Smt. Lalitha Kumaramangalam, Chairperson, National Commission for Women, addressed the gathering of around 40 community representatives of women and Sex Workers living with HIV from across the country on November 28 2014, at Viswa Yuvakendra, New Delhi. Encouraged by the Chairperson to discuss freely and openly, women gathered raised various concerns affecting them regarding areas of prevention, treatment, care and support. During the interactive session they highlighted the following needs requesting her to facilitate dialogue and interaction with all concerned ministries, departments and agencies.

• Programme on livelihood that support women living with HIV (economic empowerment)
• Addressing powerlessness and vulnerabilities that reinforce gender based violence experienced by Women living with HIV
• Address information gaps for women living with HIV in prevention , treatment and care and support services
• Providing respected, comprehensive Sexual and Reproductive Health and Rights services including cervical cancer.
• Ensuring accessibility and availability of HIV test kits for PPTCT, lifesaving and family planning commodities
• Improved delivery of quality ART services for women living with HIV including the treatment of Opportunistic Infections like cervical cancer
• Easy access to CD4 count and Viral load machines
• Allocating funding to the network of women living with HIV, Transgender and sex workers collectives
• Specific prevention program targeting women and girls – to prevent new infection among them.
• Promote full access to social development programs and psycho-social support through

Single Window or Women Resource Center model currently being implemented by Positive Women’s Network in Ajmer and Nagpur and Sex Workers Collectives and Networks in Bengaluru, Belgaum, Anantapur, East Godavari, Salem, Madurai and Solapur

• Support to increase voice, participation and representation of women living with HIV in the National AIDS program
• Community also wanted the commission to take forward all the above ensure that every three months a Consultation is held under the aegis of the National Commission for Women to review the ongoing developments and address crisis from drug shortage to stigma and discrimination and violence against women.

A memorandum summarizing the discussions was presented to her by the community members.
Ms. Lalitha said that having worked on HIV/AIDS for many years she realized the importance of community involvement in programme and in monitoring the outcomes of these interventions. “I will do my bit to broaden the dialogue between government and community groups,” she added.

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