Community Recommendations to MACS on State AIDS Policy in relation to IDUs in Manipur

[Guest guest]

Community recommendations to MACS on State AIDS Policy in relation to Injecting

Drug Users in Manipur

Imphal 7th February 2011

The State AIDS Policy was adopted by the State Government on 3rd October

1996 and became the first State in India to have a State AIDS Policy.

The Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MACS) was formed and registered in

March 1998 and since then the Society has been implementing the AIDS Control

Programme in the State. The major focus is on prevention of HIV and STI among

the High Risk Groups and their Sexual Partners through Targeted Intervention.

The State AIDS Policy is being revised by a committee and drafted revised policy

after a gap of nearly 14 years. Manipur AIDS Control Society has invited the

comments and feedbacks from the public for this newly revised drafted policy.

While the newly revised drafted policy is comprehensive one, the Drug User

Community and NGO leaders strongly felt that there is some key gaps and is

important to provide feedback in the policy. Within this context a state level

workshop was organised on 5th February 2011, in Imphal to discuss about the

policy in relation to Injecting Drug Users.

 

This workshop was organized by recently formed Steering Committee of 365 X 6 in

collaboration with USER, Manipur; Participated by more than 50 IDUs including

Female Injecting Drug Users representatives from different district and from

different walks of life’s, and NGO leader’s of Manipur, done a comprehensive

review of “State AIDS Policy†in relation to Injecting Drug Users’.

 

Applauded the initiative by the drug user community the Joint Director (TI), of

Manipur State SIDS Control Society (MSACS) M. Abhiram Singh, shared about the

genesis of State AIDS policy, key new points and way forward. Speaking at the

function he said, “this workshop will help in widening the horizon of the

Policy from the past one and it is the beginning and most important one, which

is a little steps of great achievementâ€.

 

After an in dept review, interaction and group work the workshop comes up with

key recommendations to incorporate in the newly revised drafted policy.  The

key recommendations of the workshop have been submitted on 7th February 2011 to

Project Director, MSACS jointly by the members of the USER, Manipur & Steering

Committee, 365x6. It was also resolved that a committee will follow up and

update the progress to all concerns.

 

Recommendations:

1.Inclusion of Two representatives from Injecting drug user’s community (One

man & one woman) nominated by the chairman in consultation with state level drug

users network as members of Executive Committee for two years term.

2.Inclusion of Two representatives from Injecting drug user’s community (One

man & one woman) nominated by the chairman in consultation with state level drug

users network as members of DAPCCs for two years term.

3. Opiod Substitution Therapy should be under TI component instead of De –

addiction component.

4.A separate clause for medical, health care and education for HIV and Hepatitis

– C co infection under TI.

5. To ensure female IDU specific harm reduction approach.

6.To mention specific minimum service package (e.g. NSEP, Overdose management,

condom, STI, OST, IDU specific IECs, referral for rehabilitation).

7. To establish a Grievance Cell for enhancing quality of programs implemented

under State AIDS Control Society.

 

About Steering Committee- 365 X 6 project

Steering Committee is team comprising of 14 members formed by representatives of

leaders from Community Based Groups (CBGs) and Community Based Groups (CBOs) of

Drug Users as outcome of the state consultation held on 24th & 25th at Imphal

participated by State Lead Partners, NGOs and community representatives from all

9 nine districts of Manipur.

The main purpose of the Steering Committee is 
to explore the scope and

facilitate the process of formation of state level network of CBGs and CBOs.

 

About 365 x 6

365 x 6 aims at promoting state level networks with the participation of

Community who are Sexuality Minorities (MSMs, FSWs, Transgenders) and Injecting

Drug Users (IDU). The programme is being implemented in six states of India i.e,

Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharastra, Nagaland and Manipur. The

community drives the State level Networks and 365x6 provides technical supports

in making these are self-sustainable.

Networking is facilitated as a continuation to what exists and the effort of

State Leading Partners in Manipur (MSACS and Project ORCHID) will be taken

forward towards consolidation.

Whole of this process shall focus on the values of working together and in

consultation with. The networking process aims at providing necessary space and

representation in relevant forums for the community and also strengthening the

second line leadership among the community members. Over a period of time the

community is expected to be voicing out their views assertively on the issues

pertaining to their lives and work and being able to influence the policy making

process.

For additional information please contact

Jiten,

State Coordinator, 365x6

@ 8974003605

jiten@...

Stanley ph

Manager-Advocacy

365X6 Network Project Secretariat

House no.11, Sanjeev Housing Society,

East Maredpally, Check post,  

Mahindra Hills, Secunderabad.

Phone: 040- 27730584/5

Mobile: +91-9849855611

E-mail: stanley@...