Message from Principal Health Secretary, GoR Today HIV/AIDS is recognized as a global epidemic, affecting all levels of society, and posing serious barriers to our social and economic development.the stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS have shattered the lives of communities, with a particularly severe toll on the socioeconomically marginalized, children and women. The coordinated and comprehensive HIV/AIDS response programme in Rajasthan has helped keep the low HIV numbers from increasing. Addressing stigma and discrimination against People living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV) should also be our main aim because with their help we can more easily check the epidemic of HIV/AIDS Since HIV and AIDS do not know boundaries of class or community, and can affect all rungs of society, we must also think of the impact of the epidemic on sectors beyond the health sector. Mainstreaming of HIV is a strategy that can help mobilize commitment and resources to the epidemic control and stigma-reduction efforts in such sectors. Mainstreaming allows for shared accountability and concerted efforts all the major developmental players from public, private, and voluntary sectors. I trust that this annual report will help organizations and individuals in developing a perception which shall look at the HIV/AIDS issues as everybody's responsibility and provide motivation in Mainstreaming of HIV at all levels. Our state, which well known for contributing for every social cause, should serve as a national model in achieving the Mainstreaming of HIV. Mr. R. K. Meena Principal Health Secretary & Chairman RSACS 1
Message from Project Director - RSACS, GoR HIV/AIDS is not just a health crisis but is an economic and social threat as well. It has the potential to slow down, halt or even reverse the social and economic development. Despite considerable progress and achievement, we still need to accelerate the response against HIV/ AIDS in different sectors. Intersectoral co-operation remains critical to build strong response mechanism against the HIV in the state. Mainstreaming of HIV will create a more empathetic and supportive environment that will reduce the levels of stigma, discrimination and marginalisation of people living with HIV/ AIDS, which might otherwise, dismantle the binding of social tolerance, for which our country and State of Rajasthan is known for. Mainstreaming of HIV initiatives by our stakeholders from corporate, NonHIV NGOs and non-health government departments, will play critical role in addressing the issue with shared responsibility and accountability. Once we realise our individual as well as collective social responsibility towards this epidemic, I am sure that the menace of HIV/ AIDS will no longer exist. We acknowledge and respect the efforts of all our stakeholders in addressing the pandemic, by means of carrying out various activities, in support with our Mainstreaming Units, focusing in and around their employees, departmental work, stakeholders and working area. I wish all the success to the Mainstreaming Units in their efforts to Mainstream HIV with all the key players. Dr. R.N.D. Purohit Project Director - RSACS 2
Message from Management Committee, SAATHII Mainstreaming of HIV a joint initiative of NACO and UNDP - is one of the strategies by which India's National AIDS Control Plan (NACP-III) proposes to address its ambitious targets. As with other prevention, care and treatment efforts, mainstreaming requires close partnership between government and non-government partners. We greatly appreciate the Rajasthan State AIDS Control Society for its leadership and support to the partnership between its State Mainstreaming Unit (SMU) and the Mainstreaming Resource Unit (MRU)established by SAATHII. As the Annual Report illustrates, such close collaboration has been critical to the success of the initiative. It is an honour for SAATHII to be associated with RSACS in this endeavour, and we thank NACO and UNDP for the opportunity to be part of this exciting project. With continued follow-up of stakeholders and scale-up, we are confident that mainstreaming efforts with government, corporate and NGO partners will enhance HIV prevention, awareness, care and treatment programmes in the state. Dr. Sai Subhasree Raghavan Mr. Pawan Dhall 3 Dr. L. Ramakrishnan
Message from Project Officer - SMU, RSACS Heart felt gratitude on my personal behalf It gives me utmost pleasure to put forward the efforts of the team in the form of annual report of "Support to National Efforts for Mainstreaming of HIV" Project, Rajasthan. Mainstreaming Units (SMU & MRU) of Rajasthan under the guidance of NACO-UNDP-RSACS and their leadership have taken forward the programme from the state level to the district headquarters. We have even expanded to the blocks and panchayats. Mainstreaming is "The concept of addressing HIV & AIDS both internally and externally in all sectors at all levels, particularly where the pandemic might not ordinarily be addressed". In order to achieve this we did our bit. When I got this great opportunity to lead the programme in Rajasthan it was quite an exhilarating as well as intimidating experience. Mainstreaming of HIV was a new concept in Rajasthan, but blessed with a superb team including (Akshya, Madhu, Krishna Gautam, Ambey, Nahid & Prateek) and the various stake holders we achieved what we could. I would like to conclude by extending my warm regards to people who have been with us in this endeavor. I hope that we would continue to get the guidance as well as support from the various stakeholders in future as well, and look forward to their everlasting cooperation. Warm regards Ashok Raisinghani Project Officer SMU, Rajasthan 4
Acknowledgement Vision supported by zeal and all-out efforts brings the desired results. But all along, supportive guidance is the key to success. I am deeply indebted to Dr. R.N.D. Purohit, Project Director, RSACS, for his guidance. and Mr. Ashok Raisinghani, Project Officer, SMU, for his unconditional support and guidance and leadership, whenever needed.. I also extend my heartfelt thanks to our Management Committee for supporting us in every possible way to carry forward the assigned tasks, specially Dr. L. Ramakrishnan for his value additions and guidance for not only carrying forward the programme but in compilation of all our documents. Furthermore, I would like to thank all my colleagues of Mainstreaming Units for their valuable contributions in the development of this annual report, without which, it would not have been possible. I would like to mention the name of Mr. Ambey Kumar Srivastava, Communication and Documentation Coordinator, for his hard work in compilation of this document. We hope that the information contained in Annual Report will help develop an understanding on Mainstreaming of HIV activities and will motivate all to incorporate the issue, and at all levels. Happy Mainstreaming Warm regards Krishna Gautam Programme Manager Mainstreaming Resource Unit - SAATHII 5