A Brief report on Out Reach Sites

Approach to women’s health and special attention is given to the needs of women and their families. Dr. Shirin Rahman of Chaitanya Sravanthi adopted measures that take into account the rights of women to enable them to exercise informed choices, their vulnerability to sexual and health problems together with infectious and communicable diseases such as STD, HIV/AIDS and TB. Chaitanya Sravanthi felt there is a need to tackle HIV/AIDS related issues as part of women empowerment program and given more importance to STI/ HIV/AIDS and TB awareness and Voluntary Counseling and Testing services among women and couples Community coordinators of Chaitanya Sravanthi motivate women & couples to go for HIV counseling and testing Chaitanya Sravanthi is empowering women by motivating them to get test for HIV through PSI VCTC services and in the process through the health of the family the women are empowered.The outreach VCT programme in collaboration with Chaitnya Sravanthi was started on 10th July,2007.The idea was basically to reach out mainly to female clients spread out across a larger geographical area. Community coordinators are coordinating with PSI staff for selecting and identifying out reach sites to provide VCT services. They are motivating women and also couples to get HIV counseling and testing done. They are motivating the people to come forward voluntarily for VCT Services without any stigma and discrimination. Before starting the outreach site, the PSI staff co-ordinates with the community leader to conduct awareness programmes.In that, all the group leaders are informed about HIV/AIDS ,importance of getting HIV counseling and testing and ways to motivate their spouse’s/family members for the services Till now, ten such awareness programmes were conducted and reached 1421 clients till august ’08 in five areas- Kotaveedhi, Chilakapeta, Rangarejveedhi, Bukkaveedhi and Jalaripeta.30 follow-up sessions were done at Kotaveedhi13 positive clients were seen and 11 clients availed Care and support services at various centres.Following are the break-up of the clients seen at various sites. PSI expressed sincere thanks to Chaitanya Sravanthi for making this program viable and successful. We will continue to cooperate with Chaitanya Sravanthi with for a long term commitment to empowering the women in all the ways possible

The observations are:

1. HIV/AIDS awareness levels are high
2. World Vision India is having good hold in the community
3. People are coming forward to avail the VCT services voluntarily
4. No stigma seen during the process
5. Unable to provide services for couples as husbands are away for their work.
6. All the adult males are informal workers (Daily labours).

Chaitanya Sravanthi a voluntary organization started in the year 1987 with the objective of striving for the upliftment of the downtrodden, and empowerment of the women.

The thrust areas of operations for CS have been: (a) creation of income generating opportunities, (b) education, training, and counseling (c) health care, (d) formationof, and continuous support for self help groups, and (e) coordination with other NGOs and welfare organizations; and liaisoning with governmental agencies.

Over the years, the empowerment function of chaitanya sravanthi has become more dominant over the welfare and assistance functions. Even in the domain of counseling, the role of Chaintanaya Shrvanthi has been expanded their activities to environmental protection, HIV/AIDS awareness, and legal counseling.

Our Project Manager Mr. G.K.V.Ravi Chandra addressing on inauguration	Women attended for the inauguration program at Shri Chaintanaya Shravanthi

After the talks by APM & Asst. Mgr VCTC we innagurated the outreach site in old post office area community hall. The inaugural program was attended by Mr. G.K.V.Ravi Chandra, Project Manager of PSI and Dr. Sherran Rehaman, Founder of Sri Chaitanya Shrvanthi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad – Addl. DM & HO, Dr. Prabhakar Director of Green Vision, Dr. Raja Sekhar of Lepra India. Around 200 women participated in the inaugural program.

Totally PSI provided services to 2000 clients in Chaitanya Sravanthi major slum areas.

How to motivate partners /spouse at outreach site

• In some areas of outreach site, before starting the session. We are providing group information and motivating groups to turn out for VCT services.
• Anyone can get HIV, therefore it is important to get tested for any person there is no gender bias for HIV testing.
• Focus on health seeking behavior- it is not only your health, but your family’s health is also very important.
• It is not only through sexual mode, there are other modes of transmission of HIV.  Therefore, to clear one’s doubt, it is always better to get tested.
• There are no symptoms, so even healthy persons can have HIV. To know whether one is having HIV or not, testing is the only medium.
• It is not only testing here we talk about how to protect yourself and your family from HIV.  Confidentially and anonymity is also maintained.
• Now-a- days, we are listening more about HIV/AIDS in different situations.  After hearing that, one thinks that it is better to protect one self.  This is the first step.  After getting tested, we will be getting peace of mind. There would be no tension or worry in one’s mind.
• Your report is only yours.  It doesn’t tell that whether your partner has HIV or not. Therefore, partner testing is also important.
• You can also tell your neighbors because it is for their health.  Word of mouth will do miracles and the neighbors believe more than us, if they tell their own experiences to the community.
• If the spouse or partner is not comfortable for testing at outreach site, they can go to Saadhan Clinic and get tested. We’ll give discount (one plus one free) to them.
• NGO community leaders (Females) is playing a vital role. They are motivating individual females to bring their spouses for VCT at outreach sites, by telling about the advantages of one getting tested for HIV.
• A couple which is already tested , if interested to share their experiences of counseling can come forward and talk about it during group information session or women group meeting.
• Depending on the community reaction, deal it very sensitively –  especially sexual mode of transmission, if the community is ready to  accept it , explain by giving examples.
• Finally, preference to partner /spouse for testing will be given even though there are clients waiting outside.

Provided services to nearly 2000 above clients out of that 20 clients are positive.