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Training on Cross-Border Interventions

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Participants during the training (Guwahati, Assam)

I-TECH India, CDC India, and PATH facilitated a one-day training on cross-border interventions – planning provision of comprehensive HIV services in the border areas of Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland. The training focused on assessing spaces of vulnerability, cross-border migration patterns, the effects of injection drug use, sexual behavior, and sexual networks. Interventions such as community consultations with key population (KP) groups and the involvement of key stakeholders are planned as next steps for improving service uptake in border areas for HIV prevention and risk reduction.
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Ms. Shabana Patel conferred the Bhim Ratna Puraskar for her contributions in mainstreaming HIV/AIDS in development sector

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We are happy to announce that one of our team members, Ms. Shabana Patel, has been conferred with the prestigious Bhim Ratna Puraskar by the Hon. Home Minister, Government of Maharashtra, Shri Dilip Walse -Patil for her contributions in the field of HIV / AIDS focusing on mainstreaming of the PLHIV community.

As one of the founder members of the Network of Maharashtra by People Living with HIV (NMP+), she has been a strong advocate representing the PLHIV community on various platforms in national and international forums. In her career of over two decades, she has worked in various capacities in projects supported by multilateral and bilateral agencies.

She has been instrumental in sensitising the healthcare providers on PLHIV issues, garnering support for creating an enabling environment for access to equitable and quality service delivery. At I-TECH India, she supports Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society for effective implementation of the National AIDS Control Programme in Mumbai. We congratulate Shabana and wish her success in all her future endeavours.

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National Consultation and Review Meeting of Prisons and Other Closed Settings Interventions

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On 19-21 May 2022 in New Delhi, I-TECH India’s North East Technical Support Unit (NETSU) participated in the “National Consultation and Review Meeting of Prisons and Other Closed Settings Interventions,” which was organized by the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) and Ministry of Health & Family Welfare. Discussion topics included developing differentiated models that explore utilizing existing health facilities to provide comprehensive services that include OST, antiretroviral therapy (ART), and sexually transmitted infections under one roof; revising the existing guidelines on the role and functions of the various state- and district-level stakeholders for optimizing program delivery; and developing strategies for advocating for HIV prevention and risk-reduction services in prison settings.
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Above Site Support in Northeast India

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I-TECH India’s NETSU team supported the Assam SACS to present programmatic updates and facilitate the partners’ meeting and community consultation during a visit planned by national experts and government officials from NACO. The state action plan for the upcoming months was also discussed during the visit.
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Promoting Service Uptake in Northeast India

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A training on “Index Testing and Partner Services” was organized for ICTC, ART center (ARTC), and NGO staff in Mizoram, Manipur, and Nagaland for fast-tracking efforts to reach the first 95 of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. A total of 129 ICTC counselors, 20 ARTC counselors, and 86 NGO staff were trained. I-TECH India also participated in the “Regional Consultation on Welfare of Transgender Persons,” held in Guwahati on 13 May 2022, where discussions were held on improving service uptake within the transgender community with a focus on health, education, skill development, and livelihood, as well as linkage to the Transgender Protection Cell.
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Community Systems Strengthening

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On 6 May 2022, I-TECH India participated in a national-level meeting organized by NACO that was focused on community systems strengthening and aimed to sensitize the participants on community engagement strategies, provide programmatic updates, and describe the role and responsibilities of the state government (e.g., State AIDS Control Society (SACS)). The participants (state government officials and partner organizations) coordinated with health facilities to create strategic plans on community-led monitoring mechanisms to provide comprehensive, equitable, and quality health services for HIV prevention and risk reduction.

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Addressing the Gap for the First 95

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I-TECH India facilitated the dissemination of a national training module for integrated counseling and testing center (ICTC) counselors through its eLearning platform for 170 state officials and counselors around the country. The training addresses the gaps in reaching the first 95 of the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets and serves as an opportunity to revisit program implementation; identify gaps and develop strategies built on the experiences so far; introduce newer approaches like risk assessment and blended testing for providing client-centric counseling services; and improve service delivery and uptake. State-level dissemination of the training is also planned to reach all 37 states of the country within the next two to three months.

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Above Site Support in the Northeast for Attaining 95-95-95 Targets

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On 25-26 April 2022, I-TECH India, in collaboration with the Arunachal Pradesh State AIDS Control Society, organized a two-day, hybrid capacity building review meeting for HIV prevention and treatment facility staff. The meeting was focused on improving viral load service uptake and result utilization following the National Operational and Technical Guidelines for ART services and for promoting the U=U HIV prevention strategy. Discussions were focused on the significance of timely referrals for eligible PLHIV to the State AIDS Clinical Expert Panel, referral mechanisms, follow up, and monitoring and evaluation tools. A total of 40 participants attended the meeting.

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Promoting Lifestyle Management for Hypertension Prevention and Management Among People Living with HIV (PLHIV)

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I-TECH India, in collaboration with MDACS and Resolve to Save Lives, is implementing the “Screening and Management of Hypertension in PLHIV” program at Mumbai ART Centers. A one-day sensitization program was held for 87 ART center paramedical staff members to improve service uptake and delivery for the management of hypertension in PLHIV.

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Healthcare Provider Training on HIV Disclosure for Children and Adolescents Living with HIV

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I-TECH India conducted a two-day training workshop on “HIV Disclosure for Children and Adolescents Living with HIV” for 22 medical officers and 37 antiretroviral therapy (ART) center counselors from 20–21 April 2022 at the Mumbai Districts AIDS Control Society (MDACS). The healthcare providers were trained to provide ongoing support to caregivers and parents for disclosing status to their children/adolescents and for helping them cope with their emotions during the post-disclosure phase. A screening tool for caregivers was also developed for the assessment of disclosure status among children and adolescents.

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