World AIDS Day - Celebration Photographs from Darjeeling

World AIDS Day 2013 - Programme for Darjeeling Hills

Dear Friends,

World AIDS Day, observed on December 1 each year, is dedicated to raising awareness of the AIDS pandemic caused by the spread of HIV infection. It is common to hold memorials to honor persons who have died from HIV/AIDS on this day as well as undertake public awareness programmes. Shanker Foundation Darjeeling Network of Positive People in association with various partners has been observing the day publicly in Darjeeling since 2006.

This year the theme of ‘GETTING TO ZERO – Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths’ signifies a push towards greater access to treatment to all; a call for governments to act now. The global campaign highlights how our fundamental right to health is intrinsically linked to other basic rights of food, shelter, freedom, clean water and safety. Crucial too is access to affordable life saving quality medicines free from the crippling effects of excessive profit making. GETTING to ZERO is the theme till the 2015.

The global theme is especially pertinent to the Darjeeling Hills. People Living With HIV/AIDS are struggling to access healthcare and vital ART and testing is still not available to all those who need it without an arduous, expensive 8 hour round trip to the nearest centre.

 

The Events:

 

Darjeeling- Getting to Zero Concert - 1 December 2013
We are holding an open air music concert at Chowrasta, with 10 up-and-coming local bands, ensuring a broad based appeal. We will be releasing Shanker Foundation’s documentary on “Stigma and Discrimination” and screening it throughout the day, as part of a day-long awareness event. Our outreach workers will also have information stalls and will be interacting with people throughout the day, in order to spread the message “Getting to Zero” to the 2,000 students and 4,000 members of the public who are expected to attend. Music is the easiest way to reach the youth in any part of the world and Darjeeling is no less with music being very deeply imbibed in the local culture. We know from our past experience that it is an excellent way to connect with the youth in Darjeeling, who will be an essential part of leading the change.

 

 Positive Haat 
 

As a side-event to the main programmes, Friends of Shanker Foundation are holding a fundraising sale for three days 30^th November to 2^nd December. Due to the strikes in Darjeeling this year, our local fundraising was severely hampered. This event is an effort by Friends locally to raise funds from our own community as well, an important step in the fight towards reducing Stigma and Discrimination. The garage sale, titled “Positive Haat” will also help spread awareness on HIV/AIDS in Darjeeling, and also of the work of Shanker Foundation and the needs of its members.

We look forward your generous contribution to the Positive Haat as well as attending and buying from the Positive Haat. Please do pass on the word about the Positive Haat for donations as well as buying stuff.

 

 

Kurseong – Information Kiosk

 The Kurseong sub-divisional group will have an HIV/AIDS Information Kiosk which will be placed in a prominent public place and manned by members and volunteers offering information and counseling throughout the day. Various means of public awareness will also be adopted.

 

Bijanbari – Information Kiosk

 The Bijanbari group will have an HIV/AIDS Information Kiosk which will be placed in a prominent public place and manned by members and volunteers offering information and counseling throughout the day.

The POSITIVE HAAT for World AIDS Day

Candlelight Memorial coming up soon

Dear Friends,

The time is here again for us to come together for the candlelight memorial on 19th May and remember all our friends we have lost to HIV/AIDS and re-dedicate ourselves to the cause.

The theme of the 30th International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is In solidarity. The theme emphasizes the need of people living with and affected by HIV to join hands and work together in the response to HIV. Solidarity in communities is essential to reduce stigma and promote involvement of people living with HIV in order to ensure a more effective HIV response. Only together as communities we can advocate for universal access to quality health services and HIV treatment, to raise awareness around HIV and to promote respect for human rights of people living with HIV.

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial, coordinated by the Global Network of People living with HIV is one of the world’s oldest and largest grassroots mobilization campaigns for HIV awareness in the world. Started in 1983, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial takes place every third Sunday in May and is led by a coalition of some 1,200 community organizations in 115 countries.

The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial is much more than just a memorial. The International AIDS Candlelight Memorial serves as a community mobilization campaign to raise social consciousness about HIV and AIDS. With 33 million people living with HIV today, the International AIDS Candlelight Memorial serves as an important intervention for global solidarity, breaking down barriers of stigma and discrimination, and giving hope to new generations.

We will update you on the programme in Darjeeling and call on you to take the memorial in your own spaces too. 

For further details please check http://www.candlelightmemorial.org

Do let us know your initiatives and ideas to commemorate this year's memorial.

 

In Solidarity,

roshan

World AIDS Day 2012 - A Report

“Working  together  for  an  AIDS free  generation”

On the occasion of World AIDS Day on 1^st Dec 2012, Shanker Foundation DjNP+ organized an awareness programme at Chowrasta Darjeeling as an opportunity for people in the hills to unite in the fight against HIV, show their support for people living with HIV and to commemorate people who have died.

Around 2000 people attended the event. Stalls were set up by various NGO’s with banners and posters about their respective organisations. The participating NGO’s were Kripa Foundation, Child In Need Institute (CINI), Miitjyu and Shanker Foundation DjNP+. IEC materials were displayed and distributed to the visitors of the stalls. A mobile ICTC van was placed in the premises by the District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit, Darjeeling for anyone who was willing to undergo the HIV tests. Red ribbons were distributed by volunteers of Shanker Foundation to people visiting Chowrasta to spread the awareness on HIV/AIDS.

The program began with a welcome address by Mr. Dhurba Chettri, District Program Manager, District AIDS Prevention and Control Unit, Darjeeling. The Chief guests for the event were Mrs. Asha Gurung, Sabhasad Health Department, Gorkha Territorial Administration, Mr Amar Rai, Chairman Darjeeling Municipality, Mrs Urmila Rumba, Sabhasad, Gorkha Territorial Administration, Dr. R. Ghosh DMO, District Hospital Darjeeling, Dr. S. Bhowmick CMO, District Hospital Darjeeling, Mr. S. Das Health Secretary, Mr. K. Agarwal Superintendent of Police, Darjeeling, Ms. Purnima Sherpa, Deputy Superintendent of Police and Mrs. Anuja Ghaley, President of Darjeeling NGO Network.

The guests were felicitated with khadas. The lamp lighting ceremony was conducted by Mrs. Asha Gurung followed by the release of the Shanker Foundation ‘Positive Calendar’ for the year 2013.

Mrs Asha Gurung in her speech stressed on fighting for the Rights of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Darjeeling and assured of medical aid and setting up of a hospice in Darjeeling in the future.

Mr Dhurba Chettri elaborately spoke on HIV/AIDS: The facts, modes of transmission and ways of prevention. He also briefly outlined the network of organisations at the national, state and district level working exclusively on HIV/AIDS.

Mr Shankermani Rai, President of Shanker Foundation DjNP+ brought to light the reality of living with HIV/AIDS in Darjeeling. Contrary to our perception, people with HIV/AIDS are still discriminated in every aspect of day to day living. He related the struggles faced by the organisation in working efficiently and the red tapism involved which delayed funds for the organisation thus keeping on hold many essential activities for the HIV/AIDS infected and affected people.

Many other guests also spoke on the current trends in HIV/AIDS prevalence and Prevention. Mrs Anuja Ghaley in her speech explained the connection of HIV/AIDS with other social ills in our society like Human trafficking and Drug Abuse and how a consolidated plan of action is required to tackle the menace of HIV.

‘Aarambh’, a short skit on the social stigma and discrimination faced by People Living with HIV/AIDS and awareness about the routes of transmission and modes of Prevention was performed by members of Baishnavi Production. The play was directed by Mr. Aditya Raya.

This was followed by rock music performances by local bands like Grey Matter, Helium Heart, Primitive Future, Ground Zero, N/A, Method 29, Baraka, Funeral Fire. Powerpoint presentation and messages on HIV/AIDS awareness was displayed during the performances.

The program concluded with a vote of thanks by Mr Hari Chettri, Secretary Shanker Foundation.

BIJANBARI WORLD AIDS DAY PROGRAM

On behalf of Shnaker Foundation DjNP+, Mrs Purnima Tamang, Out Reach Worker of the Foundation, organised a Red Ribbon Campaign in the Bijanbari block covering the Bijanbari Rural Hospital, Fire Brigade area, Block Office and the Bazar area. Around 500 copies of IEC materials were distributed on the occasion.

As reported by Nisha Chettri
Counselor

World AIDS Day coming up

WAD Celebration in Darjeeling - Poster

World AIDS Day 2012, observed worldwide on 1 December since 1998, is just round the bend. World AIDS Day unites people from around the world to raise awareness of the global AIDS response and join, in solidarity, the millions of people living with and affected by HIV.
 
“Getting to Zero” is the theme of World AIDS Day, echoing the UNAIDS vision of achieving “zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths.” This theme will be used until 2015.
 
Here are some popular messages suggested by some of our friends and supporters. Lets try and keep them in our mind as we go through our lives this coming year.
 

• A nation’s greatest weakness is measured by how it treats its weakest members. – Mahatma Gandhi. How do you treat People living with HIV/AIDS?
• STOP AIDS – Don’t share body piercing objects.
• STOP AIDS– Practice safe sex
• STOP AIDS – Use sterilized sharps, needles and HIV tested blood.
• STOP AIDS – There are no high risk groups, only high risk behavior.
• GETTING TO ZERO – HIV is a manageable infection.
• GETTING TO ZERO – Get tested, know your HIV status.
• GETTING TO ZERO – Each one, teach one about HIV/AIDS.
• HIV does not discriminate. We are all vulnerable to HIV.
• REDUCE STIGMA – Provide care and support to people living with HIV/AIDS.
• REDUCE STIGMA – LOVE and Respect people living with HIV/AIDS.
• REDUCE STIGMA - Embrace people living with HIV/AIDS.
• REMOVE MISCONCEPTIONS – HIV/AIDS is not spread by sharing food or water.
• REMOVE MISCONCEPTIONS – Body contact does NOT spread HIV/AIDS. It is okay to hug, kiss, touch or hold hands with People living with HIV/AIDS .

  

Workshop on Awareness in HIV/AIDS, STI/RTI and Universal Precautions Organized for Health Workers of Rural hospital, Bijanbari

A one day training session on HIV/AIDS, STI/RTI, and Universal Work Precaution was organized by Shanker Foundation for the health workers of the Rural Hospital of Bijanbari at GDNS in Darjeeling on the 8th of September.

The session began with a welcome speech by Nisha Chettri followed by a brief introduction by all the participants. There were about 70 health workers along with the BMOH who attended the training session.

A presentation on HIV/AIDS, its Routes of Transmission, Prevention, Myths and Misconceptions were made by Hari Chettri.

In the second session Hari Chettri continued his presentation on Stages of HIV, Impact of HIV, CD4 cell count test, OI (Opportunistic Infection), Treatment and Benefits of ART, etc. He also spoke on Social Marketing of Condom. Shankermani Rai then gave a demonstration on how to use a male condom.

Case study on social stigma and discrimination was presented by Hari Chettri.

In the third session Nisha Chettri gave a presentation on STI/RTI, the Transmission, Signs and Symptoms, Treatment and Prevention, etc.

In the fourth session a presentation on Universal Precautions for the health workers was given by Sona Rana Subba. She explained in details regarding the medicines like PEP (POST EXPOSURE PROPHYLAXIS) to be used within 72 hours in case of exposure. She also spoke on other issues related to HIV like NEVARAPINE that   is to be given to the infected women when she is about to conceive and two drops of the same medicine to be given to the new born baby.

After the sessions, the BMOH of rural hospital Bijanbari asked some basic questions to the participants from the presentation of the day and also told them other important things that were missing in the presentation. NACO’s guideline under NACP III was also discussed by him which is to be followed till 2012. He presented data on the number of people suffering from HIV/AIDS and the tests conducted till date within Bijanbari block as well as India.

The program ended with a vote of thanks by Sona Rana Subba, followed by lunch for the participants.