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Decentralized programme management through District
AIDS Prevention and Control Unit (DAPCU)
has been crucial strategy under “Halting and
Reversing the HIV epidemic” under NACP III. Accordingly, DAPCU has
been operational in each district in Andhra Pradesh. Andhra Pradesh
has been pioneer in establishing and strengthening the DAPCUs in
country and best practices from state like capacity building of
DAPCUs team, decentralized district action plan, use of maps for
effective planning and implementation of HIV/AIDS services. All of
these efforts have helped improved
streamlining and implementation of AIDS Control and Prevention
strategies not only in state but also influenced national policies
and guidelines on DAPCUs capacity building and strengthening. |
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HIV/AIDS is not only as a medical issue but also involves
significant socio-economic issues. While response to the epidemic is
the responsibility of the Medical & Health Department, effective
strategies for Prevention and Support are possible only through the
creation of a wider support system under the leadership of the
District Collector. Departments like Women and Child Department,
Social Welfare department,
Panchayat Raj,
Rural Development, Youth Affairs & Sports, Police & Jail,
Education, Municipal Corporation & Urban Local Body
etc
have important role to play in the spectrum of prevention, care,
support and treatment activities. |
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Accordingly, Project Director (PD) APSACS has taken initiative for
advocacy with District Collector and nodal officers of
related department for effective inter-sectoral convergence. The
process initiated with a letter from Project Director’s office
appraising District Collector’s on HIV/AIDS epidemic scenario and
responses in local context. As a part of the process, the plan is to
meet district collectors for high burden districts for joint
appraisal
of the local epidemic, responses and gaps as well as discussion on
key convergence and inter-sectoral collaboration issues. Karimnagar
was first district in the series. PD (APSACS) and his team met with
district collector and nodal officers from related department on 1st
August 2011.
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During
the meeting, PD (APSACS) made a detailed
presentation on epidemic scenario, response strategy,
implementation status and focus areas for inter-sectoral
coordination in Karimnagar district. During the meeting, District
Collector (Karimnagar) noticed gaps in terms of PPTCT
implementation, voluntary blood donation and difference in expected
PLHAs and registered PLHAs in ART centers.
District Collector (Karimnagar) appreciated the
efforts of APSACS
for convergence and advocacy
and stated that the programme would be
taken forward with the more intensity and assured unhindered support
of various departments for socio-economic support of PLHAs. |
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