The issues and concerns of Shanker Foundation DjNP +

1. Societal stigma and discrimination
2. Lack of Resources – Personnel and Financial
• All positive people admitted to Darjeeling Government Hospital and from VCCTC are referred to Shanker Foundation, thus making Shanker Foundation responsible for care and support without any financial support
3. Insufficient supportive medical environment:
Personnel:
• Insufficient trained and sensitive Doctors, Nurses and other hospital staff
• Lack of trained Extension Health Workers – both rural and urban
• Insufficient trained and sensitive staff at the Voluntary Confidential Counseling and Testing Centre (VCCTC) and Prevention of Parent to Child Transfer Centre (PPCTC)
Infrastructure:
• Insufficient VCCTC and PPCTC with all necessary facilities to cover at-least all subdivisions headquarters
• No Outdoor facilities
• Insufficient supportive and sensitive space in Government Hospitals
• Ambulance facilities
4. Only one Voluntary Counseling and Testing Centre in Darjeeling Sadar Hospital making it extremely difficult for rural communities and people from the other subdivisions to access it
5. Lack of proper Prevention of Parent to Child Transfer Centre
6. Access to CD 4 count Test which can be only be done in the nearest Teaching Hospital, which for us is the North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri. This is free for the BPL but the journey back and forth is very challenging for people of the hills
7. Access to anti retro viral therapy is also given by the North Bengal Medical College, Siliguri which is a life long treatment making it difficult for members to access it.
8. Access to anti retroviral therapy for children
9. Access to Opportunistic infections treatment
10. Nutrition support to members of the Network
11. Access to decision and proactive participation making process with respect to HIV/AIDS in the Darjeeling Hills.
12. Access to decision and proactive participation making process with respect to HIV/AIDS in the Darjeeling Hills.
13. Active participation of local government and community