| Focus Areas |
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| HIV/AIDS |
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HIV/AIDS has emerged as one of the important public health problems in recent years in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh is one of the six high prevalent states and the only state with 1.6% prevalence of HIV infection among the ANC cases. Andhra Pradesh has the second highest number of HIV infections in India. The surveillance data for Andhra Pradesh clearly shows the spread of HIV infection from the high-risk groups to the general population. As the HIV problem intensifies, the issues of care and support for the affected individuals, and of prevention of HIV transmission to those who are not affected, has become even more critical. |
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Voluntary Counselling and Confidential Testing is seen as a key entry point for a range of interventions in HIV prevention and care. There are individual benefits that stem from knowing one’s HIV status, and it promotes potential benefits for the society. Increased availability and use of voluntary Testing is an important step towards normalizing attitude towards HIV and improving the environment for the prevention of the transmission. Experience within India and several other developing countries have shown that VCCTCs/PPTCTs (Prevention of Parent To Child Transmission) help people to cope with their HIV infection, to get access to care and to plan for their future.
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Realizing the importance of the Voluntary Counseling and Confidential Testing Centers (VCCTCs), NACO has decided to expand the network of Voluntary Counseling and Confidential Testing Centers up to the district level. The high prevalence states were considered in the first round, and in the year (2001-2002), in each district a VCCTC/PPTCT were initiated. |
The VCCTCs/PPTCTs in Andhra Pradesh is supported by APSACS, and the Project is currently being implemented in 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh and there are 140 counsellors supporting the project in various VCCTCs and PPTCTs attached to the District hospitals, Area Hospitals and Medical College Hospitals in the state.
Recognising the activities done by LEPRA Society, APSACS requested LEPRA Society to support its work in strengthening, capacity building and monitoring the VCCTCs/PPTCTs counselling project in Andhra Pradesh. |
LEPRA Society is supporting the Counselling Project (VCCTCs/PPTCTs), under the Project name APCP (Andhra Pradesh Counsellors project) in 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh from august -03. The prime objective of the project would be to ensure Quality in the counselling services being provided and to develop the safe space to the counsellor in physical, psychological, and knowledge parameters. |
For the sustained progress of the project, LEPRA Society is also involved in: |
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Selection and placement of counsellors in vacant positions |
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Induction, up-gradation training and organization of quarterly meet of counsellors at the regional/central level. |
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Continuous monitoring of the activities in all VCCTCs and PPTCTCs in 23 districts. |
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HIV/AIDS PROJECTS |
PARTNERSHIP FOR SEXUAL HEALTH - TRUCKERS PROJECT (PSH-T) |
LEPRA Society’s foray into HIV/AIDS activities was with a pilot project in 1995 to improve treatment-seeking behaviour for STIs among the truckers and reduce the prevalence of HIV. This project is run as an NGO partner to APSACS (Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society) and the Project services extended up to Toopran covering a stretch of 160 kms on National Highway 7 including Shamshabad, Gayatri Sugars, Sadashivnagar and Nizamabad district. This is now continued as Partnership for Sexual Health - Truckers project in 2005, wherein 3092 truckers travelling through Hyderabad and Kamareddy were treated for STIs; condom distribution was done at 15 points (nearly 554,086 were distributed) and behaviour change communication services were conducted for 29,374 people. Social marketing of condoms is also promoted to increase accountability of its use and 22,899 branded condoms were promoted through non-conventional outlets. |
The project introduced many innovative ideas highlighting the importance of peer education and improving awareness on sexual health and safe sex practices among the target group. Gradually the ownership is handed over to the secondary stake holders operating in all halt points through peer educators and halt point organising committees. |
FRONTIERS PREVENTION PROJECT |
The International HIV/AIDS Alliance identified LEPRA Society as a lead partner in implementing the Frontiers’ Prevention Project (FPP) in Andhra Pradesh since June 2002. FPP aims to scale up effective responses by key population groups to HIV/AIDS in Rayalaseema and Telangana regions of Andhra Pradesh. LEPRA Society identified the hot spots in 14 sites and empowered the key population groups to form 14 CBOs (Community based organisations). Participatory Site Assessment (PSA), a specialised tool, was used to involve community in planning, monitoring and implementation of the project. This project was phased out in 2005 due to drastic changes in donor implementation plans. |
Support to APSACS - The expertise achieved in PSA was used to build the capacities of
91-target intervention NGOs in the State on a request by APSACS. This gave recognition to LEPRA Society for its work in the field of HIV/AIDS. |
ANDHRA PRADESH COUNSELLORS PROJECT |
LEPRA Society was requested to provide technical and programme support to all VCCTCs (Voluntary Confidential Counselling and Testing Centre) and PPTCTs (Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission Centre) in Andhra Pradesh. A MoU was signed with APSACS in this effect from August 2003, under the name Andhra Pradesh Counsellors’ Project (APCP). The major components of the programme include ensuring quality in counselling and testing services at VCCTCs and PPTCTCs. APCP improved the quality in training for the counsellors as well as in service delivery. To further strengthen the APCP monitoring LEPRA Society placed regional monitors for more than a year and during the middle of 2005 APSACS took over the costs of regional monitors. At the beginning of 2005 there were 145 VCCTC and PPTCT put together in AP but during the course of the year there was scaling up of these centres which doubled. By end of December 2005 there were 205 VCCTC and 98 PPTCTC centres functioning to provide counselling and testing services in AP. The project recruited and inducted 148 new counsellors and has conducted three State level reviews for all counsellors during the year. |
In the VCCTCs, 258,817 persons were counselled & tested and 31,993 persons were tested HIV+ve. In the PPTCTCs, 3595 ANC (Ante Natal Cases) women were found to be HIV+ve, among which there were 2263 live births (2381 HIV +ve mothers delivered) and 2182 mother and infant pairs received nevirapine and follow-up treatment in 2005. About 1935 PLWHA (People Living with HIV/AIDS) were referred from APCP centres to obtain ART (Anti Retroviral Treatment) treatment in Hyderabad, Guntur and Vishakapatnam in 2005. |
CHEYUTHA |
A project to support PLHA with the active involvement of Network of People Positive (NPP+) was started in February 2005 with support from LEPRA Society. NPP+ is a community-based organisation (organization), established by like-minded people living with HIV/AIDS in A.P. The organisation is registered under the AP State Society Act 2001 and is functioning mainly in the twin cities of Hyderabad & Secunderabad, Rangareddy and Nalgonda Districts. Cheyutha is a dream comes true for NPP+, which provides medical and social support to 250 members of the network. Four doctors on rotation treat these members for opportunistic infection and provide medical advice. Cheyutha could reach out to more than 500 positive persons for the provision of quality services including counselling, psychological and emotional support. During 2005 Cheyutha obtained a small grant from Tides Foundation, USA. Cheyutha initiated its nutritional supplement programme on
19th March 2005. (For Cheyutha) Mr & Mrs Brown – (humanitarian) volunteers of Latter-Day Saint Charities organised the nutritional supplement for HIV+ persons and newborn baby kits for 500 HIV+ mothers. The staff of Cheyutha observed the World AIDS Day 2005 by providing HIV sensitization workshops to eight Satyam Computers Call centres in Hyderabad. |
The Cheyutha outreach staff got in touch with 345 PLHA in eight months time, 22 PLHA were assisted for institutional care in various Govt. Hospitals, 14 PLHA were referred for
TB HIV co-infection treatment. 99 PLHA were assisted in CD4 test and 149 were put on ARV treatment referred by Cheyutha. |
JYOTI PROJECT |
LEPRA Society has been identified as an umbrella organisation (country partner) by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Health and Human Services, Public Health Services, Federal Govt. of USA for its Global AIDS Programme (GAP) in India. |
A comprehensive HIV/AIDS programme is being implemented under the GAP in the six identified districts (Prakasam, Guntur, Cuddapah, East Godavari, Nellore and Nizamabad) of AP in partnership with APSACS, Catholic Health Association of India (CHAI) and grassroot NGOs, CBOs and PLHA. The overarching goal of this programme is the establishment of a community-led approach to prevention of HIV, and care and support to PLHA. The desired outcomes will be improved quality of health care services, greater access and utilisation by patients. |
On similar lines LEPRA Society is directly supporting through its SPANDANA – HIV Division the three district project management teams in Krishna, Karimnagar and Khammam from May 2006 in collaboration with APSACS. |
APSACS GFATM SUPPORTED PROJECT IN AP |
APSACS identified LEPRA Society as a State-level, nodal NGO to implement and coordinate the PPTCTC Plus; TB-HIV co-infection and ART under the GFATM (Global Fund for AIDS/TB/Malaria) (round 2, 3 & 4) funding in AP. LEPRA Society will contract and work with the identified sub-grantees, individuals and provide them technical capacity building. It also monitors their field activities along with managerial functions. The trainings for the PPTCTC plus has been conducted for the four sites in Hyderabad and the trained staff has been placed from Jan 2006, and a TB-HIV consultant has been recruited to monitor the 51 TB-HIV coordination centres in AP. The ART scale up in nine more centres in AP will happen in the middle of 2006. |
YOUNG PEOPLE’S INITIATIVES |
This is one of the comprehensive & integrated projects of the HIV-Division of LEPRA, wherein the project is supported by UNICEF through APSACS with the goal that the burden of HIV/AIDS is to be mitigated in the districts of Chittoor, Prakasham, Guntur, Krishna, East Godavari, Visakhapatnam, Medak, and Hyderabad with the following objectives: |
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Increased capacity of identified NGOs in the target area to prevent the transmission of HIV infections among young and vulnerable population and to facilitate paediatric AIDS care in collaboration with PPTCTC, ICCTC (Integrated Counselling and Confidential testing centre) and all relevant service providers. |
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Increased capacity of the Counselors in PPTCTC and ICTC to support /facilitate measures to prevent the transmission of HIV/AIDS among young people and facilitate paediatric AIDS care. |
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LEPRA Society’s research wing, namely, the Blue Peter’s Research Laboratory near Hyderabad conducts research activities in the field of Leprosy, TB, HIV/AIDS, Immunology and Molecular Biology. LEPRA’s direct field projects, various national and international agencies collaborate for research with this centre. |
LEPRA Society – HIV Projects |
Year of commencement |
Partnerships for Sexual Health Project-Truckers (PSH-T)
(Support by PSU/APSACS)
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1996-97 |
Frontiers Prevention Project (FPP)
(Support by International HIV/AIDS Alliance and funded by BMGF)
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2002 to 2005…. |
Andhra Pradesh Counsellors Project (APCP)
(Support by APSACS/UNICEF)
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2003 |
Integration of HIV/AIDS activities in AP Direct Projects
(Support by Community Funds/APSACS/Alliance)
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2003 |
SETU – Bridging the Gap from Ganjam to Surat
(In collaboration with CRS)
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2005 |
CHEYUTHA
(Support from LEPRA Society / TIDES Foundation / Alliance)
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2005 |
PPTCTC Plus and TB-HIV co-infection coordination & ART
(Support by APSACS – GFATM – NACO)
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2005 |
Jyoti Project
(Support by CDC, Atlanta)
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2005 |
Young People’s Initiatives Unit
(Support by UNICEF/APSACS)
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2006 |
SPANDANA – District Project Management Support Unit
(Supported by LEPRA Society – in collaboration with APSACS)
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2006 |
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