Report: PRESS COVERAGE FOR WORLD AIDS DAY 2011

NOVEMBER 2011

1. Economic Times Condom Story

MDACS initiated a story on the condom market of India and Maharashtra with Economic Times. We coordinated with Dr. Harish Pathak for the figures of the players in the condom market and the same was shared with a journalist. The story appeared nationally in both the print version and online version of Economic Times. NACO was prominently mentioned in the article as the figures were sourced from them.

MDACS had also initiated a story with Economic Times Brand Equity for ‘Condom Mera Dost Campaign’. Questions for the same had been shared with client and creative agency of client. The story had appeared online.

2. World AIDS Day

A press release was drafted regarding the events surrounding the WORLD AIDS DAY 2011 to be shared with the media

As per the revised plan of action, prevalence figures were shared with Times of India for an exclusive article

The said Press Release was translated in Marathi and was disseminated to mass media for creating awareness.

3. Women Empowerment Campaign

A press release was drafted regarding the events surrounding the Women Empowerment Campaign to be shared with the media

As per the revised plan of action, prevalence figures were shared with Times of India for an exclusive article

The said Press Release was translated in Marathi and was disseminated to mass media for creating awareness.

DECEMBER 2011

1. AIDS Advocacy Workshop – MAVIM

MDACS put together a press release with a lot of information about the AIDS Advocacy Workshop (MAVIM). After identifying the women’s magazines and journals, the press release was shared with them, to be published in the respective magazines and journals.

IMPACT

• Two exclusive stories in Times of India for AIDS initiatives
• Stories for AIDS prevalence and campaign were covered in leading regional and English publications such as Lokmat, Sakal, Punyanagari, Mumbai Mitra, Mumbai Samachar, Maharashtra Times, Janmabhoomi, Navshakti, Navbharat, Pudhari, Saamna, Loksatta, Times of India, Hindustan Times, DNA, Indian Express, Free Press Journal, Asian Age and Mid-Day amongst others
• The articles reached out to as many as 1,40,87,425 people (One crore, forty lakhs, eighty seven thousand, four hundred and twenty five people).

Report: WAD 2011 GRAND FINALE

The Grand Finale to the World AIDS Day 2011 was celebrated in a grandiose manner at the MDACS compound. A number of events were conducted there and prizes distributed for the same. There were games, plays, quiz competition, music and dance and an exhibition too.

GROUND EVENTS

Game 1: Pinning the Red Ribbon

This game had 8 participants and 4 rounds. Each round had two women participants competing against each other; they were given a basketful of red-ribbons which they had to pin on the women in the audience, in the shortest span of time. Out of a total of 8 participants, 2 were declared winners. The message of the game was - by pinning the red ribbon one was taking responsibility and spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Game 2: Balancing the Basket 

Four participants had to balance a basket on their heads and race a short distance. The message here was “the need to balance” their life to “stay protected” from HIV.

Audience

Game 3: Choose the correct partner

16 women were given a chit each with the name of an animal, and by making the sound of it, each participant had to look for her ‘pair’. The message here was the “need to look for and stay faithful” to the “right partner”.

Game 4: Passing the parcel

Instead of passing any parcel, participants had to touch the woman beside them. The person, who was touched last, had to answer an HIV/AIDS related question. The embedded message here was that “HIV doesn’t spread through touch”.

HIV/AIDS Quiz

Game 5: Intergroup Quiz

A participant from one area would challenge another from another area by way of an HIV related question. The game infused both competition and stressed on the need for correct and proper knowledge. This was the most important event where there was an engagement with the audience and where the message was clearly stressed upon.  

Game 6: HIV/AIDS Quiz

Two winners from each of the previous games formed the participants for this quiz. Two rounds of HIV/AIDS related technical and services oriented questions were asked. The participants with leading scores were declared as winners.

FINALE

Highlights of the finale

Music & Dance

1. A KBC Style - HIV/AIDS Quiz event, where 10 women finalists from each of the ground events participated. The Quiz included HIV/AIDS related technical, services questions as well as a number of audio/visual questions. The Quiz was hosted by a celebrity guest.
2. Musical and Dance performances which had HIV related messages embedded in them.









IMPACT

1. MDACS had managed to reach out to more than 2000 people during this event. This will definitely boomerang into larger numbers when these participants go out and speak to their family members, neighbours, friends and community members about their learning.

2. The quality of information and knowledge transmission made this WAD model an effective one. For any successful intervention, the medium and message are both equally important, as exposure to ideas through a variety of media makes grasping, comprehension and retention easier.

3. All the people who took part in the Grand Finale thoroughly enjoyed the event. Almost everyone could understand the HIV/AIDS knowledge that had been imparted to them during the course of the finale.

4. Most of the people had already been aware of 3 modes of transmission viz. unprotected sex, infected blood and infected needles/syringes. Only half of them could correctly recall mother to child transmission of HIV. So, that one extra lesson learned by the other half.

5. The whole event had been a learning experience in some way or the other to all of them.

Celebrity Guests give away Paithani Silk Sarees to the prize winners

6. Most of the participants were all geared up to share the information they had learned with others in their communities.

7. The participants even felt that this education should start in schools, where adolescents are given this information right before they enter the phase of youth and exploration.

8. Celebrity speakers: The speakers, both from MDACS and the celebrity guests, were no doubt an asset to the intervention. One, their popularity acted as crowd-pullers and two, their ability to engage with the audience was effective in terms of personifying the message.

Celebrity Interaction

• The celebrity guest at Ghatkopar, for example, spoke of how he and his wife “got tested before marriage” even though they had “known each other for six years”. Such statements coming from people with star value can do wonders for information dissemination.
• On the finale, the guest speaker, Tushar Dalvi recounted his own experiences in interventions that he was a part of, most of them related to gender discrimination, female foeticide as well as HIV-related stigma and discrimination. He said that there is a “great deal of shame and misconception about the disease” which manifests itself by impeding “normal” social interactions, like a handshake or hugging. This is the most blatant kind of stigma. People reveal their other medical conditions, like heart ailments, diabetes and often do so with a hint of pride. But why is there such a lot of stigma around HIV?

Report: WAD 2011 PLANNING – MAVIM CASE STUDIES

During the planning stages of WORLD AIDS DAY 2011, MDACS tried to understand what drove the success behind the Arogyasakhis’ work in their various zones. This report is the result of the study conducted on these women’s work.

CASE 1:

“Use of optimum planning of street play locations, timing and pre-publicity result in large audience and successful shows”

Area: Sion-Koliwada
Arogyasakhi: Premila Singh

“After being given the task of conducting street plays in our community for spreading HIV/AIDS awareness, women from our Self-Help Group got into action and began organizing pre-publicity activities in the community. They put up a banner in the area and decided to use the street in the local vegetable market area at the peak time of 5:30 pm, anticipating large crowds. The women also invited leaders from two local political parties.

The troupe arrived and we started the play at 5:30pm and as expected large crowds gathered to watch what was going on. Women who had come to the market gathered, as did people who were walking back home from the station. Even people on cycles and rickshaw drivers parked their vehicles and stood to watch the entire play. It was a great feeling to see so many people stand in the crowd and watch the play attentively. An approximate total of 150 people watched the play.

Our women organizers even distributed pamphlets containing HIV/AIDS related information to the audience during the course of the play. We heard people talk among themselves about how they liked the play and some were even asking, ‘Ye log (Play troupe) kahaan se aaye hain?’

Overall it was a successful show and a large crowd took home the important messages of HIV/AIDS.”

CASE 2:

“MDACS training on HIV/AIDS helped me overcome my fear of this disease and more importantly the fear of being around those who are infected with HIV/AIDS”

Area: Anushakti Nagar
Arogyasakhi: Baby Ramesh More

“Earlier, whenever I heard the word ‘HIV’ or ‘AIDS’ I would be petrified. I was scared of this disease and even more afraid to be around people infected with HIV.

Once as I was travelling in the train, I happened to sit next to a woman who was busy chatting with the other women around her. She looked normal and continued her conversation. The moment she said the word ‘HIV’ and continued that she was infected, I sensed disgust sitting next to her. I wanted to get up and change my seat immediately. I feared that I might get infected with the disease.

But today I am no longer afraid of HIV/AIDS. I know that it does not spread by merely sitting next to an infected person. I am fully aware of how HIV virus is transmitted and the ways of prevention. All of this information was given to us at the training workshop organized by MDACS. This workshop not only educated us women about HIV/AIDS but it has also given me and other women like me the courage to educate others about this disease and reduce the fear and stigma attached to it.”.

CASE 3:

“The audience enjoyed the street play so much that they requested for another performance”

Area: Chembur
Arogyasakhi: Sneha Bhalerao

“Women from 4 Self-Help Groups got together to organize the street plays for the community. We put up posters near Buddha Vihar informing the people about the event and the time 2 days prior to the actual event, as a result of which people arrived at the location on time.

The play was conducted in the evening as we anticipated large crowds at this time. Majority of the audience were youth and women. Local political leaders, who were invited, attended the play in full strength to show their support.

The audience was highly impressed and enjoyed the performance. They even requested for a repeat performance. We then tied up with a Ganesh Mandal, and organized another 3 shows for the community. The street play troupe was welcomed with flower bouquets by members of the Mandal. As expected they performed well and the audience paid rapt attention.

The support that we received only goes on to show the acceptance that the community gives to the cause of HIV/AIDS.”

CASE 4:

“Street Plays are an effective medium of spreading HIV/AIDS awareness among people from diverse backgrounds.”

Area: Santacruz
Arogyasakhi: Surekha Satish Jadhav

“We made announcements in the selected locations prior to the events. We conducted our first set of street plays near a rickshaw stand in Vakola during afternoon hours. Hence our audience consisted entirely of auto-rickshaw drivers who gathered around the troupe and listened attentively.

On the next day, we chose the rickshaw stand, Buddha Vihar and bus stop as our 3 locations, to get a variety of audience to watch the street plays. This time around, all shows were conducted in the evening. The script of the play was based on a character from North India who comes to Mumbai to earn a living and gets infected with HIV. The troupe used the typical northern accent and made the play authentic and enjoyable. In fact, large parts of the audience were migrants from North India, who could relate to the character. They enjoyed the play and this was evident from their clapping and cheering for the troupe.

They even offered the troupe some tea and snacks after the performance. We feel street play is a very interesting and effective medium of getting people from diverse backgrounds, educating and uniting them for the cause of HIV/AIDS.”

CASE 5:

“Street plays continued despite heavy rains, only to show the community’s support for the cause of HIV/AIDS”

Area: Anushakti Nagar & Cheetah Camp
Arogyasakhi: Sudha Vaidhande

“One day prior to the street plays, women from our Self-Help Group distributed pamphlets and went around the community creating awareness about the event and mobilizing an audience.

The mobilizing itself taught our women a lot and gave them confidence. Anushakti Nagar is such an area where there is tight security and no one is allowed to enter the area without security check. Despite this, our women entered the area and went around doing publicity for the HIV/AIDS street plays.

We were happy that the plays attracted huge crowds and the audience understood the key messages. However, during the course of the play, it suddenly started raining very heavily. Rains were unexpected and this caused panic within us. We were worried that we would lose our audience because of the rain. But thankfully, most of the people stayed till the end, despite the heavy rains and even our troupe performed without a pause, till the finish.

The crowd was so impressed with the troupe’s performance that some audience members even offered monetary rewards to troupe members, which they politely refused.”

Report: WORLD AIDS DAY 2011 OBSERVED OVER A FORTNIGHT

Catch the huge turnout at MDACS during the First Event

Mission:

The Arogyasakhis had successfully trained a number of women to spread the word on HIV/AIDS and this brilliance led to the plan for the WORLD AIDS DAY celebration this year.

The Arogyasakhis were to mobilize women from their zones to a celebrity studded HIV/AIDS game show organized especially for these women at five zones. 123 Arogyasakhis were given a target of training and mobilizing 2000 women from all over Mumbai.

Sangita Bongade is the District Co-ordinating Officer who heads the Sahayoginis.

The Sahayoginis who made it all possible were:

Smt. Madhura Velankar speaking to the women

• Joyoti Barve
• Karuna Pednekar
• Vaishali Mane
• Pramila Singh
• Chaya Suryavanshi
• Pormina Bhosale
• Sudha Vaydande
• Ali Munisa
• Zarina Ansari
• Shabana Sayyed


MAVIM Community Managed resource Centre (CMRC) team that included President Sneha Bhalerao and Vice President Ranjana Gaikwad were also there to offer their help to the Arogyasakhis.

Ms. Sangeeta Bhongade, DCO, MAVIM; The Sahyoginis (10 in number), The President and Vice President of the Community Mobilization Resource Center (CMRC) along with the 123 Arogyasakhis were successful in mobilizing people from the following locations:

The HIV AIDS Game Show 

The HIV AIDS Game show was in the format of a very well known television game show ‘Home Minister’ which is very popular among the lower middle class women of Mumbai. Five celebrities conducted the game show in five zones and two winners were given prizes in each zone. Each winner was presented with a ‘Paithani Saree’ – a very valued asset among women in the Maharashtrian community. 

PRELIMINARY EVENTS

It was ensured that women from all areas had equal representation in all the games. 

Game 1: Pinning the Red Ribbon

This game had 8 participants and 4 rounds. Each round had two women participants competing against each other; they were given a basketful of red-ribbons which they had to pin on the women in the audience, in the shortest span of time. Out of a total of 8 participants, 2 were declared winners. The message of the game being – by pinning the red ribbon, one was taking responsibility and spreading awareness about HIV/AIDS.

Game 2: Balancing the Basket 

Four participants had to balance a basket on their heads and race a short distance. The message here was “the need to balance” their life to “stay protected” from HIV.

Sri. Pushkar Shrotri dancing with the participants

Game 3: Choose the correct partner

16 women were given a chit with the name of an animal, and by making the sound of it; each participant had to look for their ‘pair’. The message here was the “need to look for and stay faithful” to the “right partner”. 

Game 4: Passing the parcel

Instead of passing any parcel, participants had to touch the woman beside them. The person, who was touched last, had to answer an HIV/AIDS related question. The embedded message here was that “HIV doesn’t spread through touch (physical contact)”.

Game 5: Intergroup Quiz

Sri. Umesh Kamat gifting a Saree to a participant

A participant from one area would challenge another from another area by way of an HIV related question. The game infused both competition and stressed on the need for correct and proper knowledge. This was also the only event where there was an engagement with the audience and where the message was emphasised more than the medium.  

Game 6: HIV/AIDS Quiz

2 winners from each of the previous games formed the participants for this quiz. 2 rounds of HIV/AIDS related technical and services oriented questions were asked, with 2 participants with leading scored being declared as winners.

FINALE:

The Finale featured 

• A KBC Style - HIV/AIDS Quiz event, where 10 women finalists from each of the ground events participated. Quiz included HIV/AIDS related technical, services questions as well as a number of audio/visual questions. The Quiz was hosted by celebrity guest Tushar Dalvi. 

• Musical and Dance performances which had HIV related messages embedded in them.
• A skit on HIV/AIDS was put up by celebrities Siddharth Zadbuke and Shraddha Ketkar.

                                         FIRST EVENT

1. Registration; 2. MDACS Project Director Dr. Kudalkar giving away a prize;
3. A lady from the audience answering a question on HIV; 4. Audience at MDACS, Wadala. 

This was held on December 1, 2011 at MDACS premises and the Arogyasakhis belonging to Harbour Zone mobilized women from Sewree, Sion, Chunabhatti, Kurla, Govandi, Mazgaon and Worli. 445 women attended the programme with Smt. Smita Jaykar as the celebrity speaker. 

SMITA JAYKAR: “If woman set their minds, the target of “Getting to Zero” can be achieved easily. They can act as agents of change. Woman can play a vital role in developing the nation.”

SECOND EVENT

1. Registration; 2. A woman answering a question on HIV;
3. Celebrity guest Madhura Velankar dancing with the women;
4. Smt. Velankar giving away the prize

On December 2, 2011, Smt. Madhura Velankar was the celebrity guest at the programme organized at Balvikas Sangh, Chembur. The Arogyasakhis from Harbour Zone mobilized women from Chembur, Anushakti Nagar (Mankhurd) and Trombay (Mankhurd). 490 women attended the show. 

MADHURA VELANKAR: “It is good to see that more and more women are joining the Campaign, “HitgujAarogyache” to spread information related to HIV/AIDS.”

THIRD EVENT

1. Registration; 2. The participants taking part in the game on stage;
3. A woman answering a question on HIV; 4. The audience

The Arogyasakhis from the Central Zone mobilized women from Kamgar Kalyan Bhavan, Kannamwar Nagar to the same venue on December 5, 2011. 500 women attended the event while Sri. Pushkar Shrotri was invited as the celebrity guest. 

PUSHKAR SHROTRI: “I am always supportive of such issues and I have always been a part of HIV/AIDS related activities. I have also traveled with the RED RIBBON EXPRESS.

FOURTH EVENT

1. Registration; 2. A woman answering a question on HIV;
3. Celebrity guest dancing with the women; 4. The audience

Women from the areas of Bhandup, Mulund, Kanjurmarg and Ghatkopar were mobilized by Arogyasakhis from Harbour Zone. Everyone assembled at Kapol Wadi Hall, Ghatkopar (West) on December 8, 2011 for the event. The celebrity guest was Sri. Umesh Kamat. 575 women attended this event. 

UMESH KAMAT: “I have just got married and I can proudly share that we both got ourselves tested for HIV. I am really impressed to see such a huge response from women because a few years back I used to be scared even to speak about it but you people are talking comfortably.”

FIFTH EVENT 

Enthusiastic women registering for the event at Lokmanya Sewa Sangh

This event was held on December 9, 2011 at Lokmanya Sewa Sangh, Vile Parle. The Arogyasakhis from the Western Zone mobilized women from Malad, Andheri, Goregaon, Jogeshwari, Santacruz, Khar, Bandra and Vile Parle. 300 women showed up for this event that had Sri. Vijay Kadam as the celebrity guest.

VIJAY KADAM: “I am proud to be a witness of Women Empowerment Drive led by MDACS in coordination with MAVIM. Women only can take a lead to achieve the target of “Getting to Zero”. Work done so far by you is a big achievement. I salute MDACS for the keen efforts taken to mainstream the issue into the society.”

THE SUCCESS OF THE WHOLE SERIES WAS THAT 2310 WOMEN ATTENDED THE CELEBRATIONS AS AGAINST THE 2000 PLANNED. 

Report: WAD 2011 – SOWING THE SEED

MDACS (Mumbai District AIDS Control Society) and MAVIM (Mahila Arthik Vikas Mahamandal) came together to conduct HITGUJ AROGYACHE, an advocacy workshop targeting women from the lower strata of society.

The objective of the 2-day workshop 

• To empower women with knowledge on HIV/AIDS – prevention, treatment, care, support, STI management, safer sex practice and MDACS services that are available for all these.
• The women were also made aware of the stigma and discrimination that could possibly occur in society.

The Target Group

• This consisted of 9 Sahayoginis; 2 staff members; representatives from 26 pockets; representatives of Basti Level Committee; LoksanchalitSadhan Kendra and NGOs.
• 35 women participated in the workshop conducted on April 26 & 27, 2011.

The plan for 2011-12 

• To reach out to 7000 women beneficiaries of 500 SHGs (Self-Help Groups) that are found all around Mumbai. They will give correct and consistent knowledge to their family members. This means that MDACS will actually reach out to 21,000 people (SC, Minority and others from slum areas & BPL category) of Mumbai.

The Mission

• Special IEC material was printed and distributed to AROGYA SAKHIs and the people they had planned to reach out to. These were in Marathi and Hindi.
• 123 peer educators (Arogyasakhis) were trained through 4 more workshops that were organised to ensure that they reach out to the target.
• These 123 Arogyasakhis were to reach out to 7000 women beneficiaries of 500 SHGs (Self-Help Groups) that are found all around Mumbai. They will give correct and consistent knowledge to their family members.

Achievements

• Publicity was made in advance at all the locations where the World AIDS Day programme was to be conducted.
• The political leaders who were in charge locally were all invited to be involved in the activities, taking the awareness to a different level altogether.
• Through the 75 street-plays that were performed, a crowd of 13,359 people were reached as against the target of 7000.
• In all, MDACS reached out to 40,077 people belonging to SC, Minority and others from slum areas and BPL category of Mumbai City.
• The major breakthrough was that the 123 Arogyasakhis could reach out to the kind of women who used to hesitate even to talk about sex to their own husbands.

Result:

• The workshops helped the slum women come into their own. They were so well trained that they could spread the word on HIV / AIDS prevention to the other women in their own areas, with confidence.
• This resulted in their acquiring their own identity in society and respect among their peers.
• More than all that, these women gained a lot of respect at home, where generally they were treated like doormats before.

IMPACT

The success story of the Arogyasakhis gave birth to the concept of WORLD AIDS DAY 2011.

THE PLAN

A meeting was set up to plan the concept to be adopted during the World AIDS Day campaign this year. It was planned over five days at five different venues across Mumbai City.

The objective was to mobilize women from across Mumbai city in these 5 zones and use Entertainment Education as a format to bring about awareness on HIV.

Games were played with these women where the following messages were given out through entertainment:

• HIV, modes of transmission
• Myths and Misconceptions
• Prevention
• Services of MDACS
               1. Testing
               2. STI
               3. ART
               4. Helpline

A celebrity was to be invited on each day who would give these messages. Advocacy through these celebrities definitely would result in an impact.

Report: TRUCKERS INTERVENTION

Audience enjoying the performances

Introduction

MDACS in collaboration with Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Truckers Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh (NGO) conducted an 8-day long HIV-AIDS awareness intervention for the target group of truckers in major trucker hot spots in Mumbai.

Objective 

Apart from disseminating basic information about HIV-AIDS, the core objective was to influence the target group to get tested on the event day itself and influence future testing behavior.

How It Happened

There was a mobile testing van camped in the event location each day and testing happened simultaneously throughout the day as events like street plays, dances, film screening were conducted.

Street Play

Street Play

The play was performed by a troupe of 7-8 actors at the intersection of roads to ensure that there was maximum exposure. People walking around from different directions were all attracted to the play and stopped to watch. There were a number of trucks parked around the areas and the message was imparted to the target audience.

A large crowd could gather around and watch the play comfortably. This made sure that the target audience was able to receive the message meant for them. The audience were all men, both young and old.

The troupe members made use of costumes, like white kurtas, scarves, turbans; a factor which helped to attract people’s attention.

The actual performance was preceded by a song routine, meant for attracting audiences. There was an active effort to mobilize people and get them closer to the actors.

The MDACS banner was tied to a truck in such a fashion that it attracted everyone’s eyes. Many people from the audience had a good look at it and some of them even read the message on it.

The actors introduced themselves and also announced that they were there on behalf of MDACS and the local NGO, and urged the audience to pay attention, and also informed them that it was in their best interest.

An NGO personnel was on site, distributing pamphlets and the helpline number card to people who were a part of the audience, and also to passers’ by in general.

The actors delivered key messages of HIV transmission, common myths surrounding HIV, ICTC testing centres where one could get tested free of cost; and also mentioning that there was a testing van in the vicinity where they could avail the facility then and there, and get their reports within an hour’s time.

They also spoke of the Saadhan Helpline number that was printed on the cards which were distributed.

The play was performed in Hindi, with the broad demographic characteristics of the truckers in mind while the actors announced the helpline number loudly in three languages, i.e. Hindi, Marathi and English.

Post Street Play

Informal Interviews were conducted randomly with members from the audience who were all truckers from Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, South India and interior Maharashtra.

They agreed that there was a pressing need to reach out to the people, and acknowledged that the local NGO and authorities like MDACS were doing a good job in this field.

Most respondents recalled all 4 modes of transmission correctly. The majority even felt that the truckers in the area had enough information on the basic facts about HIV.

All respondents felt that HIV is a deadly disease and there is no cure for it. Only a few were able to differentiate between HIV and AIDS.

Testing for HIV/AIDS

One out 10 truckers had tested for HIV and felt the need to do so regularly. The remaining respondents reported that while there was no objection as such to get tested, there was not any need felt either. They felt it was enough as long as they are aware of their safety and have not engaged in sexual activity.

Cultural Programme

This included dance programmes like item numbers by a Transgender and mono acts. Zoya was the one who performed the item numbers much to the audience’s glee. Zoya is a prominent activist and performer from the local transgender community. These dancers ensured that more number of people joined the audience.

After the performance, Zoya spoke about stigma and discrimination faced by PHLAs and even people like herself. The talk helped to sensitize the audience.

The series of mono acts, performed by the MDACS personnel themselves, revolving around the trials, aspirations and dilemmas of the central character, a trucker. The demography was understood properly and the entire act was executed well. Not only did this skit add some comic relief, but it also touched various aspects of a trucker’s social circle.

One of the acts involved the secondary character showing the trucker how to use a condom. This practical demo thus served two objectives: one, it helped in reducing the taboo revolving around the word ‘condom’; and two, because of the ‘shock value’ the demo was observed more closely and attentively.

Film Screening

Film Screening

The film which was screened was in sync with the ideas expressed in the earlier acts i.e. unsafe sexual behaviour by migrants and did not stigmatize this need. It did not give it a negative connotation, but reinforced the idea of safe sex and condom usage and the de-tabooing of it.

After the film, there was a Question & Answer session wherein the audience were asked a few questions from the context of the film itself. Of the five odd questions asked, about four were answered correctly and the respondents were given away small prizes.

IMPACT

• This model of Migrant Intervention was found to be effective with the target audience. The street plays helped to build up the tempo and the entertainment section with dance, skits and film screening took the event to a higher level.

• From the audience’s reactions, it was obvious that most correctly recalled basic information likes modes of transmission, misconceptions and need for testing. Some were aware of ICTC, while almost everyone was aware of testing in mobile vans.

The locations:

1. Cotton Green
2. Sewree
3. Mahur
4. Delhi Street
5. Thane Street
6. Pune Street
7. Bhau cha Dhakka

Report: Training of Trainers (TOT) for Adolescent Education Programme (AEP)

The Adolescent Education Programme is extremely important as prevention of HIV/AIDS among adolescents can be made possible by imparting the correct knowledge amongst youngsters – both in and out of school.

The workshop for Training of Trainers was conducted on November 21, 22 & 23, 2011. Many sessions were conducted with speakers who are experts in their fields.

The participants were from a varied background with a lot of experience in handling adolescents.

Session One

This was from 11 am onwards and Sangeeta Punekar was the speaker and the topic was EXPLORING LIFE SKILLS.

The participants interacted very well during this session right from when the topic of AEP was introduced along with its objectives. While the speaker spoke in English, Hindi and Marathi to ensure that everyone understood, she gave them a list of the challenges that they were bound to face, ensuring that they had a realistic view. She used a game to explain life skills to everyone.

The participants were all highly motivated to the cause and showed tremendous interest in whatever was said during this workshop. Many of them shared their experiences, adding to discussion.

Sangeeta Punekar gave the participants a clear idea of the objectives, the age of the target group of adolescents and also shared many real life examples, encouraging the audience to interact.

Session Two

This was from 1 pm onwards and was conducted by Dr. Sequiera. The topic handled was Physiological, Mental and Emotional Changes in Adolescence.

• Dr. Sequiera comes with an incredible history and work experience in the field of adolescent education, hence she was knowledgeable and able to prepare participants in terms of knowledge as well as ways to deal with adolescents and related issues that may arise during the programme.
• Dr. Sequiera used an almost perfect mix of knowledge dissemination, group discussion and group activity, which allowed for participants to share what they had learned.
• Dr. Sequiera corrected many misconceptions of the participants.
• Dr. Sequiera also suggested that participants read literature - ‘On the horizon of adulthood’, a book by UNICEF, which is a collection of questions and queries asked by adolescents during such programmes.
• Dr. Sequiera oriented participants to an extensive history of the Adolescent Education Programme which was originally called the APEP in 1993.
• After an interesting narration of AEP’s history, Dr. Sequiera conducted a group activity on adolescence. This was particularly very effective, with each participant sharing their own adolescent experiences.
• Provided technical knowledge about puberty & adolescence and conducted another group activity to demonstrate the same.
• Dr. Sequiera explained adolescence in a positive light and changed many pre-conceptions that the participants had in mind.
• Dr. Sequiera finally passed around chits with possible questions that could be asked by adolescents during the sex education sessions.

PARTIPANTS’ RESPONSE

• Participants were extremely receptive to the speaker and the topic.
• Each one shared extensively during the activities.
• Gauging from the queries, group sharing and presentations, it was obvious that the participants had learned immensely from this session.
• After this session, participants had completely warmed up to the topic of adolescence education and were geared up for sessions to come.
• Excellent choice of resource person.

Session Three

This began at 3.30 pm and lasted till the end of the first day of the workshop. Dr. Kavita Bhatia was the speaker and the topic that she handled was Gender, Gender Roles, Adolescence And Sexuality.

• Dr. Kavita Bhatia picked up the rhythm from where the last speaker (Dr. Sequiera) had left.
• Dr. Kavita Bhatia used an effective mode of training. She assumed the role of a teacher and asked the participants to think and react like adolescents. Role playing throughout the session helped participants get into the skin of their target audience – students.
• Through the use of simple activities, Dr. Kavita Bhatia explained the sensitive topic of gender & sexuality very effectively. At the end of the session, participants were competent to take a lecture on the same topics.
• Dr. Kavita Bhatia conducted an energetic and lively session and managed to finish within time.
• Most importantly, Dr. Kavita Bhatia got the participants to think like trainers.
• Using the AEP module as reference, Dr. Kavita Bhatia covered each topic using examples.
• Dr. Kavita Bhatia conducted a ‘Free Association’ activity with participants to explain the concept of Gender.
• After debriefing the first activity, Dr. Kavita Bhatia divided class into groups and gave them a gender based situation and asked them to react like adolescent boys and girls would.

PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSE

• Second activity strengthened the participants understanding of gender roles.
• Third group activity allowed for group presentations which demonstrated the comfort level on the topic that the participants developed through the course of the day
• After a very in-depth and informative previous session by Dr. Sequiera, Participants were highly motivated for the second session.
• Their interest levels were visible through the number of questions asked as well as their willingness to participate in group activities and presentations.
• Participants donned the roles of adolescent students in good spirit, as requested by Dr. Kavita Bhatia. This helped them understand the psyche of the students better.

Session Four

This was on November 22, 2012 at 11 am and lasted for almost 3 hours. Dr. Pranita Tipre conducted a workshop on the topic Reproductive System, Process Of Conception.

• Dr. Pranita Tipre was very informative and had an extensive knowledge on the subject.
• A particular discussion about 'adolescent like' questions about sexuality was raised and answered adequately by Dr. Pranita Tipre. An example: 'What should a teacher do to intervene if an adolescent is being sexually abused?' These practical examples made the educative process more than merely imparting information.  
• Dr. Pranita Tipre had a teacher-student approach and a holistic view on sexuality.
• The session was successful in equipping the teachers with content and a basic outline of ways to handle problem situations in class.
• Each segment was explained skillfully and practical tips were given for classroom management of such a sensitive topic.
• Many myths and misconceptions were cleared regarding normal delivery, vaginal closing, twin formation, etc. The speaker gave relevant real life examples.
• The speaker was easy to understand and her language was simple and technical terms used were well explained.
• There were discussions initiated by the participants and the speaker was able to answer the questions put forth to her.

PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSE

• The audience was attentive and had a deeper understanding of the birth process and the reproductive system by the end of the session.
• Participants successfully managed to discuss possible challenges and how to solve them.

Session Five

This was from 2.30 pm onwards and was conducted by Dr. Shanbaug. She took a workshop on the topic Mental Health & Assertiveness.

• Dr. Shanbaug discussed many techniques about communicating with teenagers like role plays, games and reflection of student’s statements.
• The participants were very involved as the trainer spoke in Marathi which they were all more comfortable with than English.
• This made understanding much simpler for them and also encouraged more sharing and questioning.
• Dr. Shanbaug allowed for group discussion and sharing of multiple personal experiences, while many practical issues were dealt with eg: Student attitude about open discussions in the class, saying ‘no’ to sex.
• Being an experienced speaker on this topic, Dr. Shanbaug discussed a lot of examples and situations with the group.

PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSE

• The participants were more equipped to deal with adolescents and were prepared for a number of possible future challenges that they could have to face and their solutions. The session was more skill based for participants and more practical for application to the programme.

Session Six

This session started at 11 am on the third day – November 23, 2012. Ms. Priyanka Gadre was speaker who conducted a workshop on the topic Substance Abuse.

• Ms. Priyanka Gadre explained the situation of Substance Abuse and what the trainers need to keep in mind while dealing with such situations with the help of real life examples.
• She stressed the link between Substance Abuse and HIV. She covered all the relevant content and was open to questions and discussions.

PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSE

• Many of them liked the session and could understand very well what was being discussed.
• Some of them had never heard of the knowledge that was imparted to them during this session. They were quite happy to receive so much information.
• Session was highly informative and experiential.
• Good choice of trainer, as she came with a lot of relevant experiences, and such topics can be understood better only through situations and cases.

Session Seven

This session began at 2 pm and Ms. Priyanka Gadre spoke on the topic of Sexual Abuse.

• Besides covering content on what is sexual abuse, how to identify children who have been sexually abused, Ms. Priyanka Gadre also stressed the importance of creating an atmosphere conducive for children to come forward with a complaint of sexual abuse.
• Ms. Priyanka Gadre had all the information and was up to date with respect to statistics, laws and the grey areas in dealing with these situations.
• The speaker emphasized the importance of confidentiality, support and open communication when dealing with problem cases with students.
• She essentially shared practical information about what the BMC teachers need to do specifically in such situations. The trainer was also open to audience questions and discussions.

PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSE

• The participants were engaged throughout the session as they shared a lot of experiences.
• The session encouraged a lot of discussion and multiple questions from the participants.
• The audience put forth a lot of cases and personal experiences.

Session Eight

This was the last session for the day and it began at 3 pm. Dr. Evelett was the one who took the workshop on Life Skills and HIV.

• Topic was interesting; and with the practical approach bought in by Dr. Evelett, the participants were able to understand the topic clearly and learn about methods in which they could disseminate this information.
• With the help of examples and personal experiences, the speaker demonstrated how to explain and convey this (HIV) information to the students.
• The speaker followed the structure given in the module and taught and gave examples accordingly.
• Dr. Evelett encouraged interaction and discussions and managed her time well.
• The session was useful as it did not just provide information, but explained the “how to” conduct these sessions with the students.

PARTICIPANTS’ RESPONSE

• The session was informative and interesting. The participants took part enthusiastically despite it being the last session.
• The participants could well relate to what was being taught as Dr. Evelett used a number of real life experiences.
• The speaker also allowed a lot of interaction and discussion from the participants ensuring that they got the proper knowledge of the subject.

Report: Success Story of Project Parivartan - Vanita secures the job of counsellor

MDACS feels proud of the success story of Project Parivartan, how the project has helped a Redressal Cell volunteer in finding a steady job as a counselor at an ART Centre despite not being very highly educated.

The very objective of Project Parivartan was to help PLHIV survive in our society and to help them access their rights.

Read the interview below to see how this has come about so soon after the Project Parivartan came about.

Background

Vanita Doiphode has recently been appointed as a Peer Coordinator at an ART Centre in KEM hospital. For her this feat is one of her biggest achievements so far and is excited about her new role.

With more than 5 years of experience as a PLHA counsellor and outreach worker; she started volunteering at the Redressal Cell in KEM Hospital in November, 2011. Volunteering at the Redressal cell was a novel experience as the Redressal cell concept was just started in 2011 by MDACS. Very soon, an announcement for the position of a peer coordinator at the ART Cell was made, and one of her colleagues (a counsellor affiliated with MDACS) urged Vanita to apply.

At first, although Vanita found this to be a great opportunity of growth within the ART domain especially for volunteers at the Redressal cell, she was apprehensive whether she would be considered for the position.

But with the help of her peers in the ART Centre, she mustered the courage and wrote an application letter and applied for the job. She was called for the interview and it was then that she realised that she was the only candidate with an SSC level education while the rest of the 12 candidates had an education level of above 12 Std. But she adds that as soon as the interview started, her nervousness disappeared and she spoke confidently about her experience and skills. She was selected on that same day for the position.

Vanita gives credit for her rise from a volunteering role to that of a peer coordinator to her other PLHA colleagues and MDACS for opening up such an avenue for her.

More than your average Mumbaikar…. 

At first glance, Vanita Doiphode is like any other, ordinary person in this city; working and travelling like a million others. But she has seen a lot more than your average Mumbaikar. And her day-to-day experiences are tales of struggle, hope and what can be called the triumph of the human spirit. Vanita is HIV-positive, and she has over the years, worked as an outreach worker and counsellor in government hospitals and testing centres, helping out others like herself who’re in need to care and support.

Prior to her role as an ART centre volunteer, she recounts her experiences in the PPTCT (Prevention of Parent to Child Transmission) centres in a suburban Mumbai hospital where her primary role was educating HIV-positive pregnant women about the disease and its risks to the child. Many of the women, she says, did not have any prior knowledge about HIV in those days, and thus, there were misconceptions about the disease that were very common. It was her job as the outreach worker to share her example with these women and motivate them to continue their pregnancies and to not take drastic measures like abortion or suicide.

One patient, she recalls, had hid her status from her family, and during her labour one hospital refused to operate upon her due to her HIV status. Vanita tactfully explained the complication to the woman’s family whilst not disclosing her status, and ensured that the hospital went forward with the delivery, and even submitted a formal complaint against the staff the next day. In another instance, she carried a two-day old baby to a city hospital as the local one was short of Nevrapine.

What motivates Vanita…

When asked about what motivates her to go out of her way and quite literally so, to help out these women, she smiles and says that it is the welfare of the child that motivates her.

While it is implausible and indeed impossible to blame anyone for becoming infected, HIV transmission to the child is avoidable and should be the responsibility of the parents as well as the hospital and medical staff. “Why should an innocent life suffer because of stigma?” She asks poignantly.

Challenges that she faces….

Not all of Vanita’s work can be seen through such rose-tinted vision, and she is quick to caution us against this. Self-stigma, she says, is even more dangerous than being stigmatised by society. Issues of morality block the need to question and the desire to come forward among HIV-positive people and this is a huge setback to efforts made by people like her. She says that by ascribing HIV infection to only sexual acts stigmatises the disease even more, and this adversely affects children and women who are HIV-positive.

However, she does not seem entirely pessimistic. “There is a great deal of change in perspective, especially among medical professionals and doctors. A decade ago, they were as ignorant as the common public was. But now they are coming forward and helping HIV-positive people by offering more than medical help, by way of counselling and advocacy.” In fact, it were such counsellors, doctors and outreach workers who helped her overcome her own stigma and got her in touch with positive people’s networks.

Her job as a peer coordinator is her hope…

“Charity is one thing,” she says, “job satisfaction, another.” Her profession allows her to interact with others, who like herself seven years ago, are in a state of confusion and in need of knowledge and guidance. A change in perspective is the need of the hour, in her opinion; this will counter both stigma and discrimination on many levels.

In conclusion, she states, both simplistically and profoundly, that “like ‘normal’ people, we too have the right to work, marry and have children and a family. Giving us ‘special treatment’ will only reinforce self-stigma. If we are assured of free first-line treatment, we are free to address other issues concerning our health, like having a healthy diet etc.” Other important issues, like economic ones, the requirement to fill the stomachs of oneself and one’s family are important considerations. And these questions can be addressed only once people like Vanita are assured of equal opportunity of work and leisure; to live and work as independent, ordinary citizens, and yet be involved in rather extraordinary tasks.

And simply put, this is the story of their lives.

Report: Redressal Cell and Saadhan Helpline - An Integrated Solution for PLHIV

IEC-MDACS has under its wing the Saadhan Helpline and the Redressal Cell. Both these services work together to bring about an integrated solution for PLHIV (People living with HIV).


Saadhan Helpline:

Saadhan helpline which provided HIV, AIDS and Family Planning related information and counseling to thousands of callers from India and abroad under the PSI banner during the last 15 years has been successfully transitioned to Mumbai District AIDS Control Society and has officially commenced operations from May 2, 2011 onwards.

The MDACS Saadhan Helpline has received more than 250 calls within the first month of operations and the current call rate is up to 400 calls per month. The Saadhan counsellor solves queries of the common man on HIV/AIDS. Counselling is free of cost and confidentiality of the caller is maintained.

Integrated Solution to PLHIV:

IEC-MDACS has brought together Saadhan Helpline and the Redressal Cell under its umbrella. This is to mainly make sure that PLHIVs get all help possible in getting the right treatment at the right time. While Saadhan Helpline listens to their problems and puts them in touch with the right people, the volunteers of the Redressal Cell co-ordinate with the Health set-up and PLHIV to give them maximum support.

The following is an actual case study without divulging the names of the people involved:

Case Study

Gender: Female              Age: 29 years
Marital Status: Single        Occupation: Service
Education: Graduate                Location: Mumbai
Source: MDACS- IEC material        

A distressed female had called up the helpline seeking help for her HIV positive brother. She stays with her old father and her brother. Being handicapped with a leg problem and also being the sole breadwinner, she was finding it difficult to manage things at home. Her brother’s uncontrollable aggressive behaviour and deteriorating health had become a major cause for concern.

A few years after being diagnosed as HIV positive, he had lost his job due to recurrent health problems. Since then he had become very aggressive, cynical and threw tantrums. His wife and child were also HIV positive. Unable to cope with his misbehaviour, his wife had left him taking their child with her. This incident had an even worse impact on him. Turning into a complete recluse, he started shunning people and had limited conversation only with his sister.

She also mentioned that although he had started ART at a government hospital, he stopped it later since he was upset that HIV positive patients were being discriminated at the hospital and was also worried about confidentiality being maintained. He had destroyed his reports too. Later, as her brother refused to step out of the house, the caller arranged for ART from a private doctor. The doctor also paid home visits to treat her brother’s opportunistic infections. However, the caller’s brother misbehaved with the doctor too, resulting in discontinuation of ART.

At the time of the call, the caller’s brother was having several opportunistic infections and was not able to retain food as he was continuously throwing up. His sister would get the medications for him from the same private doctor and he would take the medications only if she personally gave him which was not always possible.

The caller wept throughout the call, overcome by frustration and helplessness. Empathising with the caller’s situation, the counsellor explained the importance of prompt medical intervention, also informing her about organisations providing home based care and referred her to a PLHIV support group. The counsellor also provided referral of redressal cell’s volunteer (Project Parivartan) to facilitate the process of ART registration. The caller thanked the counsellor for her support and information.

Feedback received from the redressal cell volunteer:

After her conversation at the helpline, the female had called the redressal cell volunteer. She disclosed that she had been unable to establish contact with the PLHIV network. At her request, the volunteer agreed to visit their house and counsel her brother. Initially, her brother fought with his sister for calling the volunteer but later there was a change in his behaviour. The counselling served as a catalyst in changing her brother’s behavior whereby he became more open to his sister contacting the volunteer. The volunteer developed a good rapport with the caller’s brother and interacted amicably with him. Within a couple of counselling sessions, the caller’s brother volunteered to get admitted to the hospital. The redressal cell volunteer helped out in arranging for free ambulance service and admitting him into a government hospital. Currently, his treatment is underway at the hospital and he is due to be discharged soon. He still continues to interact amicably with the volunteer.

Conclusion:

MDACS is absolutely proud to show such a strong impact of bringing together the two services that function independently. Namely, Saadhan Helpline and the Redressal Cell have been brought together and they co-ordinate in such a way that it is totally solution-oriented and of great use to PLHIVs.