Cheyutha: A new initiative of people living with HIV/AIDS in Hyderabad, India
04 March 2005
LEPRA Society, one of Alliance India’s lead partners, is supporting a new initiative of people living with HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh. Cheyutha, which in Telugu – a local language of Andhra Pradesh – means a ‘supporting hand’ is organised under the banner of the Network of Positive People (NPP+), a community-based organisation set up by people living with HIV/AIDS in Andhra Pradesh. Cheyutha forms just one aspect of the ongoing support that LEPRA Society provides to NPP+.
“NPP+ acts as a support group to people living with HIV/AIDS, motivating them to live positively with self-respect and pride. Cheyutha is a great achievement for us all,” said Dr Ranganadha Rao, Chief Executive Officer, LEPRA Society.
NPP+ currently has around 150 members living with HIV/AIDS. Many people living with HIV/AIDS face both anxiety about their status and discrimination from their communities. Volunteers at NPP+ take the lead in identifying and responding to the needs of other members, for example by raising awareness in the community to create a better environment for people living with HIV/AIDS. Further activities include counselling people living with HIV/AIDS, improving access to treatment, providing information, and networking with other like-minded organisations.
Cheyutha’s activities include:
- regular clinical services for people living with HIV/AIDS
- training in counselling and organisation skills for volunteers
- leadership training programmes for NPP+ members
- monthly support meetings of people living with HIV/AIDS
- counselling support to people living with HIV/AIDS
- vocational training for members and affected families to set-up self-employment ventures
- encouraging self-help groups to function as a support group to members who are living with HIV/AIDS, enabling them to share experiences
- drop-in recreation facilities
- organising media sensitising workshops on HIV/AIDS-related issues
- outreach activities and awareness-generation programmes
- organising programmes with various groups and the mass media to mark AIDS day.
