1. Synergizing global collaboration to address HIV/AIDS needs
in rural India: the Jhabua experience
D. Batura1, F. Toegel2, R. Nair1, H. Makadon3
1Wockhardt-Harvard Medical International HIV/AIDS Education and Research Foundation (WHARF), Mumbai, India
2Aktionsgemeinschaft Partner Indiens (API), Munich, Germany
3Wockhardt-Harvard Medical International HIV/AIDS Education and Research Foundation (WHARF), Boston, United States
Issues: Recognising the need to augment HIV/AIDS preventive activities in rural India, an NGO created in Mumbai as an academic private partnership with Harvard Medical International (HMI), the Wockhardt-HMI HIV/AIDS Education and Research Foundation (WHARF) has entered into a multinational initiative to provide HIV/AIDS education and establish VCCTCs in a tribal district.
Description: Located in western Madhya Pradesh, India, Jhabua is a rural district, home to nearly one million of the Bhil tribe. Following extensive deforestation, these erstwhile hunters migrate for jobs. Males undertake manual labour while females serve as housemaids; males often visit brothels and females are frequently sexually exploited. Literacy is low, poverty is widespread and alcoholism affects both sexes.
STIs are rampant. Most health care is home based and childbirth domiciliary. Health worker’s burden of responsibility is exacerbated by a lack of resources.
Since July 2004, WHARF has led an education program addressing nurses, midwives, social workers, counselors teachers and community leaders. The goal of the program has been to increase HIV/AIDS awareness, provide education about preventive practices specific to their community, and encourage healthy, non discriminatory attitudes towards PLWHA in order to reduce stigmatization.
WHARF has also helped establish VCCTCs and collect epidemiological data in four key towns across Jhabua.
Data collected from the VCCTCs over the four month period since inception in March 2006 to June 2006 showed that 272 persons (mean 68 per month) were referred by primary care providers for testing. Of these, 144 (52.94%) undertook testing (mean 36 per month). Out of those tested, two (1.3%) tested positive.
Using its Mumbai experience, WHARF has developed a comprehensive curriculum to train the workers at these centres. The working of these centres is monitored frequently and the staff regularly trained.
This multifaceted collaborative initiative was spearheaded by Aktionsgemeinschaft Partner Indiens, a German NGO working through their Indian associates, Jeevan Jyoti Health Service Society. The initiative also has had the support of the MP AIDS Control Society.
Lessons learned: Collaborating across continents, organisations have used their strengths, dovetailed resources and developed a successful capacity building program serving the rural poor.
Recommendations: The success of the Jhabua program demonstrates the impact that multilateral collaboration could have throughout rural India.