Posted: 01/12/2007
Saturday 1st December is World AIDS day.
The World Health Organisation states that "HIV/ AIDS (is the) fourth-biggest killer worldwide. Its effects are devastating: on individuals, families, communities and nations."
The health of people living in the slums of Delhi is at risk in many ways - HIV and AIDS is one of them.
Asha is fighting to stop the spread of HIV and AIDS in the slums, starting within the communities themselves.
Community Health Volunteers (CHVs) are trained to educate the community members about how they may be at risk of contracting HIV, and how infection can be avoided. They play a vital part in raising awareness and convincing people that it's not only acceptable but necessary to be aware of the risks of HIV and to get treatment and advice if they have any concerns.
Asha staff and members of Mahila Mandals (women's groups) also raise awareness using methods such as rallies or street plays so that entire slum communities can be involved and get to see and hear the messages.
CHVs and Asha staff distribute condoms to community members and work hard to remove the stigma attached to talking about matters such as AIDS, contraception, high-risk behaviours and so on.
Pregnant women and any TB patients are tested for HIV by Asha staff, and the Polyclinic has recently acquired new facilities for testing. Any people found to be HIV positive will be referred for further counselling and treatment under Government programmes. So far, after nearly 10,000 people have been tested, there are fewer than 5 known cases of HIV infection within Asha slums, and we are working very hard to ensure that this number doesn't increase.
I was pregnant and dangerously anaemic. I couldn't afford to visit a hospital but a women's group member took me to see an Asha doctor who persuaded my husband to donate some blood. One of the Asha staff donated blood as well! My baby was delivered safely, but if it wasn't for Asha we both could have died.
Nafisa, Ekta Vihar
