SHREEPAL SAPTASAGAR
HIV/AIDS coordinator, Maharashtra, India
August 2008
About Me
Hi! My name is Shreepal Saptasagar, I’m 47 years old and work on HIV and AIDS prevention, care and support programmes in Sangli district in India’s western state of Maharashtra.
I grew up in a small family in a village called Kempwad in a lovely rural environment. There were no electricity, no transport and no communication facilities. My village was neglected from all sorts of development programmes because of border issues between the two adjacent States. Since I was the youngest of eight children, I had an opportunity to go to school and, from then on, I went to college and graduate school. I am a father of two wonderful children who make my work with HIV affected children more special.
Maharashtra was one of the first regions to be affected by the AIDS epidemic. I started working on HIV and AIDS prevention among the slum population in 2002. I then began working on counseling and prevention from mother to child transmission (PMTCT) of HIV. Today, I play a major role in designing and implementing comprehensive district models for HIV and AIDS programmes in collaboration with the government and UNICEF India.
Since I work with both the public and private sector, I have an opportunity to interact with a wide range of stake-holders including young people, mothers and children living with HIV and AIDS, counselors, doctors, government officials, non profit groups and the broader community.
India is badly affected by the AIDS epidemic; nearly 52% of the HIV and AIDS cases are in the productive age group of 13–49 years. I am associated with a non governmental organization called the Yerala Projects Society. I’m also a member secretary of the District Integrated Strategic HIV and AIDS Action (DISHA) programme. It is heartening to work with UNICEF and help the district administration develop a comprehensive action plan addressing HIV and AIDS in Sangli district. UNICEF’s youth programmes have generated a lot of enthusiasm among young people and have created safe spaces for them. It reminds me of my own youth when there was no such guidance and support. I thank UNICEF for providing such a unique platform. The torch of awareness lit by UNICEF has to reach far and wide and I have to go miles before I can sleep. It’s time for us to protect our children and young people from HIV and AIDS and empower them to grow with full potential. Together we can make a difference.
