifically they need to be oriented on treatment seeking related to OI Management and ART. The project was designed to be implemented through the existing partners and staff team, as a complementary project to the existing and to integrate it and sustain its impact.
This project was supported by HIV Collaborative Fund – South Asia of TIDES Foundation.
The Goal of the project is to ensure that treatment adherence by addressing the special needs of the specific categories.
The Specific Objectives are:
  • To promote treatment / ART literacy to the PLHIV
  • To identify the special needs of the specific categories and address them.
  • To promote a cadre of Peer Treatment Educators and facilitate treatment seeking among the PLHIV
  • To undertake advocacy among different stakeholders concerned with the treatment of HIV at different levels.
The strategies include:
  • Implement the project through the existing network as a complementary project
  • Promote Treatment Literacy to PLHIV through the network
  • Promotion of a team of Peer Treatment Educators in each block
  • Facilitate Treatment Education through them
  • Strengthening of the Support Groups to facilitate treatment seeking
  • Undertake advocacy programme through the support groups
The project was implemented for a period of two and half years commencing in February 2008.
  • As an impact of the project the following issues got focused and the network continues to address the issues through the Nellai Sutram and the Committee for the Promotion of Treatment.
  • The reason for inadequate treatment seeking, the blocks preventing treatment, the facilities available were studied and the PLHIV were motivated and guided to access treatment.
  • A Committee for Promotion of Treatment was formed under the leadership of Dr. R. Anburajan, Director, Peace Trust consisting of representatives of NGOs, Nellai Sutram EC members and the government officials. The ART medical officer is a regular special invitee for the meeting. The committee meets once in a month, review the issues related to treatment seeking of the PLHIV and indulge in advocacy activities. As on August 2011, the CPT has met 21 times. In course of time, it would be integrated within Nellai Sutram and the treatment seeking needs of the PLHIV will be addressed regularly.
  • The special needs of the specific categories of PLHIV such as PLHIV with Tuberculosis, Concordant Couples, Discordant couples, Widows and Parents / Guardians of CLHIV were identified and efforts were taken to address them through training, education materials and individual counseling.
  • 20 Peer Treatment Educators were promoted under the specific project and in course of time they were converted into care givers and are functioning in their respective areas. Promotion of treatment seeking is one of the major roles of the care givers.
Pro-Vision network does not view this as a separate project, rather an opportunity to support, strengthen and sustain the work with the PLHIV.