AIDS Prevention And Control (APAC-VHS) Project
Supported by the United States Agency for International Development
(USAID) (1995 - 2012)

Strategies

• Technical strategies deployed by APAC project comprised of targeted intervention, behavior change communication, capacity building, public-private partnership, evidence based programming, monitoring and evaluation.
• Pioneered and implemented a number of high impact and innovative HIV/AIDS interventions covering the entire prevention to care continuum.
• Supported NACO with strategic planning, established and managed Technical Support Units in Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Kerala for TI strengthening, conceptualized and implemented innovative communication strategies for sustainable behavior change and provided technical assistance to 35 training and research institutions.
• APAC project’s role evolved from leading design and implementation of HIV/AIDS program for the most at risk and hard to reach populations to supporting and providing technical assistance to NACO, SACS, TNHSP and other key stakeholders.
• Adopted a multi-pronged and structured approach to capacity building of CSO governing board members, staff and community, followed by intensive on-site hand holding and mentoring support.

Key Achievements

• Played a strategic role in policy formulation at national level by serving as chair for the Technical Resource Group (TRG) on TI and as member of working groups for planning National AIDS Control Program phase II, III and IV.
• Collaborated with Tamil Nadu Health Systems Project (TNHSP, supported by The World Bank) for health system strengthening, set up State Health Data Resource Centre, State Health Communication Resource Centre, State Health Research Resource Centre.
• One of the first civil society projects in the country to be awarded ISO certification (ISO 9001:2008) for quality management processes and practices.
• Conducted, documented and evaluated 13 rounds of Behavioural Surveillance Survey (BSS) annually and disseminated findings for program strengthening.
• Demonstrated TI model for MARPs, intensive intervention district model, voluntary peer educators and networking of peer educators, thematic demo centers, tech-enabled community-led communication models, social marketing of condoms, training of health care providers (APP, RIMP, ANM and Pharmacists), etc.
• Organized comprehensive capacity building programs for more than 100 NGOs and CBOs implementing TI program, followed by hand holding and mentoring support for strengthening and sustaining the response to HIV.
• Introduced Shakthi Plus program to reduce risks and improve negotiating power of HIV positive sex workers through comprehensive care and livelihood support.
• Carried out assessment studies in 11 hospitals attached to medical colleges and 272 government hospitals. Conducted Training of Trainers (TOTs) for 500 healthcare providers on bio-medical waste management and infection control.
• Introduced edutainment approach for Targeted Intervention program to promote interactive communication, encourage behaviour change, reduce message fatigue and avoid monotony in communication.
• Developed the concept for national HIV/AIDS communication resource centre.
• Established State Health Data Resource Centre as a centralized repository for data from 18 public health verticals in the state.
• Introduced a comprehensive Master Health Check-up program at government STI clinics for the Most At Risk Population.
• Introduced a pan-India toll free helpline and a voice based short messaging service called ‘Hello+’ through Public Private Partnership for communicating with the Most At Risk Population and People Living with HIV.
• Provided technical assistance for developing systems and rolling out folk media campaigns in the country and supported the national program with campaign evaluations.
• APAC conceptualized the Tamil Nadu Trust for Children Affected by AIDS (TNTCAA) known as the OVC Trust. APAC provided technical and strategic support to TANSACS for establishing the Trust with 5 crores support from state government with the sustainable initiative to support more than 8,000 children.
• Transitioned all the interventions and systems to government.
• APAC project strategically contributed in implementation, providing technical assistance and facilitating knowledge transfer.
• Contributed for reversal of epidemic in Tamil Nadu.
• 17 years of project activities were documented and evaluated by USAID and disseminated the learnings from APAC project at national and international level. Also recommended the APAC project of VHS to take a lead role in facilitating knowledge transfer on HIV/AIDS within the country and between the countries. As an outcome of this recommendation, VHS has been awarded with project on South-to-South HIV/AIDS Resource Exchange (SHARE-VHS), funded by USAID for three years.

Key Publications

Best Practices

Training Manuals

Communication

Research and Evaluation Reports

Photos

Contact Us

Director - Projects
CHARTERED - Projects Division
The Voluntary Health Services (VHS)
Rajiv Gandhi Salai, TTTI Post,
Taramani, Chennai – 600 113.
Email ID: williams@vhsprojects.org

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