The AP State AIDS Control Society (APSACS) is in the process of recasting its strategies and programmes based on the findings of a study prepared by Department of International Development, a UK based organisation. DFID brought out major shortcomings of various NGOs and the state government while implementing programmes in HIV transmission.
These findings are contrary to another study namely 'Rapid Assessment of Interventions' by the Sexual Health Resource Centre, New Delhi. According to this study, the performances of most NGOs were above average.
The DFID's evaluation underlined the need for urgently increasing the number of interventions to effectively control the epidemic that was growing at an alarming rate in the state. It said the strategies used to cater to the vulnerable groups - sex workers, slum communities and street children - were not based on understanding their risk behaviour. It also says a large section of the vulnerable population, notably sex workers and homosexuals, are not being reached under the interventions.
Many of the NGOs contacted for the study lacked previous experience in sexual-health programmes or lacked any prior experience in dealing with high risk groups. The fact that NGOs were implementing a government planned and designed programme did not help in empowering the vulnerable groups about HIV and AIDS, according to the study.
The lack of coordination between NGOs has also resulted in duplication of efforts such as condom outlets being established at the same points by two different NGOs. Delays in releasing funds by APSACS to NGOs was also having a negative impact on the performance of these NGOs, including de-motivation of staff, many of whom work in difficult circumstances.
Access to care and support services for people living with HIV and AIDS was very limited and none of the NGOs had developed strategies to address the increasing demands for such services. The immediate need to improve quality of diagnosis and treatment of sexually transmitted diseases and referral services were also highlighted in the study. Little emphasis has been paid by APSACS and the NGOs on collecting data for monitoring the effectiveness of targeted interventions. Enough baseline data too has not been collected.
According to D Dhanikachalam, technical resource unit team unit leader of APSACS, the quality of interventions and services provided by NGOs in AP was of very high standard compared to that in other states. Recommendations of DFID's evaluation had been analysed and shortfalls were being rectified, he said.