The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) is responsible for managing the Government of India's response to the AIDS epidemic through a nation-wide National AIDS Control programme. The first phase, NACP-I, started in 1992. The second phase of the Programme (NACP-II) was launched in 1999 with the objective of reducing the spread of HIV infection, and strengthening the capacity of Central and State Governments, civil society and the private sector to respond to AIDS on a long-term basis. This second phase will come to an end on 31 March 2006.
NACO initiated planning for the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP-III) in late 2004. It was decided that this process would be spearheaded by a planning team of senior programme specialists. The team is now in place and NACP-III formulation has begun. A number of working groups have been established to discuss programmatic and management issues. To support this design process, a public e-Consultation is being carried out under the Solution Exchange initiative of the United Nations Country Team in India to seek inputs from all relevant stakeholders and interested citizens.
What is the NACPIII e-Consultation?
What are some of the issues to be covered by this e-Consultation?
What is the e-Consulation's time frame?
Who should participate in this e-Consultation?
How to participate?
What are other features of Solution Exchange for the AIDS Community?
What is the NACPIII e-Consultation?
The NACPIII e-Consultation is an electronic discussion forum to obtain views and suggestions from the wider public to support the formulation of NACP-III. Participation is free and open to anyone who would like to share experiences and contribute ideas.
This e-Consultation is part of a new service being provided to the ‘AIDS-professional' community in India under the Solution Exchange initiative of the UN Country Team. Solution Exchange has been set up to connect professionals in India who share common interests and concerns, strengthening their identity as a “Community of Practice” and offering a forum to benefit from each other's knowledge and experience. Solution Exchange for the AIDS Community in India is designed to help all professionals addressing the AIDS epidemic – from Government, civil society, donors, academia and the private sector – to increase the effectiveness of their individual efforts. Solution Exchange for the AIDS Community is facilitated and hosted by the UNAIDS Secretariat.
What are some of the issues to be covered by this e-Consultation?
The NACP-III e-Consultation will be organized around selected topics linked to the themes of the working groups that have been set up to aid in the development of NACP III.
Topics that the e-Consultation takes up will include, among others:
Targeted interventions: Interventions for persons who are at a higher risk of HIV infection, such as sex workers, intravenous drug users, men who have sex with men, long distance truckers, etc., that are customized to their specific circumstances and needs, to ultimately achieve protective behaviour.
Access to treatment, care and support: Increasing availability of treatment for people living with HIV and removing obstacles that prevent access due to stigma, discrimination, lack or unavailability of resources, social norms, etc.
Communication and advocacy: Using information, education and communication (IEC) tools to prevent the spread of HIV and inter-personal behavorial change communication (BCC) to modify behaviour from high risk to low or no risk, and advocate for protecting as well as promoting the rights of people infected and affected by HIV
- Condom programming: Increasing condom availability and usage through forecasting, need recognition and condom use skills building
- Mainstreaming: Addressing the causes and effects of HIV in an effective and sustained manner, both within the workplace and from a wider, multi-sectoral development perspective
- Epidemiological surveillance: Monitoring trends and estimating the percentage of HIV-infected people infected among the various target groups and in various parts of the country
Institutional Arrangements and Coordination: Coordinating the efforts of all partners in the AIDS response, by an AIDS authority with a broad-based multi-sector mandate, around an agreed framework of action and with a common monitoring and evaluation framework, at district, state and national levels.
When the consultation begins, all the topics will be considered from the following three perspectives:
In your view, what have been the significant achievements and failures of NACP II?
Could you share the success stories you know?
What would you recommend to NACO for the national policy on AIDS, for the next five years?
What is the e-Consultation's time frame?
The e-Consultation was launched on 19 July 2005. Each round of consulatation will last one week.
For all the list topics Click here>>
Who should participate in this e-Consultation?
Anyone who wants to make a difference in the lives of millions affected by HIV and AIDS should join this e-Consultation and share their views and experiences, including:
- People living with HIV
- Elected Representatives/Leaders
- Staff of government agencies at all levels,
- Staff of Non Governmental Organizations (NGOs), Community Based Organizations (CBOs) and Community Service Organisations
- Community health workers
- Public and private sector physicians, nurses and other health professionals
- Social services providers
Researchers. scientist and academics - Other professionals in the AIDS field
- All interested members of the general public
How to participate?
Participants contribute to the e-Consultation through e-mail or via the web. The consultation will be moderated – contributions will be approved before they are posted to ensure a free-flowing, constructive discussion.
Participants contribute in one of two ways:
• By subscribing to the Solution Exchange mailgroup. This will enable you to contribute and receive messages through your regular e-mail. Your contributions will be posted in your name. To subscribe, go to the Solution Exchange sign-up page at www.solutionexchange-un.net.in and click on the “sign-up” link for the AIDS Community. You can subscribe at any time before or during the e-Consultation.
• By contributing anonymously. Once the consultation begins, you can submit contributions directly from the e-Consultation's public website and the moderator will post your messages anonymously. If you are not an e-mail subscriber you will not be able to follow the discussions from your e-mail.
All contributions, from subscribers and non-subscribers, will be posted by the moderator on the e-Consultation's public website.
Contributors to the NACP-III e-Consultation should adhere to the Rules for participation. Please review these carefully.
For resource materials related to the discussion – NACP documentation and progress reports, background papers, relevant links, etc. – Additional useful material, including FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions) and information on HIV and AIDS, is available on NACO's web site at http://www.nacoonline.org/
What are other features of Solution Exchange for the AIDS Community?
The AIDS Community of Practice in India has a range of networks and websites through which professionals stay connected and informed about issues of concern, notably the Yahoo Groups networks of AIDS-INDIA and SAATHII . Solution Exchange offers this Community a new service that can also link to these sites and make them more valuable to users. When you come across a challenge and would like to have ideas from your colleagues, put your query in an e-mail and the Solution Exchange moderator will post it to all Community members. Your colleagues will offer advice, experiences, contacts or other suggestions to help you out. In about 5-8 days the moderator will post a synopsis of responses to the mailgroup, including the original contributions, as well as additional helpful resources and links. You will have a quick, comprehensive response and a range of solutions to adapt to your local context.
To find out more about Solution Exchange log on to http://www.solutionexchange-un.net.in/index.htm
For further information about the NACPIII e-Consultation, or about the AIDS Community, contact:
Dr. E. Mohamed Rafique Resource Person & Moderator, AIDS Community UNAIDS India Tel: (+91) 11 24628877 Extn: 453 Mobile: (+91) 93127 27021 E-mail: emohamed.rafique at undp.org
“Every individual's knowledge adds a new dimension and offers a fresh perspective on development challenges. Your contribution matters in ushering in ‘the change'.“
Best regards,
Dr. S. Y. QuraishiSpecial Secretary and Director General National AIDS Control Organisation, Government of India
Dr. Denis BrounCountry CoordinatorUNAIDS India
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