In news for all the wrong reasons, Osmania University has something to cheer about. It is the only university in the entire South India to have been placed in the ‘sub recipient' category under the ‘Saksham' programme and seven centres of different universities in Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala placed under it.
Tata Institute of Social Sciences (TISS) is the principal recipient under Saksham, which has a unique partnership between 38 academic institutions across the country in the fight against HIV AIDS and implemented in close co-ordination with National AIDS Control Organization (NACO).
The programme is part of the Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM).
The HIV/AIDS counselling programme of GFATM in India is being implemented by TISS under which all the universities work. Impressed with Osmania's record, it has been promoted to ‘sub recipient' category from the ‘sub sub recipient' category. Osmania University Centre, headed by Prof. Beena Chintalapuri, has so far trained 12 Master Trainers, who are working with the NACO at various levels in providing counselling to the HIV affected.
Apart from strengthening the capacity of institutions and enhancement of infrastructure facilities, the programme has helped in sensitising students and faculty.
“Three students have taken up research on HIV/AIDS after the project took off in the varsity,” Prof. Beena said. Another benefit accrued is training materials of international standards made accessible to the university. The Counsellor Training Centre at OU provides mentoring and supports supervision for trained counsellors apart from documentation and taking up research studies.
Prof. Beena says OU is the Co-Project Investigator for research study on “Client Satisfaction Index” in India and the study is directly linked to the Global Fund Performance Framework.
Brinelle D'souza, National Programme Director of Saksham and faculty at TISS says the apprehensions of involving universities in the project have been dispelled given the positive outcome. “We have crossed the targeted figures for the country and it reflects the seriousness of the project coordinators, including OU,” she says. To strengthen the project further and use resources to maximum, Prof. Beena says efforts were on to introduce a certificate course in association with TISS. The certification will enhance opportunities for counsellors globally.
