Mumbai: Report of VCT Dissemination Workshop

[Guest guest]

Friday, February 10, 2006 - The Population Services International (PSI) Mumbai

office conducted a dissemination workshop on its comprehensive Voluntary

Counseling and Testing (VCT) program with a diverse range of participants from

non-profit organizations, hospitals and government agencies that directly

address the escalating HIV/AIDS pandemic in India.

Representatives included-

(a) non-profit organizations such as AVERT, Family Health International (FHI),

Family Planning Association of India (FPAI), MSF, s Hopkins University

Health Communication Partnership, and Pathfinder International

(b)hospitals such as Cama Hospital and the CAPS program at Sion Hospital

© government agencies such as the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society

(MSACS) and the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS)

The focal objectives of this workshop were to -

(a) showcase the various components requisite to operate a successful VCT

program

( underscore PSI's extensive field-level experience as the basis of its

customized training and capacity-building services for organizations that intend

to establish and operate VCT centers

Operation Lighthouse

At the onset of the dissemination workshop, a facilitator provided the

participants with an elementary overview of the USAID-funded PSI Operation

Lighthouse (OPL) Project, initiated in 2001 in twelve port communities across

India.

The primary focus of the OPL project is to reduce the overall incidence of

HIV/AIDS in India. In order to do so, the logical framework of the project

emphasizes a thematic approach to behavior change communication, and

concentrates on -

(a) amplified utilization of VCT services

( a reduction in the number of sexual partners

© increased correct and consistent condom usage

(d) augmented procurement of STI treatment from qualified medical practitioners

Subsequently, the facilitator provided a brief overview on the VCT Program at

Cotton Green, which had been initiated in consonance with the main objective of

the OPL Program, and fundamentally focuses on the imperative need for an

individual to be aware of his or her HIV status.

A Field Excursion to Demonstrate Demand Generation Strategies

In order to establish a successful VCT program, it is first essential to create

demand for health-seeking services. Consequently, PSI showcased the different

types of targeted, thematic interventions regularly implemented within the

Cotton Green truck terminus to provide the participants with comprehensive

insight into the VCT program.

Innovative programmatic activities exhibited in the field included-

(a) A crowd puller game to garner the attention of the target audiences towards

the key messages disseminated

( Street theater, which was of particular interest to the participants, who

were delighted at the quality of its didactic yet entertaining content, as well

as its enactment

© A mobile exhibition that highlighted the significant necessity to know one's

HIV status and to utilize VCT services available and affordable at Saadhan

Clinics

The Service Delivery Component - An Introduction to Saadhan VCT Clinics

The Saadhan VCT staff at the static clinic in Cotton Green introduced the

participants to the stringent protocols espoused with regard to counseling and

testing of clients.

Each client is anonymously and confidentially tested for HIV testing through the

utilization of the finger-prick method. Each test is highly sensitive and

specific, consequently providing 99.9% of the clients with same-day results.

Additionally, the participants were also familiarized with the Saadhan mobile

van clinic, which customarily operates in the five agricultural produce markets

and two truck termini in Vashi. The mobile van clinic was brought to the Cotton

Green truck terminus to provide the participants with an understanding of PSI's

holistic approach to service delivery in the field, where VCT services are made

easily accessible to the target populations.

The Saadhan VCT Program - A Programmatic Overview

Subsequent to the field visit, the facilitators elucidated upon the various

strategies developed and implemented based in exhaustive evidence-based

planning.

A précis of key points highlighted in the session-

Ø Understanding the consumer - in order to establish and develop a service that

concurrently addresses the needs of the consumer and inculcates healthy sexual

behavior, the facilitator underscores the categorical need for research and

insight into the consumer's mindset. Concordantly, mid-media and mass media

communications strategies for the service that are developed and promoted will

be able to engender higher levels of demand within its target populace.

Ø Service Delivery - since VCT services are targeted at different types of

target populations, the service delivery models differ according to the needs

and desires of each of these groups. The three different models implemented are-

· Mobile clinics for high-risk mobile groups who are unable to travel to a

service point

· Static clinics targeted at classic high-risk groups

· Static clinics targeted at classic and other high-risk groups where antenatal

HIV prevalence exceeds 1%

Ø Care and Support - PSI has developed and maintained linkages with care and

support organizations, and motivates its HIV positive clients to utilize

facilities operated by these organizations. In addition, PSI maintains an

ongoing referral tracking system to monitor utilization of these services.

Ø Demand Creation - To increase utilization of VCT services, it is essential to

generate demand for these facilities. In order to do so, PSI engages in

field-level communication through one-to-one sessions, one-to-group sessions,

mid-media interventions and complements field promotion with targeted mass media

campaigns.

Ø Monitoring and Evaluation- Intensive research is conducted in order to monitor

and assess the impact of the demand generation as well as the service delivery

components.

Monitoring tools include the Output Tracking Survey, which measures trends in

the reach and recall of field activities amongst target groups, and assists in

developing demand creation strategies.

In addition, a Mystery Client Study is conducted to monitor the quality of

services provided at the static and mobile van clinics.

Every two years, an evaluative study known as the Behavior Change Impact Survey

is conducted to assess the overall impact of field communication as well as mass

media campaigns in affecting behavior change in its target populations, and

indicate areas that require further improvement.

At the culmination of the workshop, Mr. Sanjay Chaganti, PSI's Program Director,

summarized the information disseminated in the workshop. In addition, he

underscored the unequivocal need for communication strategies that promote

health-seeking services to be relevant and constant, particularly with regard to

reinforcement of key messages.

Gaargi Ramakrishnan

Population Services International, Mumbai

E-mail: <gaargi@...>