Comments: Recent India-related postings
***************************************

1. Rejoinders and questions for Dr Quraishi on his recent Q&A, Anonymous

2. Re. Anatomy of a CCM – the case of India, Richard Stern

3. Re: Comment: Indian Government Bureaucracies etc., Dr LK Verma


Rejoinders and questions for Dr Quraishi on his recent Q&A
Anonymous
**********

The CCM expectations raised by the Global Fund may have been fulfilled, but what about the goals of the Global Fund and the expectations of the people with HIV/AIDS?

Will the rush to be a part of the CCM contain the epidemic? The mentioning of the fact that the vice-chairman, very often, efficiently chairs the CCM sessions, is indicative of many issues which may be better left unsaid.

'High prevalence' and 'highly vulnerable' are terms but the acknowledgement of the large number of migrant population is laudable. However the rotational method for states from the five different parts of India to the CCM highlight the fixatation with being on the CCM bus rather than caring for and containing the epidemic.

It is true that TB and malaria are curable but citing this and stating that as persons affected with them may be cured now and having them on the CCM bus may not be practical is far from the truth. In fact these are the ones who would have undergone the trauma and will have first-hand experience of the pitfalls of these epidemics. The fact that there is no representation for malaria is fairly evident, but the fact that it is not taken seriously - despite India accounting for thousands of deaths due to malaria - is disappointing.

Sub-national or notional CCM is not relevant, but in which future will the work begin is the issue. It can only expand only once it begins.

Planning a the Secretariat for the CCM, its efficient running, day-to-day functioning- organizing meetings etc is an integral part of the CCM activities but what have been the plans for addressing TB, AIDS and malaria, its efficient monitoring, day-to-day evaluation-organizing health camps and evaluating the goals perceived by the Global Fund and the impact achieved at the required local level etc etc.

CCM is monitoring fund disbursement and reviewing the various rounds of Global Fund proposals, but is there monitoring of unutilized funds and how the funds utilized have benefited the people it was meant for?

The moot point is the fact that besides the CCM and planning of its secretariat what has been done? And is that enough?


Re: Anatomy of a CCM – the case of India
Richard Stern
*************

This would be a very useful list if the INDIVIDUAL contact information especially email address of each member had been included in order to lobby them regarding the problems which are occurring. Having just one central email just doesn’t work because the person who receives the mail can decide whether or not to pass a ‘critical’ or controversial letter/document on to the others.

That Civil Society is 'included' doesn’t always mean that much. It depends on which Civil Society? Are there poor people with AIDS who need treatment now on this list? Or are these middle and upper class NGO Directors who, in some but not all cases, give 'lip service' to treatment access, but fail to recognize the urgency of rapidly implementing this component of the Global Fund project as has obviously occurred in India?

Richard Stern
San Jose, Costa Rica
Email: rastern@racsa.co.cr

Moderators' note: If we had the emails that Richard refers to, then we would have included them. Can anyone in India go through the list adding the individual emails or other contact details? – Mod.


Re: Comment: "Indian Government Bureaucracies Kill Off People Living with AIDS"
Dr LK Verma
***********

I do agree. Nothing much has been done on prevention of malaria in India except lip service. Malaria can be prevented by applying preventive measures such as better management of water bodies, liquid waste management etc. Trying to contain malaria by treating developed cases is futile. The source, that is mosquitoes, must be eradicated or procreation minimized.

Dr LK Verma
VIKALP, India
Email: vermalk@bol.net.in