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ABOUT SAATHII

Advocacy | Networking | Information Dissemination | Technical and Financial Assistance

Information Dissemination

SAATHII disseminates information on HIV/AIDS in India to government, UN agencies and civil society members - non-government, community-based, faith-based, private sector agencies and positive networks – as part of its capacity building efforts. SAATHII disseminates information through its electronic listserv, online resource center and HIV/AIDS services directory (SAATHII RED RIBBON PAES).

Electronic Listserv (saathii@yahoogroups.com)

The Problem: Most information and resources on HIV/AIDS in India are shared in person, and therefore restricted in accessibility. However, there is an urgent need for HIV/AIDS service providers and resource persons to fill their information and resource gaps to address the escalating HIV/AIDS epidemic in a timely fashion.

The Project: Initiated in February 2001, the listserv disseminates information on a daily basis regarding current advances in science, India-specific news, national and international conferences, training and funding announcements, and bulletins that merit political action. Members include NGOs, PLWHA, community networks, government officials, healthcare and social service providers, scientists, funders, policy makers and activists.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as project coordinator.

Project Impact: The listserv is the best-recognized public face of SAATHII. Through this listserv over 1675 people world-wide have access to daily information on HIV/AIDS in India. The listserv saw an increase in postings to an average of 11.69 per week in 2003, of which more than half were circulated by list members other than SAATHII staff and volunteers. In addition to bridging information gaps, postings on the listserv have contributed to skills-building, networking, financial assistance and advocacy efforts for listserv members.

Project Funder: SAATHII

Online Resource Center (www.saathii.org)

The Problem: Most information and resources on HIV/AIDS in India are shared in person, and therefore restricted in accessibility. However, there is an urgent need for HIV/AIDS service providers and resource persons to fill their information and resource gaps to address the escalating HIV/AIDS epidemic in a timely fashion , and they should be able to do so from a single information-rich and reliable source..

The Project: Initiated in November 2002, the Online Resource Center serves as an information and resource tool for PLWHA, government and non-governmental organizations, funding agencies and medical and social service providers. The Center provides the following information: a searchable database of HIV/AIDS services in India, updates on HIV/AIDS, news and events, and a listing of funding agencies and training programs in India and internationally. Additionally, the Center provides resource materials, such as patient education, guidelines, articles and PowerPoint slides, for the multiple sectors working on HIV/AIDS in India.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as project coordinator.

Project Impact: The Online Resource Center is one of the most visited websites for HIV/AIDS information in India. There is qualitative evidence that saathii.org has become indispensable as an information toolkit for HIV/AIDS workers. Says a young social activist working on youth, HIV/AIDS and arts related issues, “SAATHII's website is the most definitive website… I access it first if I have to look up anything on HIV/AIDS – If it is missing, only then do I turn to other sites.” Similar sentiments have been echoed by researchers, activists, policy-makers and other seekers of India-related HIV/AIDS information worldwide.

Project Funder: SAATHII

HIV/AIDS Services Directory ( SAATHII Red Ribbon Pages , Edition 2003)

The Problem: There are over 1500 agencies in India providing diverse services in HIV/AIDS. Networking is needed for these agencies to learn of each others services and to make referrals to other services. Previously existing directories of NGO services were either restricted to specific regions or to NGOs funded by specific agencies.

The Project: Released in July 2003, the HIV/AIDS Services Directory consists of information on more than 1200 HIV/AIDS preventive, care, support, and treatment services (voluntary/ government/ private) and 100 funding agencies (government/ private/ bilateral/ multilateral). This directory lists services by state, district, service type and target population. The electronic version of the directory is in searchable format and is available on www.saathii.org and other select websites. A 2004 edition of the directory is under development.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as program coordinator.

Project Impact: The directory , one of the first of its kind in India, is used by 1,000 NGOs, who serve approximately 200,000 Indians infected or at-risk of HIV/AIDS. It is also used by 20 PLWHA groups and 30 major donor and international agencies. This directory enables PLWHA to access health care in their own geographical areas, assists the general population in accessing HIV prevention services, such as counseling and testing facilities, facilitates NGO partnership building, and helps donors in identifying and short-listing promising programs. It has received wide coverage through news reports in “The Telegraph”, Calcutta and all editions of the “Times of India” and on the Internet.

Project Funder: The John M. Lloyd Foundation, USA; UNAIDS India; and Global Strategies for HIV Prevention, USA.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as program coordinator.