I-TECH India under PEPFAR through CDC India, in collaboration with PATH, SHARE India and State AIDS Control Societies (SACS) of NACO, MoHFW implements HIV prevention programmes in the three high prevalent states of Mizoram, Manipur and Nagaland. To fast track efforts for reaching the first 95, a training session was organised for the HIV health facility staff on ‘HIV Self Testing (HIVST)’. The training focused on assessing the feasibility and acceptability of HIV self-testing among key population and generating evidence in developing HIVST policies in the country. In Mizoram, the ‘Know Your Status’ campaign for index testing surge was launched for attaining the first 95. The campaign also focuses on HIV prevention through IEC and condom promotion and is being promoted through social media. The Case Detection Unit (CDU) supports HIV testing at client preferred location and timing. So far, more than 850 individuals have been tested for HIV under the ‘Know Your Status’ campaign in Mizoram.
Category: New and Media
I-TECH India, in collaboration with the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society (SACS), launched the “Know Your Status” campaign to focus on achieving the ‘first 95’ of the 95-95-95 UNAIDS targets. Experts from I-TECH India and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) India facilitated a two-day Index Testing TOT, attended by around 45 participants, including officials from CDC, PATH, SHARE India, and Alliance India. These master trainers will facilitate the district-level trainings for staff of targeted intervention (TI), integrated counselling and testing centres (ICTC), and antiretroviral therapy (ART) centres.
On World AIDS Day (1 December 2021), I-TECH India, in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) India, and State AIDS Control Societies (SACS), organized various events and activities for healthcare providers and people living with HIV (PLHIV) to enhance outreach and improve service uptake. Held across the states of Manipur, Nagaland, Mizoram, and the district of Mumbai, these activities included an HIV awareness rally, health check-up camps, a flash mob advocacy campaign, and HIV screening camps, to name a few. In Delhi, NACO released the National Operational Guidelines for ART Services 2021 and the National Technical Guidelines for HIV Care and Treatment 2021, both of which are supported by CDC India and I-TECH India.
I-TECH India, in collaboration with National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), State AIDS Control Societies (SACS), Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) India, and the World Health Organization (WHO), organized HIV treatment literacy workshops in north-eastern states Manipur, Mizoram, and Nagaland, with an objective to educate people living with HIV (PLHIV) on HIV treatment literacy to further aid in treatment adherence and retention. These workshops helped to strengthen the positive networks in the community through knowledge and information sharing. Nearly 2,000 PLHIV attended the regional- and community-level workshops across these three states.
The Transgender Health and Wellness Centre (TGHWC) in Imphal, the first transgender health clinic in Northeast India has now been recognized as a ‘Facilitybased Integrated Counselling and Testing Centre (FICTC)’ by Manipur State AIDS Control Society. Launched in March 2021, TGHWC has the objective to provide holistic healthcare to the transgender community by improving accessibility to HIV services and other related services. This is a joint initiative of I-TECH India, National AIDS Control Organization, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and Manipur State AIDS Control Society, and its implementing partner, the Maruploi Foundation. As a FICTC, the TGHWC will accommodate other vulnerable clients and partners from the key population in a safe space led by the transgender community. This is a unique opportunity to use ‘transgender health’ as an entry point to reach other key populations, mainstream issues around gender vulnerabilities towards HIV, and create a holistic comprehensive approach towards transgender health.
I-TECH India’s much talked about Health on Bike intervention is finally on the road. The first successful trip to Peshu village was made from 4th to 5th August 2021 with essential HIV services. The program is managed by two outreach coordinators supported by I-TECH India and the bike is provided by Nagaland State AIDS Control Society. The program is supervised and monitored by the SMO of District Hospital, Noklak. The primary objective of this intervention is to provide essential HIV services in the bordering villages of India and Myanmar at Noklak District, Nagaland. Through this intervention, identification of new High-Risk Groups and People living with HIV (PLHIV) and linking them to prevention and treatment services is also ensured. Mobile HIV testing camps and syphilis screening is conducted along with initiation to ART for all positive clients. Those clients who want to start OST are also identified and OST drug is then delivered at the satellite sites. Transportation of harm reduction commodities and ART medicine, sputum collection for TB screening and sample collection for viral load testing are also some other supported activities.
I-TECH India, in collaboration with Manipur State AIDS Control Society and Maruploi Foundation, conducted the cultural event for the ‘Pride Queen and King’ on 27th June 2021 in Manipur. The virtual event focused on access to health and community issues. Ten finalists were selected for the finale (5 transmen and 5 transwomen), and winners and runner up participants were declared at the end. The event was attended by panellists from Manipur State AIDS Control Society, Manipur Arts & Culture Academy, officials from SAATHII, CDC India and I-TECH India and more than 50 community representatives. Several LGBTI activists witnessed this glorious event which gave a lot of positivity for the community people in the middle of COVID-19 pandemic situation. The event was also live streamed on YouTube and Facebook with more than 30k views in a short span of time.
I-TECH India conducted a Virtual Consultation meet with Northeast LGBTI activists on 19th June 2021 in Imphal, Manipur, to discuss the challenges faced by the Transgender population due to COVID-19 pandemic. Four young activist from MSM and TG communities were invited to discuss on LGBTI movement challenges and how COVID-19 pandemic has impacted their lives. The event was chaired by Mr. Abhiram, Joint Director, Manipur State AIDS Control Society (MSACS).
LGBTQIA Indians Who Are True Icons Of Inspiration For All Of Us, Gender No Bar
Abhina Aher
Abhina is a transgender activist, a dancer, TEDX speaker and an overall champion. Abhina has been involved with The Humsafar Trust, Johns Hopkins University Centre for Communication Programme and India HIV/AIDS Alliance to help sex workers and the transgender community, among others.
— article published in scoopwhoop 03 Jun, 2021