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The fifth District peer educators’ convention was organised in Namakkal District by
Women’s Organisation in Rural Development (WORD) at Hotel Golden Palace, Namakkal
on 24th September 2008.
Participants:
There were two booths in place. One booth features the wide range of activities of
Truckers Town Intervention Project supported by APAC. The other booth contains the
highlights of activities of peer educators.
The Convention was started with the opening of two exhibitions which highlight the APAC
supported truckers’ Town Intervention Activities and the activities of the peer educators’.
Mr. K. Nallathambi, Secretary, Namakkal Taluk Lorry Owners Association opened the
booth highlights the APAC supported Truckers’ Town Intervention Activities in Namakkal
flanked by other VIPS. The booth which features the acidities of peer educators’ was
opened by Mr. M. Balasubrmanian, Senior Manager,Ashok Leyland Lorry Driver Training
Institute, Namakkal flanked by other VIPs.
The convention began by staging the VIPs who have graciously participated and felicitated
the program. The fifth district level peer educators’ convention started with the welcome
address by the project Co-ordinator, Mr. M. Rajmohan.
The Project Director, Mrs. M. Renida Sarala delivered her address about APAC and
Truckers’ Town Intervention Project in Namakkal Town. In her, address she highlighted
that APAC began the Target Intervention Activities since 1995. APAC is administered by
Voluntary Health Services under a bilateral agreement with the Government of India with
the United States Aid for International Development. The goal of APAC is to reduce the
vulnerability of STD thereby reduce the risk of getting HIV/AIDS. APAC is executing
various thematic HIV/AIDS interventions in all over Tamilnadu and Pondicherry through
various NGOs. The project targets a comprehensive intervention among the Commercial
Sex Workers, Truckers’, Industrial Workers, Slum Dwellers and among the Tourists.
APAC is managed by Voluntary Health Services, a NGO in Chennai with the bilateral
assistance from USAID and NACO.
In Namakkal, WORD is implementing the Truckers’ Town Intervention Project with the
funding support of APAC-VHS-USAID from April 2003. The project activities are taking
place in 15kms of Namakkal Town which is known for its rich industries for trucking hub.
While this project will come to an end by September 2008, this project began with the
capacity building on STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention Education by AMPs, RIMPs,
Pharmacists, ANMs; Community Health Workers through APAC supported CETCs. All
the training programs have been supported by periodical refresher trainings and alumni
meetings apart from effective referrals and linkages. The activities include one-on-one and
one-group education for the target groups Truckers and Women in Prostitutes and its allied
workers. Through this type of education, they will be informed on STD/HIV/AIDS,
Treatment Procedures, Safer Sex Behaviour Concepts, and Abstinence Concepts, Testing
for STD/HIV/AIDS, Motivation for spouse testing /treatment, Correct and Consistent
usage of Condoms. Frequent Behavioural change communication (BCC) events by the
means of street plays, audio & video shows and exhibition program are held in the vantage
places where the truck crews and other allied industry workers and the common people can
get to know the exact information on STD/HIV/AIDS; Communication Campaigns have
also been undertaken by wall-painting, glow sign boxes, auto-sticker campaign, V-Type
information boards, posters, flux banners, handbills and through other relevant materials
and distributing of various innovative IEC/BCC materials.
The periodical training programs are conducted for Secondary Target Group members who
are closely associated with Truckers and Women in Prostitutes, NTO Retailers. The most
and important activity is to identify, train and promote peer educators among the target
groups in both genders. The peer educators’ are being identified by the outreach staff and
they are trained various topics on Key issues on STI/HIV/AIDS, STI Referrals and
Treatment, Condom use and Promotion, Interpersonal Communication Skills and
Behaviour Change Communication. After the training program they are effectively put in
service to the project activities. They are involving various activities include sharing the
exact information on STD/HIV/AIDS to their fellow workers, distributing IEC materials,
demonstration of correct and consistent usage of condoms, referral services for STD and
HIV testing, referral to Project Staff, Promoting non-traditional outlets, identifying new
peer educators, group interactions etc.,
To motivate them and to co-ordinate their activities, a district peer educators’ forum have
been formed. They also co-ordinate to the state level PATH peer educators’ forum.
To co-ordinate peer educators’ activities, motivate and appreciate their activities District
level peer educators’ convention are being held. This is the fourth convention in this series
in Namakkal District which will fetch a common platform among the peer educators to get
to know and share their activities and to plan for the future. She said that it is a very special
moment from where constructive decisions and plans will be drawn for the right course of
implementation for the project.
With this background information on the project activities and information about APAC to
the persons on the dais, the VIPs in the dais lit the light as an auspicious mark the eventful
start of the convention.
Mr. K. Nallathambi in his address expressed his happiness to deliver better health seeking
services by the peer educators’ to the community that tends to fell prey to STD/HIV/AIDS
which is needed at most for the community. The spread of STI and HIV/AIDS is
considered to be the major economical problem for our mother land. So, every body has to
take the every possible step to prevent the spread of the infection. So, peer educators’
should sharpen their knowledge and set out to create a new by widespreading their task
even in the rural sectors of the community with rejuvenated spirit and enthusiasm. He
expressed his pleasure that various efforts were put forth by WORD to take up the project
by the Lorry Owners Association in the past, he said it is very much impossible for them to
take up the project fully by their own. If they take up the project, they cannot able to spare
time to monitor and the drivers also will not freely come to them and learn and clarify their
doubts. He assured all his external support and co-operation to WORD on behalf of the
Lorry Owners Association.
A souvenir was released during this occasion to mark the 5th District Level Convention.
Mr. K. Nallathambi released the first copy of the souvenir and Dr. R. P. Illango,
RMO- Namakkal Government Head Quarters Hospital received it.
Dr. R. P. Illango, RMO- Namakkal Government Head Quarters Hospital in his addressed
applauded the wide range of activities by the peer educators’ in the field of HIV/AIDS. He
encouraged the peer educators to continue to do all the referral services to the Government
Hospital. He advised the peer educators not to stop the prevention activities alone but to
render all the support and co-operation to the people infected with HIV/AIDS and to the
children infected and affected with HIV/AIDS. He expressed his pleasure to know that
outreach staff of WORD together with the peer educators have done a tremendous work in
the field for 5 years to bring down the new infection rate to a halt in Namakkal. He wished
all the very best for the peer educators in their works.
Mr. M. Balasubrmanian, Senior Manager, Ashok Leyland gave away the Registration
Certificate to the office bearers of Namakkal PATH peer educators’ association. He
expressed his pleasure to associate on behalf of the institute to bring awareness among
truckers in a small way in collaboration with WORD with a portion of the truckers
curriculum covering HIV/AIDS. He also applauded the involvement of peer educators’ in
the field of STI and HIV/AIDS prevention. He encouraged the peer educators’ to continue
their tireless work even without the support of the agency under the technical support of
WORD.
Mr. S. Boopathi, Secretary, Namakkal All Motor Workshop Owners Association expressed
his pleasure to know the remarkable activities that are being carried out by the peer
educators’ in the HIV/AIDS intervention activities for the past three years. He also
expressed his happiness to greet all the peer educators’ in their activities and to the
management and staff of WORD and he said that the peer educators’ should work with
more spirit and enthusiasm in their noble task as the peer educators’ can play a vital role in
the HIV/AIDS intervention activities.
Mr. Berlin Jose, the consultant from APAC expressed his happiness about the
arrangements for the convention by WORD and the enthusiasm that he has seen from each
participant. He also expressed his pleasure in registering the PE Association as a Trust
under Indian Trust Act. He wished all the very best and encouraged to continue the
important task with the newly registered association.
Mr. Elangovan gave away the seed money of Rs 10000/- in form of cheque to the peer
educators’ office and addressed the felicitation note. In his speech listed down the essential
characteristics of the peer educators, the tasks ahead and asked the peer educators to
continue their work with regained spirit and enthusiasm by networking with all other peer
educators’ association with other districts.
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Mr. Mariappan, the Treasurer of the State Peer Educators’ Association expressed his
pleasure to come and see the fellow peer educators’ from Namakkal. He urged the peer
educators’ to continue to do the noble task with united spirit with the state peer educators’
association.
The ten Peer Educators’ Mr. S. Selvakumar, Mr. P. Rajagopal, Mr. S. Vadivel, Mr. M.
Muthukumar, Mr. M. Arulmurugan, Mr. S. Chandran, Mr. D. Murugesan, Mr. P.
Maheshwaran, Mr. V. Dhanapal, Mr. T. Manikandan were selected and they were given
prizes by the VIPs in the dais.
The five other peer educators Mr. P. Balasubramani, Mr. S. Suresh, Mr. K. Palanisamy,
Mr. K. Rajini, Mr. A. Zahir Hussain were selected and they have been awarded with the
life time achievement award for their active role in formation of the association,
involvement in strengthening of the association and enrolling the fellow peer educators to
the association by the VIPs in the dais.
Finally, Mr. Rajmohan , Program Manager- WORD expressed the whole-hearted thanks
and gratitude to the active participation and contributed the valuable suggestions put forth
by the eminent personalities who have accepted the invitation and made it possible by
them to be present in the V Namakkal district level convention.
He also thank the Project Director, officers and consultants of APAC-VHS-USAID for
their programmatic, financial and technical support, the supporters who are closely
associated with the trucking industries in Namakkal, the fellow workers from the
HIV/AIDS field, the peer educators’ who are doing the excellent works in the field for
their gracious presence for the convention.
The peer educators’ then introduced themselves and shared their innovative experiences to
shoulder with the WORD project staff in the HIV/AIDS intervention activities
The thematic cultural performances were exhibited by the peer educators soon after the
lunch. The peer educators’ staged a drama entitled- Veedae Padhukappu (Home is
Protection), dances and songs which demands for VCTC measures, early treatment seeking
behaviour and community based care and support for the HIV infected persons which was
spell-bound by the fellow gathering of peer educators’.
After the cultural programs the group discussions were held among the peer educators’.
The Peer educators were divided into four groups and each group has given the following
topic for discussion to render healthy suggestions to improve and intensify the activities of
peer educators.
Group Topic Given for Discussion for Suggestion
No
1 What are the possible activities can be taken to strengthen the peer educators’
association?
2 What are the activities to be strengthened to co-ordinate more effectively with
the other peer educators’ district network and also the state network?
3 What is the action plan for the next one year for Peer educators’ association?
5 What are the activities to be done to co-ordinate the peer educators’ at the
regional level in Namakkal?
The groups have a mind wakening discussions and the following points were put forth by
the groups. The points were presented by the leaders’ of the respective groups.
Group Suggestions put forth by the peers group after the group discussions.
No
1 What are the possible activities can be taken to strengthen the peer educators’
association?
The peer educators’ should be co-ordinated at the regional level.
Rather than conducting the peer educators’ meet monthly, it can be
convened everything at every fortnight and the activities by the peer
educators may be reviewed and revamped.
Once in a month, a trained medical practitioner should be invited and a
comprehensive and quality medical education should be given to all the
peers. By this not only the deep doubts from the minds of the peers will
be clarified but also it helps the others also in a long way.
Collecting a reasonable subscription from the members of the peer
educators’ association.
To draw an achievable action plan for the peer educators’ association.
Active participation of peer educators’ in the time to time medical camps
and the voluntary development works from time to time.
To streamline the activities that is being carried out by the association by
introducing the guidelines.
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The representatives from other district peer educators’ association/ state
level representative should be invited to our group meetings and to get
their valuable suggestions.
And also we should eagerly participate in the district meetings.
Concrete platform should be planned for continuous mutual experience
sharing with other district network and also the state level network.
3 What is the action plan for the next one year for Peer educators’ association?
To streamline the process of appending new members and the new
membership procedures.
Distribution of membership identity cards.
Identification of Government/ Semi government Officials who are fully
co-operating to the association activities.
Active participation in the common programs and other important
functions.
Quarterly experience sharing and producing of newsletter.
To rejuvenate ourselves by participating in important events and other
district meetings.
4 What are the activities to be done to co-ordinate the peer educators’ at the
regional level?
Combined co-ordinated efforts by the peer educators’ in each Road
(Namakkal-Salem, Namakkal- Karur, Namakkal- Duraiyur, Namakkal-
Trichy)
Convening regional meetings among the peers at regular intervals.
Planning and executing the special regional activities by the peers within
their working area limits.
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Arrangement and participation in the BCC activities on STI and
HIV/AIDS.
Efforts to organize cultural events by the peer educators at regular
intervals.
On the side lines of the discussion, a part of AVAHAN Team who came to Namakkal
visited the PE Convention and had interaction with the PE office bearers and had got to
know about the movement of Truckers, awareness level of truckers on STI and HIV/AIDS,
area of intervention of peer educators, referral networks established and about the PE
associations.
WORD project team rendered a lamp to the peer educators office bearers as a mark of
transition of the project activities from the organsiation to the peer educators. The peer
educators presented momento to all the project staff of WORD.
The day’s long peer educators’ convention came to an end with the national anthem.
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The glimpse of peer educators’ attended the V District Level Convention
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V District Level Peer Educators’ Convention- 2008.
Namakkal District.
Supported by Organised by
APAC-VHS-USAID. Women’s Organisation in Rural Development (WORD)
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PE V CONVENTION PHOTO GLIMPSES
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