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Exclusive matrimonial portal for HIV+ people launched by IIMA, GSNP+

People diagnosed with HIV positive and looking for a soul mate now have a ray of light. The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad along with Surat based community organization Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GSNP+) have launched a dedicated matrimonial portal for HIV+ people struggling to find soulmates in their community.

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People diagnosed with HIV positive and looking for a soul mate now have a ray of light. The Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad along with Surat based community organization Gujarat State Network of People living with HIV/AIDS (GSNP+) have launched a dedicated matrimonial portal for HIV+ people struggling to find soulmates in their community.

After a year-long research, the team has ensured to keep the confidentiality status of HIV+ people on high priority.

Speaking about the same, professor Rajesh Chandwani, faculty at Center for Management of Health Services (CMHS) at IIMA said, “The website matrimonial.gsnpplus.org will ask for the basic details including date of HIV diagnosis. The information shared between users include first name, date of birth, caste, sub-caste, religion, educational profile, job profile (organization name not shared), number of family members. No direct information revealing identity is asked or shared. With HIV+ people, this was our biggest challenge. While one wants to disclose everything to the soul mate, in such cases, initial hesitation is also there. Hence, we have designed in a way taking care of such issues.”

GSNP+, a community-based organization formed by HIV positive people in Surat has is an advocacy group working towards the betterment of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). Realizing the willingness of such people to get married, GSNP+ had been running a marriage bureau since 2007. But with this platform, they want their reach to increase.

Says Daxa Patel, founder of GSNP+, “I was diagnosed with HIV in 1997 and had to also undergo an abortion then. For three years I was in trauma till I met two other infected people. It was then I realized that while I am HIV+, but I still have family support. I know how difficult it is to disclose HIV status and find a companion of life. It was then I thought to make HIV+ people seeking companionship meet each other. Till date, 245 couples have got married through our bureau. But now, we want to go beyond Gujarat.

It will enable the PLHIV in enjoying life with a life partner, where they easily disclose, care for each other, act as support system, etc.”

 

Nearly 68000 patients are registered and take treatment at Antiretroviral Therapy in Gujarat. Chandwani added, “Whenever a disease is attached with stigma, it makes problem more complex. Only awareness and empowerment will help. Our next project with GSNP+ is how to help patients continue with their treatments with help of technological intervention. They have been facing huge issues with people who discontinue treatment due to funds or support or awareness.”

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