EHA

SHALOM Mizoram is a HIV/AIDS project of EHA, started in December 1997 as a community based HIV/AIDS prevention and care program. Located in Aizawl in Mizoram, SHALOM aims to reduce HIV transmission, provide care to People Living With HIV/AIDS, and minimize the negative socio-economic impact of HIV on individuals, families and communities in Mizoram.

Major Projects:
Targeted intervention among Injecting Drug Users, Telephonic Counselling Services, Peer Educator Placement, Awareness Creation on HIV/AIDS among local churches, Justice and HIV & AIDS Project, and capacity building of PLWHAs

Major Activities:

• Harm Reduction for Drug Users – promotion of safe drug use, behaviour change counselling, Detoxification Therapy with Opioid Substitution Treatment
• Community Education and Advocacy Programs
• Church mobilization for Care and Support of PLWHA’s
• Care and Support of PLWH including OI treatment, nutritional and material support, skill training and development, and home based care.

Major Highlights:

• Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) – This treatment for Opioid users, funded by MSACS was temporarily interrupted due to guideline conflicts. However, parents of OST clients, understanding the need, agreed to continue the treatment with their contributions. As such, treatment was continued for a period of 4 months (February-May 09). Also, SHALOM was given accreditation by the National Accreditation Board for Hospitals as a center for providing OST.
• The Drop-In Center was shifted from Zodin Square to Thuampui on 6th October 08 for better convenience as Thuampui area falls under the operational area of the Targeted Intervention project.
• SHALOM constructed a Waiting Shed for Thuampui community. Such an activity strengthens the networking with community leaders, and enhances the efficiency of the various harm reduction programs undertaken. Water reservoir was constructed for Zemabawk Community, which was also one of the operational area.
• Post Christmas Trekking program was conducted for IDU clients at Reiek on 20th December 2008.
• Assessment of HIV+ cases at Champhai and Lunglei (20 each) completed. Trainings for service providers conducted in these 2 areas
• HIV&AIDS Drama competition organized at Champhai on the occasion of World AIDS Day 2009 (although timing was postponed due to state assembly election). 11 Presbyterian church youth groups participated, and the program was felicitated by the Deputy Commissioner, Champhai. It was the first of its kind in Champhai, and was a grand success.
• An “Abstinence Pledge Drive” was conducted for Salvation Army Youth members on 22 December 2008, where 78 youths pledged to abstain from sex before getting married.