Community monitoring uncovers gaps in HIV and hepatitis services in Indian state hard-hit by HIV, sparks reforms

Data gathered by the communities in Manipur is powering advocacy agenda to improve HIV and hepatitis services

Bobby Ramakant, Shobha Shukla

published in aidsmap

A review by people living with HIV and those who inject drugs of HIV and hepatitis services in the Indian state of Manipur highlights gaps in these services, and has also shaped an evidence-based advocacy agenda.

AIDS 2022: Children and young people turning adversities into stepping stones

In the lead up to this year’s 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022), which is being held in Montreal, Canada, we at CNS (Citizen News Service) spoke to some young people who were born with HIV. They have overcome insurmountable challenges and obstacles in their childhood and adolescence, and are trailblazers for others, thanks to the support they got from Sneha Charitable Trust whose ‘I’mpossible’ programme, has improved the lives of these budding young adults of Snehagram across Southern India.

[podcast] Communities are central for progressing towards elimination of viral hepatitis

This podcast features a special guest, Dr Rosie Raj Kumari, who is the Manipur State Nodal Officer, National Viral Hepatitis Control Programme, Government of India. She was in conversation with CNS Managing Editor and Executive Director Shobha Shukla, in lead up to 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022) in Montreal, Canada.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] Hepatitis and HIV data of Community Treatment Observatory bares gaps in services in Manipur

HIV care is essential and lifesaving, but not enough for living normal lives

 

Lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, as well as the full range of HIV care and support services are indeed essential but not enough to ensure that children and adolescents living with HIV can live a fully normal life. From getting education, vocational training, social and economic support, to pursuing careers of their choice and aspirations, the spectrum may differ from person to person but is surely much wider and deeper than the very essential HIV care services.

People living with HIV demand end of medicine stockout: Indefinite sit-in begins

[हिंदी] Indefinite sit-in began on 21st July 2022 outside the offices of India’s AIDS programme of Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to demand an end to the frequent stockouts of lifesaving HIV antiretroviral medicines. “We will not end the sit-in in Delhi outside the office of National AIDS Control Organization until there is a concrete action taken by the government to end the stockout, and our people in different states of India confirm that medicines have reached them,” said Hari Shankar Singh of Delhi Network of Positive People (DNP Plus).

[video] Indigenous peoples and #endAIDS targets: #AIDS2022 plenary speaker Doris Peltier shares insights

[podcast] Hepatitis and HIV data of Community Treatment Observatory bares gaps in services in Manipur

This podcast features a special guest, Nalinikanta Raj Kumar, who has dedicatedly worked for the human rights of people with HIV and/or hepatitis in Manipur since several years now. He is also the President of Community Network for Empowerment (CoNE) which played a key role in facilitating Community Treatment Observatories for hepatitis and HIV services in Manipur, with sterling support from International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) and TREAT Asia. Kanta is in conversation with CNS team of Shobha Shukla (CNS Managing Editor and Executive Director) and Bobby Ramakant, in lead up to 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022) in Montreal, Canada.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] Are we on track to #endAIDS among indigenous peoples in Canada and globally?

 

This podcast features Doris Peltier who is among the Plenary Speakers of #AIDS2022 (24th International AIDS Conference) in Montreal, Canada. She is in conversation with CNS founder, Executive Director and Managing Editor Shobha Shukla. Doris Peltier has been dedicatedly working with the indigenous HIV movement in Canada for over twenty years. She is also the Community Engagement Coordinator with the Feast Centre for Indigenous STBBI Research, at McMaster University.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms. 

[video] Never give up | Sports and physical activity is a #WayofLife for Babu Seenappa

[podcast] Never give up | Sports is a #WayofLife for Babu Seenappa

This podcast features Babu Seenappa, senior youth leader from Karnataka, India, is among the inspiring voices featured at the 24th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2022) in Montreal, Canada. Babu shares about Snehagram and issues related to HIV, children and youth, and sports and physical activity. He is in conversation with CNS founding Managing Editor and Executive Director Shobha Shukla.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

Pandemic treaty talks resume amidst lurking corporate pressure

Unless profiteering from illness stops, corporations which are becoming richer even during disasters and pandemics, will continue to pressure governments to not advance pro-people policies. 'Normalization' of minting unbridled profits from illness, is one of the reasons why health and social welfare programmes have failed to deliver equitably. Extractive industries and those that siphon of natural resources for profits of a few (while billions of people suffer devastating impacts of climate emergencies), also need to be held to account if we want treaties like the Pandemic Treaty to work in letter and spirit.

[video] How can children living with HIV grow up normally if society reeks of stigma?

[video] Coordinated action is must to prevent NCDs, TB, hepatitis, and weight-gain associated with HIV medicines

[podcast] How can children living with HIV grow up normally if stigma reeks in society?

This podcast features Father Teji Thomas is the Director of Snehagram in Karnataka, India. He is in conversation with CNS Executive Director Shobha Shukla around AIDS 2022 (24th International AIDS Conference) in Montreal, Canada.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] #NothingIsImpossible | I'Mpossible mantra for children living with HIV to lead normal fulfilling lives

[podcast] #NothingIsImpossible | I'M Possible mantra for children living with HIV to lead normal fulfilling lives

This podcast features Dr Michael Babu Raj of Sneha Charitable Trust shares insights about I'M Possible Fellowship that is reimagining how we can support children living with HIV to grow up normally and live normal fulfilling lives in a society that gives them a fair chance with equity, rights, justice, and dignity. He is in conversation with CNS Executive Director Shobha Shukla around AIDS 2022 (24th International AIDS Conference) in Montreal, Canada. Dr Michael Babu Raj is the former Deputy Director of KHPT (Karnataka Health Promotion Trust). 

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

New global plan launched to #endTB in next 101 months

Despite the promise by all countries to end TB by 2030 (and India to end TB by 2025), decline in TB rates and deaths is not steep enough to meet the target. Lot more action (and investment) needs to urgently happen if we are to #endTB in the next 101 months globally (and next 41 months in India). That is why, the global Stop TB Partnership has unveiled a new costed plan for the world to end TB, the second leading cause of death, after COVID-19, from a single infectious-disease agent.

Health emergencies and role of organized medicine

(published in Bulletin of Epidemiology Foundation of India, April-June 2022 issue)

Dr Suneela Garg, Dr Ishwar Gilada, Dr Sagar Galwankar, Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

When health emergencies occur it is the doctors and other healthcare providers who are on the frontlines in responding to the humanitarian and public health crises. These frontline responders often know best what the problem is and what effective and pragmatic solutions could help improve responses. Are these healthcare providers engaged to play a key role in shaping effective solutions that work in local contexts? Are different medical specialities who have a crucial role during emergencies and humanitarian crises, coordinating amongst themselves and with government and other agencies who are decision makers for the response?

[podcast] The Hero Lies In You (episode-1): Ms Dorothy Solomon

The Hero Lies In You - a special CNS series - salutes extraordinary lives of those who inspire us. This episode features Ms Dorothy Solomon who is in conversation with CNS founder and Executive Director Ms Shobha Shukla. Born in 1929, Ms Dorothy Solomon lives by the dictum of her father’s last words spoken to her when she was barely 10 years old: “We want something, and God ordains something else. God’s will prevails. Never get perturbed in life”. She defeated Covid-19, and even at age 92, tatting (making lace by hand) and doing embroidery are part of her daily routine. Listen to more of her (extra)ordinary life.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher, TuneIn, aCast, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[video] The Hero Lies In You series (episode 1): Ms Dorothy Solomon

Substantial weight gain as dolutegravir is rolled out in Africa

Study finds women gain more weight; underlines need to watch out for weight-related diseases

Shobha Shukla, Bobby Ramakant

(published in NAM aidsmap on 21 June 2022)

A study analysing data from four African countries found that people living with HIV who switched to a dolutegravir-based antiretroviral regimen had a four-fold increase in average weight gain, compared to the year before the switch.

During the lockdown, community led from the front in ensuring HIV treatment reaches people

"HIV treatment and care could continue during COVID-19, thanks to intense community participation," said Daxa Patel, in an interview given to CNS. Daxa is Secretary General at Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV (GSNP+) and is former President of National Coalition of People Living with HIV (NCPI+) in India.

Call to register for Hindi/Urdu consultation: The Declaration of the Rights of People Affected by TB

click here to register

Join us on 23rd June 2022, Thursday, at 2:30pm India time for a consultation in Hindi/ Urdu languages with English simultaneous interpretation regarding local promotion of the Declaration of the rights of people affected by tuberculosis (TB).

Inequity and health security: will the poison that blinds, open our eyes too?

"There are poisons that blind you, and poisons that open your eyes" had said famous Swedish author August Strindberg. COVID-19 and monkeypox have not only exposed the inequity which poisons our health systems but has also caused avoidable human sufferings, including deaths. Even though inequity has been ailing our health and development model since long, the privileged class has remained numb and blind to it. But COVID-19 has proven that even the rich and powerful cannot remain firewalled from outbreaks of infectious diseases. Is it not high time that we open our eyes and rebuild equitable health and social security for all?

Local leaders unitedly push for One Health approach. Will G20 leaders tango?

[हिंदी] Before G20 leaders and experts meet next week for the second health working group meeting under Indonesian G20 presidency, local leaders from several cities across the Asia Pacific region have unitedly called for implementing One Health approach.

[video] ARROW For Change: Climate Justice in Planet A (गृह ए में जलवायु न्याय) launch

[video] AIDS 2022 | People living with HIV but at risk of dying of TB, NCDs, Viral Hepatitis

[video] Climate crisis is jeopardising progress on gender equality, women's health, wage gaps | #AIDS2022

[video] Intergenerational response is vital for climate and gender justice: Fithriyyah Iskandar at #AIDS2022

[video] Pacific island nations have least emissions but face worst wrath of climate-disasters: Menka Goundan

[video] #ClimateChange exacerbates inequities faced by already-marginalized people: Sivananthi Thanenthiran

Dr Paula Fujiwara, Chair of Stop TB Partnership's Global Plan to End TB Task Force 2023-2030 presents at AIDS 2022