Lhak-Sam to develop an Advocacy Toolkit on HIV and AIDS

To ensure accuracy and uniform information on HIV and AIDS, Lhak-Sam- a civil society organisation is in the process of developing an Advocacy Toolkit.

This toolkit will have information and procedures on discrimination, stigmatisation, and promotion of treatment among others. Through this way of advocacy, it is also expected to reduce stigmatisation and discrimination faced by people living with HIV and AIDS.

Once developed, the toolkit can be used as an advocacy tool to advocate at various sectors such as Education Ministry, Labour Ministry (in terms of employment) and the Health Ministry for their services.

“When these sectors advocate people on HIV issues, then they can convey the same message through this advocacy toolkit. This way, when people come to receive such public services, they will not be discriminated,” told Wangda Dorji, the Executive Director of Lhak-Sam to BBS News. “Service providers will also provide services to them without any judgment.”

The Lhak-Sam also feels that the advocacy toolkit would encourage more people to come forward for voluntary test and counseling. “People coming forward for voluntary counseling and test are only 28,000 on an average. This means, nearly 712, 000 people are not getting tested for HIV,” said the Lhak-Sam’s Executive Director, adding the Joint United Nation’s Programme on HIV and AIDS in 2012, estimated that, there could be 1100 to 2700 individuals living with HIV in the country. As of now, there are 570 HIV positive people in the country.

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