Soni MR; International Conference on AIDS (15th : 2004 : Bangkok, Thailand).
Int Conf AIDS. 2004 Jul 11-16; 15: abstract no. C11070.
College of Social Work , Mumbai, India
Birendra Soni was on an India-wide motorcycle tour to spread awareness about HIV/AIDS related legal issues and to locate gaps between approaches and practices to combat HIV/AIDS. In 180 days he visited 18 states and 65 cities. His Mission Highway - to FIGHT against HIV/AIDS, covered over 150 highway side eateries where he interacted with truck drivers on issues related to HIV/AIDS. He spoke to young people at over 200 venues in cities and villages and interviewed personnel at government-aided VCTCs. The campaign intends to motivate youth to utilize government services like Voluntary Counselling Testing Centre (VCTC) for better information and proper tests. A short statement summarizing the issue (s) addressed by the abstract:It has been my experience that while the target population in Indian cities and villages are largely aware about virus carriers, modes and non-modes of transmission, they are ill informed about the practical aspects of dealing with HIV/AIDS. Most people are unaware of VCTC though they exist in most towns. In sessions with colleges of social work in India, about one in ten students of social work in of HIV/AIDS was aware about the various aspects of VCTCs. Most sexually active young people have no idea where to go for the tests. Government and private VCTC counsellors have little knowledge of basic rights and issues such as the Right to Informed Consent, Right to Confidentiality, and Right to Equality Without knowledge of legal aspects, youngsters refrain from going to VCTCs. This hinders proper detection and management of HIV/AIDS, and fails to remove the stigma associated with it. Recommendations: Explore/ create awareness of legal issues and rights for majority of HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons or families,like HIV preventive health information and interventions. Access to quality VCTC - New investments in VCTCsInclude Rights information in HIV/AIDS training ; VCTCs. Make pre-and post- counselling mandatory for all laboratories, including private ones.<IMG SRC="images/prog/C11070_IMG1.jpg" border=0>
Publication Types:
Keywords:
- Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
- Counseling
- HIV Infections
- HIV Seropositivity
- Human Rights
- Humans
- India
- Legislation
- Virus Diseases
Other ID:
UI: 102277245
From Meeting Abstracts