National Group on Vaccine Initiatives (NGVI)

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National Group on Vaccine Initiatives- NGVI

As part of its comprehensive response to HIV/AIDS, the Government of

India has entered into with the International AIDS Vaccine

Initiative (IAVI) to develop and test AIDS Vaccines in India

Non Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in India have successfully

delivered health initiative in the past and are presently at the

forefront addressing multiple medical, social, legal, ethical and

policy dimentions of the AIDS problem. Their participation in the

vaccine development process will increase programme efficiency,

maximisethe utilisation of local resourses and skills, secure

sustainibility of prevention activities and provide an opportunity

to the community to play a leadership role in the AIDS vaccine

research and development process.

AIDS vaccine research and development will however place an

increased demand on NGOs and community based organisations as new

strategies, innovative approaches and different service delivery

pakages will be required to address the differing needs of the

communities involved in the process.

The National Group on Vaccine Initiatives (NGVI) is a group of six

nationally networked NGOs from the high prevalence states, including

representation from PLWHAs, which has come together with the primary

objective of incresing community understanding and participation in

the AIDS vaccine programme. The NGVI acknowledges the utgency and

importance of preparing communities in India for an effective

vaccine. The NGVI, with the help o NGOs, aims to strengthen the

efforts of the AIDS vaccine programme.

The Objectives of the NGVI are:

1 Integration of HIV vaccines into existing prevention programmes

of NGOs in India.

2 Development of a core group of NGOs interested in participating

in the vaccine development process.

3 Mobilisation of communities by incresing awareness about safe

and ethical vaccine development through widespread advocacy and

information dissemination.

4 Act as point persons between communities and vaccine researh

team (s)

5 Build linkages with global non governmental organisations

working on AIDS vaccines to share and learn each others

experiences.

AIDS PREVENTION SOCIETY

AIDS Prevention Society (APA) is a regional based in Guwahati,

Assam. Since 1990-91, APS is working for HIV/AIDS prevention with

injecting Drug Users, truckers, sex workers, migrant population,

street children & youth. APS provides Clinical Management Training

for doctors, AIDS Telephone Helpline, MTCT prevention, VCT Centres,

and Care & Support for PLWHA and is involved in advocacy, networking

and research.

INDIAN NETWORK FOR PEOPLE LIVING WITH HIV/AIDS (INP+).

Started in 1997, The Indian Network for People living with HIV/AIDS

(INP+) is a national network for, by and of the people living with

HIV/AIDS and give them a sense of belonging, political empowerment

and strength of spirit. Its secretariat is based in Chennai.

YRG CARE

YRG CARE, founded 1993, is a non profit AIDS service organisation

which offers education in HIV and sexuality to adolescents and young

adults, worlplace HIV/STD intervention, voluntary counselling and

testing sevices, HIV out-patient clinic and inpatient services. It

is a premeir medical and behavioural research centre and offers

training for clinicians, nurses, counsellors, educators and

laboratory scientists. This centre now provides healthcare to over

7,500 people living with HIV. The founder -director Dr. Suniti

described the first case of HIV infection in India in 1986.

SOS FOUNDATION

SOS Foundation, is a Nasik, Maharashtra based NGO working for

HIV/AIDS awareness and education among sex workers, truckers, police

force, doctors, women and children living in slums, industrial

workers and rural and urban youth. It was established in 1992 with a

single project for professional blood donors and has since then

initiated and successsfully run pioneerin and innovative projects

for the target population in the field of health and development.

THE NAZ FOUNDATION (INDIA) TRUST

The NAZ Foundation (India) Trust, based in New Delhi was established

in 1994. NAZ has a services delivery network that caters to

prevention, awareness, and education on the one hand, and to care,

support and therapy on the other. NAZ conducts training workshops to

generate awareness on issues related to HIV/AIDS. It has also

established a Care Home for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) with

a focus on women and children. Naz India runs a Womes Sexual Health

Programme to promote womens health seeking behaviour and help women

access health care services. It runs a Men Who have Sex with Men

Programe which not only promotes supportative environment for MSMs

but also provides them with cunselling services. NAZ India is

committed to raising awareness to prevent the spread of HIV.

FREEDOM FOUNDATION

Freedom Foundation was established in 1992, to provide effective

treatment programmes for alcoholics and drugaddicts. Since 1995,

Freedom Foundation has been the pioneer in HIVAIDS and Substance

Abuse Interventions in the country, especially in the area of

comprehensive care and support. It is credited to have set up the

first comprehensive community based care and support centre in

Bangalore. The services provided by the foundation include

coprehensive care, voluntary counselling and testing services,

prevention of parent ot child transmission of HIV. Freedom

Foundation has also been providing and monitoring free ART for the

last four years at all its existing facilities.

http://www.apsindia.org/ngvi.htm