********************************************************** SAATHII Electronic Newsletter HIV NEWS FROM INDIA Source: The Times of India, Daily Pioneer, The Hindu, Kangla Online, The Himalayan Times, Livemint.com, MSN.com, E-pao.net and the Telegraph India Posted on: 31/01/08 COMPILED BY: Jacob Boopalan, and L. Ramakrishnan SAATHII Chennai Office. Note: this compilation contains news items about HIV/AIDS published in the Indian media, as well as articles relevant to HIV/AIDS in India published internationally. Articles in this and previous newsletters may also be accessed at http://www.saathii.org/orc/elibrary =============================================================== 1. Swiss NGO takes up cause in Punjab The Times of India, January 28, 2008. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Swiss_NGO_takes_up_cause_in_Punjab/articleshow/2736141.cms 2. Corrupt rule the roast Daily Pioneer, January 28, 2008. http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnist1.asp?main_variable=Columnist&file_name=joginder%2Fjoginder134.txt&writer=joginder 3. Second-line HIV drugs remain elusive The Hindu, January 28, 2008. http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012854210500.htm 4. Himachal Government to support AIDS orphans The Hindu, January 28, 2008. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012852890300.htm 5. HIV infection rate reducing in Ccpur Kangla Online, January 28, 2008. http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=40943&typeid=1 6. Single VDC ward in Kailali has 30 HIV patients The Himalayan Times, January 28, 2008. http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0scqzpba8Sa7a8a.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080129 7. 350 NGOs sacked in mega NACO clean-up Livemint.com, January 28, 2008. http://www.livemint.com/2008/01/29235754/350-NGOs-sacked-in-mega-Naco-c.html 8. HC dismisses AIDS NGO's plea against Centre MSN.com, January 28, 2008. http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1212100 9. Submission of names for Community Care Centre Ukhrul NGO demands fair play E-Pao.net, January 29, 2008. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=8..300108.jan08 10. Politics plagues AIDS project - NGO questions credentials of shortlisted organisation The Telegraph India, January 30, 2008. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080130/jsp/northeast/story_8838997.jsp =============================================================== 1. Swiss NGO takes up cause in Punjab The Times of India, January 28, 2008. http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Swiss_NGO_takes_up_cause_in_Punjab/articleshow/2736141.cms CHANDIGARH: Albina du Boisrouvray, a French-Swiss Countess, accompanying French president Nicolaus Sarkozy’s official delegation, on her visit to India announced the launch of Rs 14 lakh project by her Switzerland-based NGO, Association Frangois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) in league with Nabha Foundation, Patiala to cater to general health, risk and protection from AIDS/HIV. The programme will be taken up in 10 villages, where 60 AIDS affected patient will be looked after. Besides this, Ludhiana too is in her scheme of things as she feels the need to spread the awareness about AIDS/HIV. FXB leads 87 programmes in 19 countries and has 600 personnel to fight AIDS, poverty and rescue work of orphans and vulnerable children of the AIDS pandemic. It’s Indian version is known as India Suraksha, which constitutes an integrated package of complementary components: care and support initiatives for AIDS orphans, other vulnerable children and people living with HIV and AIDS. It focuses on specific groups considered ‘at risk’ of contracting HIV virus, such as migrant workers, fishermen and street children. "Millions of children suffering from AIDS in poor countries are becoming a discarded generation," said the Countess. Speaking to TOI, by telephone from New Delhi, in an exclusive interview Albina said:"This trip was a poignant opportunity to highlight the challenges facing unfortunate millions of children who have been left behind by AIDS." Albina informed that she has called upon the French government and members of the G8 to allocate at least 10 % of overall AIDS funding to support orphans and vulnerable children. Ensuring that 10 % of HIV/AIDS funding is allocated to orphans and vulnerable children is the focus of World AIDS Orphan Day founded in 2002 by Albina and is celebrated every year on May 7 in more than 40 countries. FXB’s India’s affiliate is the only European NGO working in the area of HIV/AIDS in all the states and Union territories of India, catering to 3.50 lakh direct beneficiaries and covering a population of 13.5 million. Through its successful village model programme, FXB provides low-cost, sustainable community based support to help families and communities. Operating through a budget of US$ 150,000 over a three-year period, up to 85% of FXB’s beneficiary families in the programme have become entirely self-sufficient. In November 2003, Albina received the "Lifetime Achievement Award" at the 4th International Conference on AIDS in India. Emphasizing on the grim situation she said: "Over 15 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS. A millions orphans remain unaccounted for, particularly in remote, marginalized communities across India. By the end of the next decade, the number of AIDS orphans worldwide is expected to expand to at least 25 million." After witnessing the great success of the village model programme in Uganda and Rwanda the Countess is soon going to launch it in Jammu and Kashmir, Mizoram and some other states. "I have appealed to the French government and members of the G8 to allocate at least 10 % of overall AIDS funding to support orphans and vulnerable children. The US and the UK have adopted such a policy. Ireland allocates 20 % to orphans and vulnerable children," she said. =============================================================== 2. Corrupt rule the roast Daily Pioneer, January 28, 2008. http://www.dailypioneer.com/columnist1.asp?main_variable=Columnist&file_name=joginder%2Fjoginder134.txt&writer=joginder India remains the World Bank's single largest borrower. In 2007, it was the largest borrower from two World Bank institutions, accounting for $3.75 billion, or 15 per cent of their total lending as the Bank globally committed $34.3 billion. In 2005, the country borrowed $2.9 billion from the World Bank. However, for the second time in less than two years, the World Bank has levelled allegations of rampant corruption in implementing schemes with its money, which includes even those related to control of AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria. A Detailed Implementation Review, launched by the World Bank in 2006 and supported by the Government of India, has found "significant indicators of fraud and corruption" that include "collusive behaviour, bid-rigging, bribery and manipulative bid practices". World Bank President Robert B Zoellick has said, "This probe has revealed unacceptable indicators of fraud and corruption." In 2005, the World Bank's investigation into a reproductive and child health project found similar instances of corruption, including alleged kickbacks to Government officials. Following these findings, the Bank withheld funds worth nearly $2 billion meant for pending proposals in the health sector. The important cases highlighted in the report are as under: # The Food and Drug Capacity Building Project (2003-08): The $54 million project was meant to upgrade food testing labs and technicians. The report alleges questionable procurement practices in contracts representing 88 per cent of value of equipment procured, shifting of bidding deadlines and favouritism, widespread deficiencies in delivery and installation of equipment in all 15 labs, besides discovering more than half of 282 equipment uninstalled or undelivered. # The Orissa Heath Systems Development project (1998-2006): This $82.1 million project was the only State-level project that sought to improve the healthcare system in Orissa, which has the highest infant mortality rate in the country. The project, meant to renovate healthcare facilities, supplying additional medical equipment, was marred by fraud. As high as 93 per cent of the 55 project hospitals had problems like uninitiated or incomplete work, leaking roofs, crumbling ceilings and moulding walls and non-functional sewage system. Yet, all were given completion certificates. The report cited 17 equipments that violated technical specifications, including autoclaves that could explode and neonatal equipment, which lacked adequate electrical grounding, exposing babies and medical staff to electrical shocks. # The Second National AIDS Control Project (1999 to 2006): This $193.7 million project aimed to reduce the spread of HIV infection in India and strengthen the country's capacity to respond to HIV/AIDS. The review found that selection and oversight of NGOs chosen for workshops and targeted interventions were corrupt. Procurement officials demanded and received bribes in exchange for awarding contracts. Several NGOs were not qualified to carry out HIV prevention activities and some did not even exist. They furnished false certificates to show their eligibility. Fraud was detected in 82 per cent of the 217 locally procured contracts. # The Malaria Control Project (1997-2005): The $114 million project sought to assist the National Malaria Eradication programme by introducing effective mechanisms to control that disease. The review found bid-rigging, bribery, and collusion in procurement of medicine, bed nets and pharmaceuticals. The firms that debarred by the Bank for collusive behaviour in the earlier review, too, were found indulging in similar practices. # The Tuberculosis Control Project (1997-2006): It was estimated that up to half of India's population was infected with TB and this $124.8 million project was meant to support the country's newly-launched DOTS programme. The review found collusion, fraud and corruption in 100 of 143 contracts. The irregularities exposed in World Bank-aided health projects in India are only a tip of the iceberg. Regrettably, neither masses nor politicians feel outraged at the high level of corruption in the country. Regrettably, a survey has shown that Indians pay bribes worth more than Rs 26,725 crore every year, though this figure could be much higher. In India, public sector undertakings are often made to sing and dance to their Ministers's tune. But for the first time, the Chief Vigilance Commissioner in November 2003 complained to the Prime Minister that six Cabinet Ministers were allegedly harassing PSU chiefs for "personal favours". The PSU chiefs themselves made these complaints to the CVC. One PSU chief was reported to have complained that he was asked to get Rs 20 crore delivered to his Minister's party office and when he refused, he was "denied" an extension. Despite India claiming to become a new destination for global investors, 38 per cent of over 5,400 companies' representatives surveyed by global consultancy firm PricewaterhouseCoopers said they were asked to pay bribe to get licences. It's a way of life for some Government officials to take bribe. Despite our talk about Indian culture, philosophy and time-tested spiritual values, how can we justify such corrupt practices? Poverty in India is wedded to corruption -- in education or healthcare, roads or public distribution sector. Due to corruption, funds meant for development projects mostly end up in the pockets of custodians of public trust and money. This system has to go. But how does it go? It can go if there is a prompt justice system. Chief Justice of India KG Balakrishnan observed in May 2007: "California's population is touching 38 million. In India, that's the number of cases pending in courts across the country." The Chief Justice also said that that India has only 12,000 judges -- 2,000 short of the sanctioned strength. As a result, there are over 2.5 crore cases pending in lower courts, 37 lakh in High Courts and 46,000 in the Supreme Court. "We need one judge for 500 cases to clear the backlog -- that would mean 77,664 judges. At best, however, the judges' strength can be pushed up a few thousand more. We need more courts and more budget for the judiciary," Mr Balakrishnan said. Will the Government wake up? =============================================================== 3. Second-line HIV drugs remain elusive The Hindu, January 28, 2008. http://www.hindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012854210500.htm HYDERABAD: The second line of free life saving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) drugs continues to remain an elusive dream for hundreds of HIV infected, who have become resistant to the first-line of HIV drugs in the twin cities and elsewhere. The second-line of HIV treatment was introduced this month in Chennai and Mumbai, however, Hyderabad was left out. In fact, it does not even exist in the future plans. “The chances of introducing second-line drugs in Hyderabad are remote. After Tamil Nadu and Mumbai, five more centres at Kolkata, Manipur, Nagaland, Chandigarh and Delhi are in pipeline. Infected persons will have to wait for some more time before second-line drugs are introduced here,” an official said.There are scores of HIV patients who are struggling to lead a quality life after having developed resistance to the existing drugs being supplied at the government’s ART centres in the State. “There are around 1,000 to 1,500 such patients in Hyderabad alone resistant to first-line drugs,” said P. Sunita, a positive person. Adding to their misery is the lack of facilities at OGH to scientifically measure the ‘impact’ of first-line ART drugs on them. =============================================================== 4. Himachal Government to support AIDS orphans The Hindu, January 28, 2008. http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012852890300.htm To provide financial aid for their education, basic requirements Scheme will be applicable for all children up to the age of 15 to help them stand on their feet State provides free travelling facilities to HIV/AIDS patients, to the hospital for treatment Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Government has started an ambitious programme for the welfare of the AIDS orphans by providing financial assistance to children losing parents due to the deadly disease. Financial assistance of up to Rs.700 is provided to AIDS orphans for education and basic requirements, Project Director of State AIDS Control Society S. Puri said on Sunday. The financial assistance is provided up to the age of 15 under different age categories to lessen burdens on such families and help children stand on their feet, she said. The scheme started in the hill State in December last, Ms. Puri said. The project director said according to the scheme even in the case of death of one of the parents due to AIDS, the children are treated as AIDS orphan and provided the benefits. Funds have been made available through health directorate to the Chief Medical Officer in the districts to provide benefits to the eligible children, she said. The State AIDS Control Society monitors the functioning of the scheme across the State, Ms. Puri added. Himachal Pradesh has thousands of HIV positive people for whom the State Government is already providing free medical treatment at a special AIDS ward in the reputed Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla. The facility has also been extended to their children. The State Government also provides free travelling facilities to the AIDS and HIV positives along with one attendant to visit IGMC for treatment, Ms. Puri said. =============================================================== 5. HIV infection rate reducing in Ccpur Kangla Online, January 28, 2008. http://www.kanglaonline.com/index.php?template=headline&newsid=40943&typeid=1 IMPHAL: The HIV infection rate is coming down gradually year by year in Churachandpur district which is among the most affected districts of Manipur, reported the Churachandpur Reporter published by the district information office, Churachandpur district. The reduction in the rate of infection is due to the concerted efforts of the government agencies, NGOs and the community as a whole, the Churachandpur Reporter published on the occasion of the Republic Day said. "HIV transmission rate has shown a decline from 8.75 percent in 2002 to 1.5 percent in 2005 and now in 2006 it has risen a little bit again to 2.25 percent. However, the district occupies third position in Manipur and not the highest ever as earlier," the publication reiterated. Ukhrul district, mention may be made, was the highest in 2004 and Moreh, the border town with Myanmar was highest in 2005 and in 2006 Ukhrul was the highest among all districts in Manipur. The publication also stated that in the district, transmission of the disease through sexual route is 84 percent, blood and blood products is 3.27 percent, sharing of contaminated syringes/needles is 3.36 percent, parents/mother to child transmission is 2.14 percent and unidentified routes is 6.7 percent. Manipur`s unique culture and the excellent performance of its sports-persons have been widely acclaimed. Unfortunately, it is also home to various issues and problems like unemployment, insurgency, rampant corruption, drug abuse, AIDS, political instability, ethnic unrest and threat to its territorial boundary. Manipur, which has an international border of about 350 kilometers with Myanmar, became the victim of international drug smuggling as traffickers found the route through this point of international border a soft route. With national roads leading directly to nations of the "Golden Triangle" in Southeast Asia, drug trade and abuse is widespread especially in India`s northeastern state of Manipur. This is further complicated by the rise in HIV/AIDS among young drug users. The major forms of addiction in the beginning were mild tranquilizers and methaqualone, followed by injectable morphine and pethidine. In due course of time, heroin locally known as Number 4, became the most widely used drug among the young drug users, and heroin addiction reached the explosive stage in 1984, according to AIDS ALERT, 2001. Besides this, drugs like spasoproxyvon, ganja, alcohol, phensedyle, opium, cough syrup, nitrazepam, detroproxythene and buprenorphine are also being abused. Generally, the young drug users start taking drug orally, either by smoking or inhaling, and in due course of time switch over to injecting for which they share injecting equipments like needles and syringes. Easy availability of heroin and other illicit drugs are solely responsible for high addiction rate in the state. In addition, pharmaceutical drugs are also easily available to the youngsters. Available data, though contradictory, indicate an estimated 40,000 drug addicts in the state, of which 20,000 have been reported to be Injecting Drug Users (IDUs). However, one report by UN-AIDS puts the number of Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) at around 40,000. Study conducted jointly by the ministry of social justice & empowerment (MSJ&E), Government of India and United Nations Drug Control Program (UNDCP) in 2000-01 found that out of the 308 drug users interviewed in Imphal, the proportion of Injecting Drug Users (IDUs) was 92 per cent; of which 10 per cent abusers were females; all of them were literate, of which 24 per cent were college educated drug users; 61 per cent were unemployed; 71 per cent were heroin users and 23 per cent have tested HIV, according to MSJ&E and UNDCP: 2002. Along with the menace of drug addiction, the state has also witnessed an alarming rise of HIV/AIDS infected persons, which has been the most serious public health problem, and AIDS has become the number one killer of young people. Manipur is also known as the epicenter of AIDS in the northeastern states. It is the third highest, next to Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu in regards to the total number of HIV positive cases. However, calculated in sero-surveillance rate per one million populations, the sero-prevalence rate of Manipur is at least 6 times higher to Maharashtra and 20 times to Tamil Nadu, according to AIDS Alert 2001. The most important route through which HIV is transmitted here has been the sharing of infected needles among the IDUs (72.76%); whereas in other parts of India more than 74.18 per cent HIV positives have been through sexual transmission. Quality testing of heroin, indulged by drug traffickers themselves also to some extent contributed to the epidemic as they traveled to and fro between Manipur and Myanmar. Commercial sex workers are also vulnerable to HIV and represent a relatively significant core group for transmission of the virus through their clients in the state. In 1997, 60 to 70 per cent of HIV infection cases were found among the injecting drug users and the percentage has however come down after the successful intervention measures and AIDS campaigns of the state government and various AIDS-NGOs in the state. Manipur is the first and only state which has a written State AIDS Policy in India. Unfortunately, HIV/AIDS epidemic is no longer confined to the Injecting Drug Users` (IDUs), as it has spread to sexual partners; to their children and to others as well. An increasing number of people infected in the state belong to the younger and working age groups. It is reported that, the HIV sero-prevalence rate among the pregnant women too has risen alarmingly. More than 90 per cent of the HIV positive women got infected from their husbands, according to AIDS Alert, 2001. The number of AIDS widows as well children has also increased. It is estimated that around 1000 children have been affected by HIV/AIDS in the state by December 1, 2001, according to UNDCP E41, January 2002. =============================================================== 6. Single VDC ward in Kailali has 30 HIV patients The Himalayan Times, January 28, 2008. http://www.thehimalayantimes.com/fullstory.asp?filename=aFanata0scqzpba8Sa7a8a.axamal&folder=aHaoamW&Name=Home&dtSiteDate=20080129 Eleven Dalit women, five of their children and 14 persons from the non-Dalit community are suffering from HIV/AIDS in ward no 6 of Godavari VDC in Kailali district. Twenty Dalit women, 13 of their children, seven males and 27 non-Dalits have HIV/AIDS in Godavari VDC, figures provided by an NGO, Rastriya Dalit network, have revealed. Indrasara of Godavari VDC-6 is one such case. Her long-cherished dreams came crashing down after her husband came home from Mumbai, infected with HIV. Indrasara Biswokarma did not have big plans. She had only hoped that her husband will build a concrete house and arrange for the education of their five children up to the secondary level. Biswokarma spent eight years waiting for her husband and the realisation of her dreams. But her dreams were shattered after her husband, infected with AIDS, returned home from Mumbai. He died 18 months later. Indrasara’s house wears a deserted look. Her children, who were studying at the primary level in a local school, have stopped going to school because Indramaya cannot address their needs. The four kattha of land that she owns is not enough to feed the family. No different is the plight of most Dalit women of Godabari village, which is known as HIV/AIDS village in the VDC. The HIV/AIDS patients of Godabari village, with a view to raising voices against social exclusion, have formed an organisation named Aasha. Nanda Devi BK, Junu Devi BK and Debu Devi BK are vice-chairperson, secretary and treasurer of the organisation, which is headed by Indrasara. Altogether 20 women are associated with Aasha. Eleven of them have lost their husbands due to HIV/AIDS. Chairperson Indrasara said: “We formed the group to raise voices against social exclusion and hate.” “We want to combat society’s tendency of hating us,” vice-chairperson Nanda Devi said. “We can be self-dependent if the government creates an environment in which our children can pursue their studies without fear and imparts training to hone our skills,” secretary BK said. According to the census of 2002, the population of Godabari VDC stands at 13319 and Dalits comprise 65 per cent of the population. Eighty-five per cent of males of the VDC go to India for employment. =============================================================== 7. 350 NGOs sacked in mega NACO clean-up Livemint.com, January 28, 2008. http://www.livemint.com/2008/01/29235754/350-NGOs-sacked-in-mega-Naco-c.html New Delhi: The National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) has discontinued almost 450 of its intervention programmes and sacked 350 non-government organizations (NGOs) as part of a massive clean-up and crackdown on non-performing partners in India’s battle against the disease. The main agency in India’s AIDS and HIV prevention efforts evaluated the programmes—known as “targeted interventions” (TIs) —and the NGOs administering them in an internal survey in 2007. Another survey is scheduled for next month as Naco tightens quality control and scrutinizes effectiveness. Experts in the field have expressed concern over the presence of substandard grass-roots-level organizations—and say they are relieved by NACO’s resolve to eliminate them. “We have discontinued almost 450 TIs. We had 1,200 interventions and these have been brought down to around 756,” said Sujatha Rao, director general of Naco. The axed interventions constituted 37% of the whole programme, which is now supervised by 800 non-profits aiming to specifically reduce infection rates among high-risk groups such as prostitutes, drug users and men having sex with men. “These organizations either had composite programmes that included street children or some of them were bogus while others were without relevant experience,” said Rao. With an adult prevalence rate of 0.36%, India has the third largest HIV-positive population of 2.47 million, trailing South Africa and Nigeria. “It is indeed a concern that the NGOs working in the prevention area were not effective enough. But this exercise has also indicated that Naco is taking quality seriously, which is good news,” said Denis Broun, country coordinator for India at UNAIDS. Broun pointed out that while the Indian government had a “good measurement of inputs” going into the HIV/AIDS programme, there was “a need for good measurement of output as well” that could tally efforts with outcomes as considerable resources were being spent on the initiative. The third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) calls for Rs11,585 crore to be spent between 2007 and 2011 on HIV awareness, prevention and treatment for those afflicted with the virus—an allocation that is five times the outlay proposed under the second phase. Under the current structure, Naco works through 38 state AIDS control societies which, in turn, assess and approve project proposals from NGOs found suitable by their technical advisory committees. Naco provides the funding to the societies, which oversee these organizations’ management. A Naco official, who didn’t wish to be identified as he is not officially authorized to speak to the media, said Naco’s first independent survey was conducted in 2001-02 and resulted in no action against NGOs because it simply gauged the “processes” under which the societies were working. Thus, the 2007 survey began the real crackdown on non-performing NGOs, added the official, who will be part of the third survey next month to assess whether the guidelines of the third phase have been adopted. There are 118 districts with HIV prevalence greater than 1%, according to the latest Annual Sentinel Surveillence Country Report 2006, and 81 districts in which prevalence among high-risk groups was greater than 5%. The report also notes that although HIV prevalence had decreased among injecting drug users in Manipur, the rates in all its surveillance sites remained above 10%. Moreover, rates among female sex workers in Nagaland and Mizoram were increasing; at sustained levels of 10%, infection remained “uncontrolled among men having sex with men”. Broun, in an earlier interview with Mint a month ago, had said there is need for research and investigation into whether the AIDS programmes were missing out on some portions of the target population. Rao said its stringent action was not evidence of NACO’s ineffectiveness, saying the agency was merely streamlining interventions and weeding out ineffective organizations to stick to the objectives of the new AIDS policy, which include expanding focus to include truckers and migrants. “Wherever we have done a TI, we have seen good results and prevalence rates have come down,” she added. =============================================================== 8. HC dismisses AIDS NGO's plea against Centre MSN.com, January 28, 2008. http://news.in.msn.com/national/article.aspx?cp-documentid=1212100 New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Tuesday dismissed a petition of AIDS Healthcare Foundation India Care, a Netherland-based NGO, challenging the Centre's decision to unilaterally terminate its contract, under which it was supposed to provide medical care to HIV positive patients. "We, on perusal of term of the contract which deals with the termination, find that it gives unfettered rights to both of the parties to terminate the agreement by giving three months' prior notice," a bench of Justices Manmohan Sarin and Veena Birbal said. It rejected NGO's plea that the Health ministry "arbitrarily" rescinded its service agreement, executed on December 4, 2006 for providing medical care to HIV positive patients, with National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). The petition was filed against the order of a single judge bench which had declined to stay the cancellation of the contract, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the NACO and the NGO. "We find that no case was made out against the single judge's order of not granting interim stay," it said. The court rejected the contentions that the term, which gave powers to parties to terminate the contract, cannot be read in isolation and the other terms be also taken into consideration for proper adjudication of the matter. The NACO, constituted by the Centre in 1986 for providing medical care to HIV positive patients, had executed an MoU with the NGO. According to the MoU, the NACO was to supply medicines, while, the NGO had to provide doctors and para-medical staffs. However, the Centre later invoked the cancellation clause forcing the NGO to approach the High Court. =============================================================== 9. Submission of names for Community Care Centre Ukhrul NGO demands fair play E-Pao.net, January 29, 2008. http://e-pao.net/GP.asp?src=8..300108.jan08 Imphal: In connection with the proposal of setting up one 10-bedded Community Care Centre in Ukhrul district under Manipur AIDS Control Society, the Ukhrul District AIDS Committee has allegedly submitted the names of three NGOs which are not qualified for the purpose. Kaphung Raisang Long, an organisation associated with HIV/AIDS has warned of taking recourse to various intense forms of agitation including calling a district State wide bandh in case the names of the other qualified NGOs are not nominated for the purpose at the soonest possible. Addressing a press conference in this connection at Manipur Press Club here this afternoon, secretary of Kaphung Raisang Long Reisang Shinglai informed that in accordance with the instruction of Manipur State AIDS Control Society for setting up a 10-bedded Community Care Centre at Ukhrul district, the District AIDS Committee had submitted the names of three NGOs based at Ukhrul district. The three NGOs are Development of Eco and Ecological Awareness Society, Tangkhul Youth Council and Citizen's Alliance for Re-empowerment. The recommendation had been jointly signed by Dr ASK Felix, who is the DAO/Member Secretary of District AIDS Committee, Ukhrul and Pankaj Kumar Pal, who is the Deputy Commissioner and Chairman of District AIDS Committee, Ukhrul and submitted the same to Principal Secretary (Health), Director of Health Services and Project Director of MACS on January 25 this year. According to guidelines laid down, the DAO or the DC cannot make individual recommendations for any NGO, said Shinglai and added that the last date for submitting the recommended panel was January 25.However the three NGOs were recommended on January 28, well after the deadline. Out of the three NGOs whose names have been recommended, Development of Eco and Ecological Awareness Society has not yet even completed one year of its establishment while the other two NGOs namely Tangkhul Youth Council and Citizen's Alliance for Re-empowerment have so far been associated only with Harm Reduction Project under Orchid Project, Reisang Shinglai said. However, he pointed out that in accordance to the laid down criteria for operating the proposed Community Care Centre, the NGO should have atleast three years experience in the field of medical and health care including adequate experience in health care of HIV/AIDS patients. Since all the three NGOs that have been recommended do not fulfil the laid down criteria, qualified NGOs should be selected for running the Community Care Centre after a proper scrutiny by an expert committee, Shinglai suggested. Written intimation have also been send to the Director General of NACO and the Principal Secretary of Health in this regard, he disclosed. =============================================================== 10. Politics plagues AIDS project - NGO questions credentials of shortlisted organisation The Telegraph India, January 30, 2008. http://www.telegraphindia.com/1080130/jsp/northeast/story_8838997.jsp Imphal: Manipur’s war on HIV/AIDS could boil down to a battle between undeserving NGOs seeking a slice of the project pie rather than one against the disease. Kaphungreishang Long, an organisation that has done extensive work in HIV/AIDS prevention in Ukhrul district, is questioning the credentials of an NGO in line for selection as the executor of a project funded by the National AIDS Control Organisation. The NGO at the epicentre of the controversy is the Development of Eco and Ecological Awareness. Kaphungreishang Long claims the organisation does not have any experience in implementing HIV/AIDS projects and has been unfairly included in the list of three from which the Manipur AIDS Control Society will choose one to implement the project. For HIV-positive people like six-year-old Robert Tangkhul, who aspires to be a doctor, and his sister Mary (not their real names), the controversy means a longer wait for treatment and rehabilitation. Manipur continues to have an alarming rate of HIV/AIDS prevalence and Ukhrul ranks fourth in the state in terms of the presence of high-risk groups. The general secretary of Kaphungreishang Long, Reisang Shinglai, said his NGO complained about the selection procedure to the Manipur AIDS Control Society yesterday and would write to NACO, too. Shinglai demanded that the “inexperienced” NGO be removed from the list of recommended organisations. “If HIV/AIDS projects are not implemented properly, I am afraid the situation in this district will go from bad to worse,” he said. Of the 6,943 people screened in the district till October last year, as many as 1,580 tested positive. That is a percentage of 22.7, high even by Third World standards. Activists like Ningthemla of Kaphungreishang Long said awareness about the disease was still low, aiding the spread of the virus. In Manipur, promiscuity is not so much the culprit as intravenous drug use. Robert’s father Leishiyo Tangkhul, a farmer from Kasom Somrei village, died of AIDS in 2000. He used to be an intravenous drug user and passed on the virus to his wife Luingamla (not her real name) and, consequently, to their two children. Like Robert and Mary, about 30 children and 50 HIV-positive women from the interiors of Ukhrul are under Kaphungreishang Long’s care. “We provide them anti-retroviral treatment free of cost. We also provide supportive nutrients and pay for school education,” Ningthemla said. The NGO today paraded two HIV-positive children before the media to highlight the AIDS pandemic in the district and the perils of entrusting undeserving organisations with the task of disease prevention. Kaphungreishang Long, however, has no objection to the district AIDS control office’s other two choices for the Naco project — the Citizens’ Alliance for Re-empowerment and the Tribal Youth Council. A spokesman for the NGO that is under a cloud refuted Kaphungreishang Long’s claim. He said the Development of Eco and Ecological Awareness had the requisite “expertise and experience” to implement the project. =============================================================== Disclaimer: Opinions expressed in the above articles are those of the respective newspapers, not those of SAATHII.