UN CARES AT COUNTRY LEVEL: INDIA
The joint UN response
on HIV/AIDS in the UN
workplace in
India, led
by the ILO, started
in
December 2003. It
aimed
at training
UN staff on HIV/AIDS
and increasing
HIV-related
services.
In the first phase until 2006, an Inter-Agency Task Team was set up as a network of focal points in UN agencies and as a vehicle for resource mobilization. A survey on knowledge, attitudes and behaviour identified the training needs, and then trainings and communication materials were developed. From the beginning, people living with HIV and AIDS organized in the Delhi Network of Positive People were closely involved into the project design and implementation. Since November 2007, a comprehensive workplace programme has been rolled out to extend training to the families of staff. HIV/AIDS sessions have been offered for spouses on communicating about HIV with children and three workshops were especially targeted towards children of UN employees, between 10 and 19 years old. Of the forty-three children attending the sessions, one said: “This workshop has opened my eyes. First I thought that AIDS could spread by shaking hands but now I know that it isn’t true”. Another one said: “Today I feel more confident to speak about sex, condoms, HIV and AIDS and I know more about them”. In addition to the workshops, both male and female condoms were made available for free in fifteen agencies, while in another four condom vending machines for male condoms were installed. A network of thirty-one focal points has been set up across agencies to coordinate activities. Lessons learnt by the organizers: Management commitment is key to successful implementation of the programme and the involvement of people living with HIV was very useful in changing attitudes and effectively disseminating messages relating to stigma and discrimination.