| 1) | UNDERSTAND PROBLEMS OF RURAL INDIA | |
| 2) | PROVIDE AWARENESS ON STDs, HIV/AIDS, HEPATITIS B, HEPATITIS C AND TEACH PEOPLE HOW TO PROTECT THEMSELVES. | |
| 3) | PROVIDE AWARENESS ON ADDICTIONS -- ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, DRUGS -- AND THEIR EFFECTS ON THE INDIVIDUAL, FAMILY, AND SOCIETY. | |
| 3) | DEVELOP THE PROGRAM STUDENTS AS AGENTS OF CHANGE |
LECTURES TO STUDENTS; My experience with giving HIV/AIDS lectures to students/youth is that the message should reach, and be acceptable to, students, teachers and the principal. Otherwise the school will not sponsor follow ups. Format and outline of my talk
SUMMARY OF THE TALK ON REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH:
| 1) | The female reproductive system | |
| 2) | Maturity, Mensturation, conception, pregnancy and child birth | |
| 3) | How germs enter the reproductive system | |
| 4) | Sexual hygiene | |
| 5) | Sexually transmitted diseases. HIV/AIDS | |
| 6) | How to protect oneself from STDs |
The following is a brief description of the audience and an outline of the lectures that I gave. I have also briefly listed my perception of the response and the contact person. Hopefully, institutions that showed interest are approached by other activists for follow up.
| Oct. 31: | TIME: | Afternoon 1:00 - 5:00 |
| PLACE: | Arpana Research and Hospital, Madhuban | |
| AGENDA: | Training of Health Workers | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Aruna Dayal | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 10 male health workers on Arpana Staff | |
| ISSUE: | Reproductive health, STDs, HIV/AIDS. Using powerpoint presentation of STDs to train workers | |
| FUTURE: | Health workers to take the message to villages and spread awareness on STDs and HIV/AIDS. | |
| Nov. 01: | TIME: | Day 9:30 - 4:30 |
| PLACE: | Arpana Research and Hospital, Madhuban | |
| AGENDA: | Training Arpana Rural Field Staff | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ish and Ms Aruna Dayal | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 30 female Arpana Rural Field Staff | |
| ISSUE: | Reproductive health, STDs, HIV/AIDS. Using powerpoint presentation of STDs to train workers. Using break out discussion sessions to improve their communication skills on sensitive issues | |
| FUTURE: | Rural field workers to take the message to villages and spread awareness on STDs and HIV/AIDS among women's groups, focused discussions with families, and with adolescent children. | |
| Nov. 02: | TIME: | 9:30 am - 4:30 pm |
| PLACE: | Arpana Research and Hospital, Madhuban | |
| AGENDA: | Training of Midwives and Health Motivators | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ish and Ms Aruna Dayal | |
| HOST: | Arpana Research and Charities Trust, Haryana | |
| AUDIENCE: | 30 female Arpana Rural Field Staff | |
| ISSUE: | Reproductive health, STDs, HIV/AIDS. Using powerpoint presentation of STDs to train workers. Using break out discussion sessions to improve their communication skills on sensitive issues | |
| FUTURE: | Midwives to discuss STDs early during pregnancy and if needed, motivate pregnant women to visit a doctor to undergo reproductive tract exams. To spread awareness on STDs and HIV/AIDS among women's groups and families. | |
| Nov. 03: | TIME: | 11:00 am - 6:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kaya; Training center run by Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| AUDIENCE: | Village health workers (75 men, 5 women) and 10 Staff | |
| TALK TITLE: | Training on Hygiene, Health, Reproductive health, STDs, and HIV/AIDS | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Gayatri Kaul and Mr. Manoj Paliwal | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Training session on health, Reproductive system, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS (see for outline of talk on reproductive health). The training was divided into 1 hour modules. In between these modules the health workers were organized into focus groups to review the information and participate in communication exercises. | |
| ISSUE II: | Discussed Geo Medianet project of communicating health information using symbols and flipcharts | |
| IMPACT: | The men and women developed a much better understanding of health and hygiene. Frank discussions on why and how risky sex is a common part of village life and how risk to disease is present in daily life. The health workers requested more visual presentations be developed to educate them and more training sessions. | |
| Nov. 04: | TIME: | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kaya; Training center run by Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| AUDIENCE: | Village health workers (75 men, 5 women) and 10 Staff | |
| TALK TITLE: | Training on Hygiene, Health, Reproductive health, STDs, and HIV/AIDS | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Gayatri Kaul and Mr. Manoj Paliwal | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Continuation of training session on health, male and female reproductive systems, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS (see for outline of talk on reproductive health). The training was divided into 1 hour modules. In between these modules the health workers were organized into focus groups to review the information and participate in communication exercises. | |
| Nov. 05: | TIME: | 9:00 am - 6:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kaya; Training center run by Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| AUDIENCE: | Village health workers II (85 men, 5 women) and 30 Staff | |
| TALK TITLE: | Training on Hygiene, Health, Reproductive health, STDs, and HIV/AIDS | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Gayatri Kaul and Mr. Manoj Paliwal | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Training session for second group of workers on health, male and female reproductive systems, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS (see for outline of talk on reproductive health). The training was divided into 1 hour modules. In between these modules the health workers were organized into focus groups to review the information and participate in communication exercises. | |
| ISSUE II: | Discussed Geo Medianet project of communicating health information using symbols and flipcharts | |
| IMPACT: | The men and women developed a much better understanding of health and hygiene. Frank discussions on why and how risky sex is a common part of village life and how risk to disease is present in daily life. The health workers requested more visual presentations be developed to educate them and more training sessions. | |
| Nov. 06: | TIME: | 9:00 am - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kaya; Training center run by Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| AUDIENCE: | Village health workers (75 men, 5 women) and 10 Staff | |
| TALK TITLE: | Training on Hygiene, Health, Reproductive health, STDs, and HIV/AIDS | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Gayatri Kaul and Mr. Manoj Paliwal | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| OUTLINE: | Continuation of training session on health, male and female reproductive systems, hygiene, sexual hygiene, STDs and HIV/AIDS (see for outline of talk on reproductive health). The training was divided into 1 hour modules. In between these modules the health workers were organized into focus groups to review the information and participate in communication exercises. | |
| Nov. 07: | TIME: | 10:00 am - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| Paticipents: | Caroline Custer and Ian MacAuslan | |
| HOST: | Seva Mandir, Udaipur | |
| Agenda: | To understand adolescent migration patterns and vulnerabilities to their health and welbeing as a result. Develop a strategy for harm reduction. | |
| Nov 07: | TIME: | 7:00 - 8:30 pm |
| PLACE: | Sonagachi, Kolkata | |
| TEAM: | Wenoah Viekley and Urmi Basu | |
| ISSUE: | Tour through the red light area to see the functioning environment and issues first hand. | |
| FACILITATOR: | DMSC | |
| HOST: | Dr. Protim Ray, Kajol, Poornima, and members of DMSC | |
| AGENDA: | Understanding sex work and sex workers | |
| Nov. 08: | TIME: | 10.00 am - 1.00 pm |
| PLACE: | New Light, Kalighat, Kolkata | |
| HOST: | Mrs Urmi Basu | |
| AGENDA: | Talk and discussion on sexually transmitted diseases. | |
| IMPACT: | About 40 sex workers attended the talk and discussed issues in their lives and work. They were very receptive to information on STDs and wanted regular training on issues of health. Identified alcoholism as a major problem. Discussed why some still have sex sex without condoms (clients are willing to pay 10 times as much for sex without condoms). | |
| Nov. 08: | TIME: | 2.00 - 4.00 pm |
| PLACE: | Fort William, Eastern Command Headquarters, Kolkata | |
| HOST: | General Z. U. Shah | |
| FACILITATOR: | Mrs Urmi Basu | |
| AGENDA: | Talk on "HIV/AIDS and special vulnerabilities of men and women in the armed forces" | |
| IMPACT: | About 100 soldiers of the Gurkha regiment and their familes attended the talk. Also present were officers and medical staff. The soldiers presented a picture that awareness and counseling on STDs and HIV was inadequate and vulnerabilities were not recognized. Officers felt all the provisions were there but were not taken advantage of. Condom use was not promoted openly -- emphasis was on fidelity in married life. | |
| Nov 09: | TIME: | 10:00 - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Sonagachi, Kolkata | |
| TEAM: | Wenoah Viekley and DMSC office members, Kajol Bose (previous secretary, DMSC), Rekha Chatterjee (Usha President) Poornima Chatterjee (Supervisor field work), Mina Haldar (Assistant Secretary, DMSC) Jharna Ghost (Treasurer DMSC), Poornima Nayak (Liason, Supervisor field work) | |
| FACILITATOR: | DMSC | |
| HOST: | DMSC | |
| ISSUE: | Taking the next steps in empowerment and harm reduction | |
| AGENDA: | Discussed and identified five lifestyle changes: (i) Baboos (partners) who do not work and earn themselves are an impediment to the development of sex workers and their children. So sex workers should not get involved with Baboos who rely on them for all their financial needs. (ii) 100% use of condoms when having sex with lovers and Baboos. (iii) Do not entertain any client who is not willing to use a condom, irrespective of what they are willing to pay. The general feeling was that many men are willing to pay 5-10 times the going rate to have sex without a condom. The predominant reason is that men are afraid of sexual disfunction with it. (iv) Awareness on alcohol abuse and its connection with risky sex is a person is not sober during sex work. In general strive towards creating a sober lifestyle and work environment. A reasonable limit of alcohol intake by those not ready to to quit was determined to be a pint a day of country liquor or Indian whiskey. (v) Provisions should be made to expose and maintain children in environments and life styles outside of Sonagachi starting at a very young age (4-5 years). | |
| IMPACT: | A pledge by the women to show marked improvement on these five issues by next year. They would first implement these changes in their lives and then teach others by example. | |
| Nov 09: | TIME: | 2:00 - 4:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Sonagachi, Kolkata | |
| TEAM: | DMSC medical staff, Wenoah Viekley | |
| ISSUE: | What is new in STDs and HIV and in their management | |
| FACILITATOR: | DMSC, Dr. Protim Ray | |
| HOST: | DMSC | |
| AGENDA: | Discussed the need for reducing STD incidence and early management of STDs. Discussed issues of HIV testing and counselling among sex workers and government and private facilities for it. | |
| Nov. 10: | TIME: | 10.00 - 4.00 pm |
| PLACE: | Police Training Academy, Barrackpore, Kolkata | |
| HOST: | Mr. Gaurav Dutt, DIG Training | |
| FACILITATOR: | Mrs Urmi Basu | |
| AGENDA: | Talk on "HIV/AIDS and special vulnerabilities and responsibilities of men and women in the police forces" | |
| IMPACT: | About 400 trainees (junior and senior officer cadres) attended this 5 hour session with the last three hours devoted to questions and answers. The discussion included the role of the police in protecting the poor and marginalized populations and fighting corruption. Finally the discussion shifted to stresses of police life, sexual experiments and how they could reduce risk in their lives. | |
| FUTURE: | Requested that this training session be held regularly and the team should return in the near future to repeat the session with their colleagues who were not present due to schedule conflict. | |
| Nov 12: | TIME: | 1:00 - 4:00 pm |
| PLACE: | SAATHII office, Chennai | |
| TEAM: | Wenoah Viekley and SAATHII members, Dr. Subhashree Ragavan, Dr. L. Ramakrishnan Dr. L. Ravishankar and members of eight local organizations | |
| FACILITATOR: | SAATHII | |
| HOST: | SAATHII | |
| ISSUE: | Alcoholism, substance abuse and HIV/AIDS | |
| AGENDA: | The summary of this meeting is available at SAATHII website. The key issue is that alcoholism and substance abuse are large growing problems in India and play a very important role in risky sexual behavior leading to HIV infections. As a result they should be part of a common joint agenda. | |
| Nov 15: | TIME: | 10:00 - 1:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Asha Foundation, Bangalore | |
| PRESENT: | Dr. Glory Alexander and Wenoah Viekley | |
| HOST: | Dr. Glory Alexander | |
| ISSUE: | HIV/AIDS in India and the local capacity to deal with the crisis | |
| AGENDA: | Dr. Glory Alexander shared with us her experiences in providing HIV/AIDS care and treatment. Discussed the possibility of a workshop on Prevention, care and management for doctors who could seed the effort around India. | |
| Nov 15: | TIME: | 3:00 - 5:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Freedom Foundation, Bangalore | |
| PRESENT: | Ashok Rau and Wenoah Viekley | |
| HOST: | Ashok Rao | |
| ISSUE: | HIV/AIDS and Substance abuse | |
| AGENDA: | Ashok shared with us his experiences and gave a tour of their facilities for substance abuse care and HIV/AIDS care. | |
| Nov. 16: | TIME: | 10:30 am - 3:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Molar Bandh, New Delhi | |
| AGENDA: | To learn about Arpana's effort to provide health care and education to 30,000 people living in this slum | |
| FACILITATOR: | Ms Aruna Dayal, Mrs Sushma Aggarwal, Mrs Krishna Shroff | |
| HOST: | Arpana Staff and Dr. Rajat Gupta | |
| IMPACT: | A very impressive program of development including health care and education is being conducted by Arpana. This program should be replicated across India | |
| Nov. 19: | TIME: | 1:00 am - 3:00 pm |
| PLACE: | Kundan Vidya Mandir, Ludhiana | |
| FACILITATOR: | Mr. Principal and members of the Trust | |
| HOST: | Arpana Staff and Dr. Rajat Gupta | |
| TALK: | "Why adolescents feel stressed out and how to deal with the underlying issues" for 600 students and teachers of 9-12 grades. |
My mother, Ramesh and Asha Agarwal, Alice Chapman, Neel and Nevin for their constant support and love
Ms Neelima Khetan of Seva Mandir and Dr. H. K. Dewan of Vidya Bhawan Society for organizing the Udaipur program and for their friendship.
Drs. Gurpreet Wander and Rajoo Singh of DMC, Ludhiana for their belief in care and service to all.
Lavleen Singal for hosting me in Delhi and for his friendship.
Mrs Aruna Dayal, Mark, Anne, Ela Anand, Mamta Ji, Anjan and the rest of the Arpana members for spending time with me to explain the various programs of the Arpana trust and for their hospitality.
Rajan Gupta