Dimapur, October 19 (MExN): The GIPA principle - the Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV is the answer as it is the proven backbone of many interventions worldwide.
It is a concept born out of the recognition by programme planners and implementers, that the involvement of people living with HIV in policy formulation, service delivery and programme evaluation is an efficient method of responding to the epidemic. The Paris AIDS Summit in 1994 issued a declaration in which they made a commitment to support “full involvement” of people living with HIV in the “common response to the pandemic at all national, regional and global levels”. It can be mentioned here that India was a signatory of the Paris Declaration, also known as the GIPA declaration, stated a press note issued by NMP+ Mokokchung.
The note also stated: “We hear success stories of western countries in the response towards HIV/AIDS. And we learn that their success is due to the implementation of the GIPA concept. GIPA has been understood as a “model of best practice in the response to HIV/AIDS” because PLHAs have first-hand experience about treatment, care and support, and stigma and discrimination associated with HIV/AIDS. PLHAs understand each other's situation better than anyone and are often the best to advise one another.
"This experience can be harnessed into a vital component of the essentials required in the activities associated with HIV/AIDS. Their participation gives a personal power and immediacy to AIDS.”
It also stated that Naga society and organizations involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS can do serious introspection.
“Do we have enough information about HIV/AIDS and its treatment, which is the tool to eradicate stigma and discrimination? Do we make it possible for PLHAs to disclose their status and thus be ‘visible’ PLHAs? Does authority at the top engage PLHAs at the decision making level to profit from the experience of what goes on at the lower levels? These are only some among many questions we can ask ourselves to do our bit in the fight against the epidemic. Proper knowledge of the GIPA principle means that we have taken a huge step in the fight against HIV and AIDS,” the note added.
