The Role of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Treatment and Care

Unchalika Pintatum (Thailand) spoke about the value of greater involvement of PLWHA in running the Day care centres (DCC), which are a link with the Home Based Care (HBC). The DCC provide holistic and continual care for PLWHAs and a vital link to the community for care and prevention programs. Vimla Nadkarni (India) spoke about the findings of a study of a drop in centre (DIC) sponsored by several NGO's but operated by PLWHA themselves for other PLWHA in Maharashtra, India. The study found that the involvement between PLWHA and the NGO's was mutually beneficial, empowering the PLWHA involved and enabling the NGO's to offer services more user friendly and accessible. Helen Berem (PNG) spoke about her involvement advocacy in Papua New Guinea and shared her experiences of living with HIV/AIDS. "I am not looking back, I am looking ahead". "I wanted to show a human face to the disease, to educate other PLWHA to break down the barriers of fear and of death. I did this on behalf of my friends for my country." Helen said - "everyone is at risk of dying, either from an accident or any other disease. Why HIV alone is equated to death? I decided to take up this challenge."