“It is responsibility of every citizen to stop menace of HIV from spreading’’

“It is responsibility of every citizen to stop menace of HIV from spreading’’ Mrs.P.Chitra,

“It is responsibility of every citizen to stop menace of HIV from spreading’’ Mrs.P.Chitra, Project Director, SEVAI said in her key note address in a five   days training program for Trainers for mainstreaming HIV/AIDS with women Self Help Group Federation Leaders of Trichy, held from 13^TH to 17^th at Kalaiarangam conference hall in Trichy. This program was jointly organized by Women Development Corporation and NGO, SEVAI in Trichy.She added that Transmission of infection is more efficient from Men to Women than from Women to Men Women have an instinct for nurturing; armed with knowledge and information on HIV/AIDS they would share it with their families, their neighbors, relatives’ acquaintances friends and community. The message is sure to disseminate and benefit large number of persons towards protection and safe sex. 89% of the HIV affected people belong to the age group of 15-49 and 1/3rd of them comprise of women. Since the women in the SHG belong to this age group HIV/AIDS awareness training is very necessary. Women SHGs are spread throughout the length and breadth of the state and are networked effectively through NGOs and Panchayat level federations. They can be mobilized easily and reached with a short time through cascade mode of training.

The training is unique in that it is imparted by women SHG members who are themselves the trainers and trainees in turn at different levels. PLF trainers train the animators of SHG and the animator in turn train the SHG members. This has a very strong and positive peer group influence. The training is unique in that it is imparted by women SHG members who are themselves the trainers and trainees in turn at different levels. PLF trainers train   the animators of SHG and the animator in turn train the SHG members. This has a very strong and positive peer group influence, which makes the whole project unique in terms of its wide reach among rural women in the most cost effective way. The interactive sessions were held where in participants and resource persons engaged in discussion about ways to fight the menace of HIV/AIDS.

Percy Lal, APAC Link Workers Scheme District Project Manager appealed the link workers and volunteers to join hands with the trained women Trainers to prevent HIV/AIDS programme.HIV/AIDS have become a growing concern in the state of Tamilnadu. At this juncture Government of Tamilnadu joined hands with NGOs to educate SHG women on HIV/AIDS with the objective of reducing the incidence of HIV/AIDS. Expressing his concern over the increasing numbers of the HIV/ HIV affected persons; she said that every member of Self Help Group has to play a vital role to prevent the spread of the HIV/AIDS by creating right awareness. Further he said faith based organizations could contribute a lot in creating awareness among the people staying in every nook and corner as they reach to the  unreachable and appealed them to promote awareness with full dedication and support. He also suggested that the secondary and higher secondary students should be targeted as they can teach and talk to their parents and friends openly about danger of HIV. In her address Project Officer Mahalir Thittam told the participants of the training that prevention is the best way to protect oneself from HIV/AIDS. It is mentioned that training of Trainers has been conducted to train around 10000 self help groups in Trichirappalli District at a cost of Rs.6000000.

T. Vanitha, District Coordinator of SEVAI women groups informed that this training will be provided to SHGs on a campaign mode and requested Link Workers Scheme of TANSAC and APAC in Trichy District to make use of the services of SHGs for brining Trichy District as zero prevalence of HIV/AIDS new cases.

The awareness of HIV/AIDS has been a growing concern for decades and cures are still a far cry. However, the prevention and education on the subject can protect you from deadly disease. Vanitha said that it was pertinent to mention that, according to latest statistics of UNAIDS, 33 million people are battling with HIV worldwide, of which 2.5 millions are children. Out of the 33 million patients, 2.5 million patients live in India. The motive of organizing such training to women SHGs is to educate them and spreading the message in a campaign mode and subsequently one to one and one to group interaction thus making everyone aware about its prevention, treatment and care so that the coming generation can live in a more healthy world. Etram news service