The Begining
Since 1996 Sangli Mission Society was engaged in HIV/aids awareness programs especially in school all over Kolhapur, Ratnagiri, Sangli, Sindhudurg districts. In 2003 with partnership with CRS we started the intervention programmes under the banner Dilasa. Sangli - Miraj - kupwad corporation which had the heist prevalence of HIV/AIDS cases in Mahrashtra second only to Mumbai, was identified as the target area for the first year.

Social Programmes
Awareness was given to families and neighbours in view of reducing the stigma. Street plays formation of SHGs in the area helped to impart proper awareness to the people of the target area.

We could give the infected people counseling and helped the linkages with civil hospital so that those need of ART can avail the services. Care givers training help family members to take care of the infected in their family. Social gatherings and picnics for the HIV positive people help boost their Morale and provide occasion to share their common problems.

In 2006 the program is extended to all the Thahsils in Sangli District. Other than the 2 coordinators, counselor and 7 full time field workers two or three HIV Positive people from each Thahsil volunteered to be part time field workers. Most of them are women. They were given training in basic knowledge about HIV AIDS and some basic skills in counseling.

They help to identify other positive people in the area who are unwilling to reveal the status or who have not had any access to the services and help them to get needed medical assistance or counseling. They also do the follow-up for ART adherence. Since we started intervention we could identify 1240 People living with HIV who have not received any assistance and are being supported by Dilasa.

Presently we are also engaged in helping HIV positive children to to have access to ART. There are 180 children identified who need ART . The field workers seethat the children are taken to the ART center in Sangli from remote villages in time and see to the adherence.

Hightlights Of Dilasa
Counseling
Care Givers Training
Arranging Social Functions
Conducting Awareness Programmes
Networking
ART Treatment
Capacity Building