Call for society's wide action in implementing HIV/AIDS programs

Ningthoujam Roshan *

Implementing HIV/AIDS programs in isolation will not realize the dream of achieving the set targets of Zero New HIV Infections Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths under the theme of this year "Getting to Zero".

The programes should be aligned to the development objectives and thereby support the strengthening of social, legal and health systems in enabling a sound and effective response.

Policies and programs based on the local context will play a vital role in efficient and need based response.

Health actions, the choices and means that enable individuals and communities to control their health, to participate as agents - not victims - in shaping their own life circumstances are important for individual capabilities and the enjoyment of individual rights.

Health system is not simply a mechanical structure to deliver technical interventions the way a post office delivers a letter. Ensuring health claims, legitimate claims of entitlement to the services are the conditions necessary to promote health among the marginalized communities.

And ensuring a common understanding of all the stakeholders in responding towards the cause will simplify our responses in a resource poor setting like Manipur.

Poverty, underdevelopment, the lack of choices and the limited opportunities has been fuelling the epidemic. Vulnerability to HIV is a measure of an individual's or community's inability to control their risk of infection. Different patterns of infection are accounted for by personal factors, access to relevant information and services, and societal factors.

Vulnerability is the result of dynamic social processes. To counter vulnerability, individuals and communities can be supported to take greater control over their own lives and the risks they face.

Social exclusion undermines this sense of control. Vulnerability reduction strategies seek to replace social exclusion with inclusion.

Sensible programme and policy interventions can reduce vulnerability at individual, community and societal levels. Protecting and supporting individuals promotes social inclusion, particularly for young people. Access to essential community services enables individuals to act on decisions to reduce their risk to HIV and to access care and support.

Supportive legal and social norms decrease vulnerability by enhancing realization of human rights - civil, political, economic, social and cultural.

Social inclusion strategies help to reduce both the risk of infection and its negative consequences. Specific attention needs to be given to address the gaps and challenges in getting to zero.

The State AIDS policy formulated in 1996 focuses mainly on the core groups ignoring the issues of women and children. The care and support program does not end with the free roll out of ARV drugs, lot of cross cutting issues among PLHIV are left unaddressed which requires society-wide action.

On the web: http://sasoimphal.org/