Re: TN Success story. What next?

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum members,

The TN success is indicated by a surrogate for safer practices- condoms

distributed used or if client says condom used used. Much the same way as

IFA tablets distributed consumed. This is practical epidemiology and perhaps

not sound public health.

For long we have heard that reversing or stabilizing the HIV-AIDS epidemic

is the only indicator in a concerted convergent response. In multisector

response we map baseline for coverage and map resources that will enable

concerted convergent response for optimal time bound effect. we map enabling

and disabling circumstances and draw on lessons learnt in other theatres as

to what works and what will or will most likely work in the local setting.

Tall order... but perhaps the only way to know for sure that we have gained

ascendency in the fight. in a previous national conclave to finalize the

agenda for the HIV-AIDS response by and for Young People the experts called

wanted enhanced life skills education but did not feel that drug use and

abuse was an issue among the young and needed to be incorporated and

addressed.

i am afraid more about this tunnel vision, which sometimes is donor driven-

work with CSWs or Truckers etc and forget the other vulnerabilities in the

external and internal environment.

The attached file gives clear indication that IDUs in Chennai are second

only to Manipur- if we have been mapping the epidemic in TN and do claim

success then we would surely have got our act together on the IDU epidemic

as this precipates new infections as nothing else does.

How come TNSACS or Chennai MACS did not have an inkling about the major

players and organizations working in Chennai with IDUs and surprisngly some

of these players were internationally recognized and quoted in DURBAN as

well as by NIDA-USA and also qouted as UNAIDS best practice with IDU?

All activity that will lead to addressing basic issues of treatment, care,

support and removal of stigma and marginalization will lead to perhaps that

one indiactor that will mark progress- incresde utilization of voluntary

testing and counselling. this will get a major push if and when affordable

HAART is available to millions suffering and the millions more who are in

the window period.

Regards

Dr Anand B Chaudhuri

New Delhi

E-mail: <anand.chaudhuri@...>