16 Aug : Nature Club of India (Panchkula) from China and Taiwan for Internship in the Field of HIV/AIDS and Development Studies in association with AIESEC and Haryana AIDS Control Society
Name of Students:
· Ms. Yao Tuo from China, Majoring in Development Studies for Bachelor Degree at China Agricultural University (Beijing) China
· Mr Yu-Chao Chen; Majoring in Pharmaceutical Sciences for Master Degree at National Taiwan University (Taipei) Taiwan
· Ms. Chih-Yun Lin; Majoring in Finance for Bachelor Degree at Ming Chuan University (Taipei) Taiwan
· Ms. Yu-Lin Chen; Majoring in Finance for Bachelor Degree at Ming Chuan University (Taipei) Taiwan
We come through AIESEC, which is an International Students’ Organization with a vision “World Peace”, and realize our positive power in the society. That is the reason why we are here, the incredible India, for volunteer about HIV/AIDS concerned topic in India. We all want to fulfil the mission of positive impact in society.
Through volunteer service, we can get into the local residents who are belonging on the edge of society. We come here to learn more about how NGOs run and what’s more, to do something for the vulnerable groups, then we could come back to our country to contribute to our society too.
The reason why we choose India for the internship is that India has such a multiple and colourful culture and it’s really an excellent experience in our lives. Further, it also has the largest number of people living with HIV and AIDS. We are here also to see the facilities available for the people living with HIV and AIDS
We visited the Integrated Counselling Testing Centre located at General Hospital, Sector VI, Panchkula. We have a brief interview with Mr. Rajveer Singh who is Male Counsellor over there. We found the Counselling and Testing Centre excellent and we are happy to know that all international norms are followed here in India for testing of HIV.
We also visited the Blood Bank at General Hospital Panchkula to know how to perform the HIV test with kits. Mr. Karishan, Laboratory Technician told us that they are using Elisa Kits for testing of HIV status and person get their status within 2-3 hours.
Ms. Yao Tuo told us that few people in poor villages (both males and females) in her country (i.e. China), are selling their blood and they are not using clean needles and syringes; resultantly they are getting infected with HIV. People sale their blood to illegal blood sellers and they further supply this blood to private companies. These villages are known as “Blood Selling Villages” in local media. But since the situation found by the government, it becomes strictly forbidden and the government has taken many preventive actions to control the situation.
She further told that there are few female sex workers indulged in the sex trade illegally in the red light zones, like India. Maximum of these sex workers are migrating from one place to another and do not indulge in sex work at their own place of origin.
In china, few girls are indulging in sex trade for economic reasons and mostly unmarried. Married women are not found indulging in the flash trade. These FSWs are not getting married tough they are having their boy friend. And the number of those girls get infected with HIV is become smaller and smaller, because there’re many associations and NGOs around China holding different interventions to make them aware about HIV infections.
Talking about freedom of press in India, Toto shred that in her country all media sources are under direct control of the Government and here in India we feel happy that even small events, as well as, big one have been highlighted in the media. But she felt that too much freedom for press is not good, therefore, I feel that my country is right in some context by controlling the media. Jaffery, Katrina and Linen from Tiwan said that press is free there but too much freedom is resulting in mess, which is not good for the society.
Talking about Tiwan situation of HIV and AIDS, Jaffery, Katrina and Linen told that although, HIV infection is not a big problem in Taiwan, still it is spreading among male having sex with male in large number. To control this infection among MSMs, NGOs are implementing Targeted Interventions for these people. Though sex education has been given to students in their junior high schools and Government is providing money even to student for implementing interventions for HIV & AIDS awareness programme among community.
Mrs. Pinki H. Madaan, Project Director BUTTERFLY: Nature Club of India accompanied them to ICTC, Blood Bank and arranged meeting with community groups (Sex Workers and Migrants) in Abhaypur, Indira-Rajiv Colony and Buddanpur at Panchkula. Ms. Monika Gusain, TI Project Manager BNCI facilitated the team and also participated in the group discussion and delegation with her staff members.