N.L. Ortega, G. Gonzales, M. Liwanag, Names Project Philippines, 1066 Remedios Street Malate 1004, Manila, Philippines, GNP Representative, Manila Philippines, Pinoy Plus Association, Manila, Philippines

Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV and AIDS:
Key to Successful AIDS Program

ISSUE:

Since the 1994 Paris Declaration, GIPA has been integrated into this document. Since then nothing has been implemented in most of the program areas in terms of greater involvement of PLWHAs and the affected others.

METHODOLOGY:

Multisectoral involvement in program planning, designing and implementing is very crucial. With this type of approach, positive people need to be there and be part of the team. Their voices need to be heard because being in that situation make them the perfect person to consult and be part of the decision making body. The need to train positive people, build their capacity, strengthen their skills is important as well. This in turn make them as experts deviating from the wrong perception that being positive is enough to make them experts. The need for stakeholders to look at HIV not just as a health issue but as a development issue that affects the component of the community which is the family.

CONSTRAINTS:

There are certain constraints to promoting GIPA. One of them is the disclosure of the HIV status of the person and second the possible stigma and discrimination which may be extended even to the family. Third is the readiness of the community to accept positive people. These are just some of the many concerns related to promotion of GIPA.

LESSONS LEARNED:

Linking prevention, care and support through synergistic programmes should be part of local and national responses. Making care and support service available, accessible and affordable at all levels via linked medical and psycho social support help lessen stigma and discrimination thus, improving care services, may increase number of people availing of the voluntary counseling and testing. This provides room for an opportunity to immediately treat infections and early management of other HIV related disease, eventually addressing quality of life of the positive people and their care givers as well.

Presenting author : Nenita Ortega, 1066 Remedios Street Malate 1004, Manila, Philippines,
Tel. + (632) 524-0924, Fax: +(632) 522-3431, Email: nenetgem@yahoo.com