CHOICE HIV/AIDS Initiative’s HIV-Testing Program
In Collaboration with AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AFH), New Delhi
Dec. 31, 2009 - Jan. 27, 2010
CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative successfully launched its pilot project on HIV Testing Campaign “KNOW YOUR STATUS” among Tibetan population living in the town of Dharamshala, H.P India. The campaign was possible with the support from New Delhi based AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), and in collaboration with Department of Health, Central Tibetan Administration (CTA) and major Non-Governmental Organizations representing Tibetan in Exiles situated in Dharamshala.
AHF supported 500 number of INSTI HIV-1/HIV/2 Antibody testing kit to CHOCIE on their the initial phase of the program with pledge to supply more kits in future so to conduct maximum number of HIV test reaching wider Tibetan population living across the country.
CHOICE began its introductory HIV testing campaign from community based stakeholder viz., Non-Governmental Organizations situated in Dharamshala (Tibetan Youth Congress, Tibetan Women’s Association, National Democratic Party of Tibet, Students for A Free Tibet etc). This was aimed to demonstrate ideal model so to encourage the general population to go for voluntarily HIV test to know their status in our later phase of HIV testing campaign across the 53 varied Tibetan settlements in India, Nepal and Bhutan.
In order to achieve success in our determined objective we sought support of Health Minister, Mr. Choepe Paljor Tsering of Department of health, Tibetan Government in Exile, Dharamsala. Understanding the advantages of the testing kit to our community and the simple procedure of conducting the test has in high spirits elated the minister and motivated us to work further in expanding the scopes for HIV testing in Tibetan communities in India and Nepal.
Nonetheless, to extend the ongoing testing program and documentation, we endeavor the only Tibetan run public Hospital ‘Delek hospital’ in H.P. state where they regularly undertake HIV test during antenatal screening and among TB patients (there is high prevalence of TB among Tibetan where Delek hospital record average of 250 to 300 cases in a year).
During official meeting with the Mr. Dawa Phunkyi (Administrator) and the CMO Dr. Tsetan of Delek Hospital we demonstrate INSTI HIV-1 / HIV-2 Antibody Testing kit and its features. Though they already possess another rapid testing kit we were able to convinced Mr. Dawa and Dr. Tsetan about using INSTI kit in regular HIV testing. In principal they accept our approach but they were concerned for the consistence supply of the kit to the hospital and specifically remarks that the hospital will may face complication where insufficient of kits might mistrust the hospital due to uncertainty of the free testing facility of the hospital.
On Jan 27, CHOICE’s HIV testing program at office of Tibetan Women’s Association, with the guidance of Health Minister, we also associate Tibet online TV (local NEWS cable channel ‘Tibetan Language series’) of Tibetan Govt. in Exile to reach out wider audience about the free HIV testing.
Resource persons conducting the workshops and Counseling/Testing were Mr. Phuntsok Chomphel (Project Officer-cum-Educator) and Mr. Tenzin Dondul (Project Co-ordinator / Trainer) from CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative.
Each workshop began with session on basic understanding on the retrovirus which causes AIDS; difference between HIV and AIDS; mechanism of transmission; and every facet of HIV/AIDS elucidating on its causes, condition, symptoms, stages, treatment (ART/ARVs); and its epidemic concerns. While speaking on the important topic of discrimination, Mr. Phuntsok emphasized on the acceptance of the infected person in the society by nurturing them with love and care; support them socially, physically, mentally and morally; encourage them to live healthy and positive life thus reducing prevailing vices of stigma and discrimination against HIV infected person. In this way HIV infected persons will be encouraged to come on the surface for the treatment thereby reducing the further spread of disease.Throughout the workshops we emphasized Tibetan’s particular vulnerability to HIV infection, namely, high mobility, lack of proper healthcare facilities, and various cultural and educational factors. Due to short of time and also during the office hours CHOICE did mass counseling before voluntarily HIV test (ranging 3-10 people) while introducing INSTi HIV- 1/ HIV-2 Antibody testing equipment.
Brief report of the each activity:
Tibetan Youth Congress (Central Executive Committee):
Friday, January 15, 2010
VENUE: Conference Hall, Tibetan Youth Congress Office, Mcload Ganj, Dharamshala.
Mr. Phuntsok Chomphel, Educator, CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative began the testing program with the mass counseling focusing on misconception between HIV and AIDS, Window period, significance of getting HIV test and about the INSTi HIV- 1/ HIV-2 Antibody testing equipment. Mr. Chomphel was assisted by Mr. Tenzin Dondul during the entire events.
The counseling was attended by 6 executive member of Tibetan Youth Congress and they were very much interested and attentive listening the pre test counseling and all of them volunteered for the test.
The beginning of CHOCIE’s pilot project in HIV testing campaign end with admirable success where Mr. Tsewang Rinzin (president, TYC) expressed his admiration and encouraged us to intensify our work in such field and to save our society against such life threatening disease.
National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT) and Students For A Free Tibet (SFT India)
Monday, January 18, 2010
VENUE: Office of the National Democratic Party of Tibet (NDPT)
The workshop-cum-mass counseling began at 10:30 in morning and was attended by executive member of NDPT and SFT India. They were very much interested and attentive listening during pre-test counseling session and later all of them volunteered for test. During the session a good deal of questions were being asked by the participants.
By 12:45 pm, all the procedure of counseling and volunteer testing came to an end.
Volunteer HIV testing at CHOICE office:
Dec. 31, 2009 to Jan. 26, 2010
AHF provides 500 number of HIV testing kit to CHOICE on 29th Dec 2009. According to our plan before approaching general population for volunteer HIV test we were deliberate in conducting test among the representatives of the local government and Non-Governmental Organization so to lay an exemplar and encourage the common people to go for volunteer test.
In-between, irregular numbers of individual volunteers (more than 30 youths) visit our office to know their status by testing themselves that was very encouraging for us to see that people already know about the testing program and were very open to seek knowledge on HIV/AIDS. Majority of the volunteers were youth aged between 20-30 and who acquire little knowledge on HIV/AIDS; they only knew that the disease is deathly. To each volunteer we gave a broad counseling revealing every bit about the disease, widow period and its relation to the testing kit we use for test, treatment and etc. Many of them also promised to bring their friends and family for test to us. 
Tibetan Women’s Association (Central Executive Committee)
Wednesday Jan. 27, 2010
The executive members and staffs of Tibetan Women’s Association actively participated in the session. During the questionnaire session and good deal of question were being asked by the participants.
Ms. Dolkar Lhamo (President TWA) gave her personal opinions and sincerely acknowledged how much knowledge she gained about HIV/AIDS which definitely benefits the entire participant in future to be cautious regarding the routes of the transmissions and how to protect themselves.
Starting from president to everyone from the association sincerely volunteered to proceed for test with us though some of them were very much frighten of needle.
Events of the program were being captured by the crew member from Tibet Online TV (Local Cable Network – Tibetan Language Series) that accomplish our objective of awareness program and free HIV testing.
Meeting with Health Minister TGiE (CTA):
Monday January 18, 2010
During official meeting with the Health Minister Mr. Choepe Paljor Tsering, CHOICE demonstrates the recently obtained INSTi HIV-1/ HIV-2 Antibody testing kits from AHF. We explained the minister about the procedure of conducting the test and also present the pre and post-test counseling forms. Understanding the advantages of the testing kit to our community and the simple procedure of conducting the test has in high spirits elated the minister and assured us to work together further on HIV testing at regional hospitals and clinics under Department of Health.
Meeting with officials of Tibetan Delek Hospital.
January 21, 2010
In addition to extend ongoing HIV testing program in Dharamshala, we endeavor the only Tibetan run public Hospital “Delek hospital” in Dharamshala and organized a meeting with the Mr. Dawa Phunkyi (Administrator, Delek hospital) and the Dr. Tsetan (CMO). During the meeting we demonstrate the recently obtained INSTi HIV-1/ HIV-2 Anitbody tests.
We explained them the procedure of conducting the test and also shown the pre and post-test counseling form and how we deliver our counseling to the volunteers who come for test. Both of them claim that the testing kit would definitely benefit the public as it is provided free for them but they were concern regarding the continue supply of the testing kit to the hospital. Mr. Dawa remarks that the hospital will face complication later on when their will not be continuous supply of the kit and people might mistrust the hospital due to uncertainty of the free testing facility of the hospital.
Dr. Tsetan in his generosity affirms about using kits only after proper confirmation of the specificity and sensitivity and also about the manufacturer of the kit. A day later we received call from his office and he was in favor to allow the use of the testing kit in the Hospital.
Feedback:Being first of its kind and the latest technology in HIV testing, providing results in 60 seconds which do not required special lab-technician to conduct the test. Everyone welcomed CHOICE for such initiative and further requested CHOICE to continue their noble mission and many offices also pledged us for possible assistance in reaching wider audience of Tibetan population.
Conclusion:We hopefully assume the testing program will enormously be a strategic to give substantial result in revealing the epidemic of HIV/AIDS in our community and would give a breakthrough in understanding to deal with the growing threat of HIV/AIDS for Tibetans in exile.
CHOICE together with Department of Health and Delek Hospital and its interrelated settlements have great future plans to hold testing programs in Tibetan settlements across India and Nepal.
Acknowledgements: CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative is immensely grateful to AIDS Healthcare Foundation for their consistent support in supplying free HIV testing kit (INSTI) and ‘LOVE’ condoms. We at CHOICE also wish to extent our sincere gratitude to Mr. Muhammad Dilshad and Ms. Dorjee Kalsang from AFH, Delhi for their innumerous support and timely guidance. Nonetheless as always we also acknowledge the trust and support shown by Dept. of Health CTA, Dharamshala. Not the least our heartfelt thanks also goes to the volunteers and executive members of the Non-Governmental Organizations who participates in our pilot project of HIV testing.
