Workshop-cum-Training on INSTI HIV-1 / HIV -2 Antibody Testing to the Community Health Workers
Feb. 25, 2010. Dharamshala, H.P. India

For the first time Workshop-cum-Training on INSTI HIV-1 / HIV -2 Antibody Testing jointly organized by  Department of Health, CTA and CHOICE—HIV/AIDS Initiative was held at the Tibet Charity India, Mcloed Ganj, Dharamshala. The workshop was funded by TRUST Foundation and supported and outsourced by Dept. of Health, CTA (TGiE) and the demo testing kits were provided by New Delhi based AIDS Health care Foundation.

The workshop was attended by 18 different Community Health Workers (CHW) from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand states of India.

The resource persons conducting the workshops were Ms. Tsering Paldon (Vice-Chairperson, CHOICE and Head, Public Health-Delek Hospital) on Basics of HIV/AIDS and Importance of Testing and introduction to the INSTI HIV-1 / HIV-2 testing kits and how to conduct test through INSTI Kit and Mr. Phuntsok Chomphel (Project-Officer, CHOICE) took the session on counseling; basic communication skills; pre and post test counseling; confidentiality, informed consent and documentation of the record.

Other resource persons were Ms. Kalsang Lhamo and Mr. Lobsang Dhargyal from DoH gave an overview of the Health Department’s HIV/AIDS programs and services whilst Mr. Tenzin Dondul (Project-coordinator, CHOCIE) demonstrate testing kits.
After the successive meetings with Minister and Secretary later with Mr. Topgyal (Additional Secretary, DoH) regarding the HIV testing program and its distribution. Mr. Topgyal his interest and persuasion in attaining the testing kit made him involve necessarily in participating the meeting with the officials at Asia healthcare Foundation (AHF).

On Feb. 22, 2010 Mr. Topgyal (representing DoH)and Mr. Tenzin Dondul (representing CHOICE) held a meeting with Mr. Dilshad of AHF about HIV testing program among Tibetans population living across the sub-continent and repossesses the reasons of accomplishing our project and that their assistances won’t be unrewarding. Due to the involvement of representative from DoH, the meeting went productive and AHF agreed on facilitating the required testing kit as demanded by CHOICE-HIV/AIDS Initiative in partnership with Department of Health of Tibetan Government in Exile.

CHOICE with immense support of Department of Health organized Workshop-cum-Training on HIV testing to the community based health care provider from 18 Tibetan settlements from Himachal Pradesh and Uttarkhand states of India. (See annexure - 1)

Brief report of the workshop:

Workshop began at 10 am, with the introductory speech by Mr. Lobsang Dhargyal (co-coordinator of HIV/AIDS and Substance Abuse, Dept. of Health) about importance and motive behind organizing the workshop.
Followed by Mr. Phuntsok chomphel  explained the events that led to the agreement on provision of testing kit from AHF and objective behind the testing program, importance of performing the test and to take the responsibility only by the individuals who were present their during the training session. In addition he emphasized on the importance of proper documentation of the consent forms which will be provided along with the testing kit.

Later Ms. Tsering Paldon gave power point presentation on the basic of HIV/AIDS (mechanism of infection, latency period and stages of disease) with the brief explanation of importance of HIV testing and gave detail instruction about the testing kit applicatory, its features and details procedure of the INSTI HIV 1/ HIV 2 Antibody test. She stressed on conveying proper counseling to those who will come to test or to know their status.
The session continued with presentation on goals behind the HIV testing program. Mr. Phuntsok Chomphel on his deliberation emphasized on proper documentation and the data entry. His length of issue focused on pre and post testing counseling, consent referral, data entry and most importantly he stressed that the participants (CHWs) who present during the training will be sole responsible for the entire procedure of testing program at their very places.

After a short tea break the session continued with practical implementation of the testing kit. Shortly the mock counseling session divided into four different group of counseling were held (male to male, female to female, and female to male and male to female). During the counseling session other participants were asked to observe and to give their feedback after each interval. Different opinions were poured that truly help other participants when they will perform volunteer counseling and testing at their places. One such example was “how to simplify while defining HIV/AIDS to illiterate person who come for test keeping in view importance of elucidating the whole context”.

Nurse Tsering Paldon gave the practical example by testing one of the participants after which the participants were let to do the test procedure from data entry to consent referral and test among each other. All the participants earnestly exercised the test and followed every instruction that were taught during the day.

DOH and CHOICE distributed free condoms, T-shirt with the theme of HIV/AIDS and condom, leaflets, Pamphlets, pens, book marks and lockets (I got tested how about you) after all of them volunteered for test.

Each and every Community health workers were elated with such opportunities to them as well as to their settlements for facilitating the testing kit to their health clinic centers and thanked Asia Healthcare Foundation, Department of Health, TGiE and CHOICE- HIV/AIDS Initiative for showing concern and working sincerely for the welfares of the society.

Acknowledgment:

CHOICE extends it sincere gratitude to the Trust Foundation for funding the workshop and Dept. of Health for outsourcing the workshop to CHOICE. Our heartfelt thanks also goes to the participants who continue to give their time and energies to confront HIV/AIDS in our Tibetan Communities. Nonetheless CHOICE also wishes to extend sincere gratitude to the Tibet Charity, India for renting the conference hall for the workshop.
In our endeavor, we will always remain indebted to the encouragement and advice of His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who believes that we as Tibetans must be open and receptive to the HIV/AIDS crisis and work jointly to fight against the crisis.

Prepared by:
Phuntsok Chomphel
(Project Officer) CHOICE