Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS), I-TECH India, and Aastha Parivaar hosted a virtual event to commemorate the World AIDS Day 2020 observed earlier in the month. The event titled “Advancing HIV Response for Fast Track City during COVID 19” was held to understand key priorities, gains and gaps in HIV response for fast-track cities like Mumbai.
The event enabled a constructive dialogue between members of government, development partners, key population community, academia and civil society. The panel of esteemed speakers discussed the national directives on sustaining HIV response during COVID-19, explore innovative virtual responses to accelerate HIV response in Mumbai, and collaborate on building a plan that ties in community ownership alongside the key stakeholders.
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Ms. Nandini Dhingra, UNAIDS facilitated the panels with Dr. Sundar Sundararaman moderating the sessions. Speakers and panellists included Dr. Shrikala Acharya, Additional Project Director, Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS), Dr. Melissa Nyendak, Country Head, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Dr. Bilali Camara, Country Director, UNAIDS, Padma Shri Dr. Raman Gangakhedkar, former Head Scientist of Epidemiology and Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), and Dr. Anwar Parvez Sayed, Director from I-TECH India among others.
Due to COVID-19, health systems were burdened and vulnerabilities in the key population saw a surge. Community representatives echoed the challenges they faced whether in terms of sex work with lack of clients during COVID or in availing healthcare facilities. The community needs were largely tied to strengthening the psycho-social support system, access to counsellors on national helpline, linkage to Ayushman Yojana scheme to use healthcare facilities and livelihood opportunities under existing national initiatives.
Dr. Gangakhedkar highlighted the increased importance given to public health systems due to COVID must be leveraged for HIV prevention initiatives as well. Dr. Sundar Sundaraman was of the view that HIV has challenged the stakeholders to improvise constantly This has led to fundamentally bringing up a n