BIJAM

Background of BIJAM

Established in 1995, “BIJAM” is the short form of Bidhyarthi Jagarn Manch in Nepali, translated in English as Student Awareness Forum.  It is non-profitable and non-governmental organization mainly focusing on Youth Development, Harm Reduction and HIV, AIDS & STI prevention and control. It is registered (Reg. No – 163/052/053) in Parsa District Administration Office and affiliated with the Social Welfare Council (Affln.3763/052/053) and Home Ministry (27/056/057) since 1999.

The focus of work for the last 19 years has been on increasing the awareness and knowledge about HIV & AIDS through many different projects. These programs have taken the HIV & AIDS message to schools, colleges, factories and through its mass communication programs to the general public.  In more recent years it has centered on the HIV and risk reduction services including behavior change communication interventions, access to clean needles and syringes, condom distribution, STI treatment, VCT and drug treatment & rehabilitation. In recent year, BIJAM has been implementing TB reach program through active case detection in seasonal migrants and hard to reach population for early diagnosis of TB cases. Through its community based activities and the community information centre, more attention has been given to the youths to provide them with life skills based information. BIJAM is renown in the community for its networking and trying to bring the community together to fight the HIV & AIDS epidemic.

Through its community based activities and the community information centre, more attention has been given to the youths to provide them with life skills based information. BIJAM is renown in the community for its networking and trying to bring the community together to fight the HIV & AIDS epidemic.

To respond on HIV & AIDS, BIJAM has concentrated five year plan is to deliver the following

v  A reduction in stigma and discrimination against those infected and affected by HIV & AIDS in the community.

v  A change in behavior of the at risk groups in the community.

v  To secure a totally educated and aware community about HIV & AIDS.

v  A strong active network of local organizations fighting together to eradicate the HIV & AIDS epidemic and advocating for the rights of PLHA, both locally and nationally.

v  Active case detection in seasonal migrants and hard to reach population for early diagnosis of TB cases.

Since 1998 BIJAM has been working for Harm Reduction Program partnering with different funding agencies. Currently it is running harm reduction program with funding from Save the Children/GFATM Round 7 in Bara, Parsa & Makwanpur, Drug Treatment and Rehabilitation Program in Birgunj under BIJAM core fund, Integrated FP, HIV Prevention, Care, Treatment service for FSWs, Clients of FSWs & PLHA in Parsa district under Saath Saath/ FHI 360/USAID project,  TB Reach Project under the support of Family Health International Wave 1, HIV prevention Care & treatment for female prisoners under UNODC, Community Information Centre cum Library under American Embassy. Hence, BIJAM has fully covered Bara, Parsa and Makwanpur districts especially Harm Reduction, STI/VCT as well as care & support services have been appropriately delivered in the rural and urban areas of the districts. The current programs have been providing comprehensive service to the target community i.e.

Ø  Basic health care, counseling and referral services through outreach and DIC.

Ø  Distribute risk reduction supplies with syringe exchange as well as safe disposal service.

Ø  Deliver safer sex/injecting education amongst IDUs/DUs and their regular sex partners.

Ø  Undertake different sensitization activities among the target group and the community, on the risk of TB, HIV & other blood borne infections.

Ø  Promote safer sex, safe use of injecting equipment, and adverse use of drug through behavior change education sessions.

Ø  Strengthen the referral mechanism based on district service directory.

Ø  Offer STI, VCT and all health related services.

Ø  Sensitize to the community including police, journalist and local authority and involve recovering drug users to the nature and effect of drug addiction in conjunction with treatment for drug users; and the benefits of an effective syringe exchange program.

Ø  Carry out meeting seminars and workshop with target beneficiaries, civil society, law enforcement agencies, and school/college and to foster an enabling environment.

Ø  Observe different day’s events for advocacy and local sensitization.

Ø  Screening of seasonal migrants at critical entry points to find out symptomatic positive cases.

Ø  Screening of hard to reach population from IHS and DICs using TB questionnaires.

Ø  Sputum collection of symptomatic cases, slide preparation, obtaining test results and enrolling them to DOTS to those found positive.

Ø  Sensitization to community on Tuberculosis.

Vision

We believe in healthy and non discriminatory environment for the betterment of rights holders’ especially marginalized community.

Mission

We aim to provide better life option through behavior change communication intervention with the most at risk groups, from mass participation, peer-education, youth mobilization and local, national and international networking with both government and non-governmental organizations.

We will also work for the improvement of our society by targeting the youth and providing them with the necessary skills, information and resources to make informed decisions for the future.

Goal

We work for the promotion of community initiative by strengthening existing health and education system. We will work to reduce stigma & discrimination by removing prejudices in the society towards those who are disadvantaged through their habits or livelihoods. Our focus is to increase the knowledge & understanding by promoting education through an information & resource on health related issues.

Values

§  We believe in participation of the community for the community.

§  We will protect the rights of all who work in BIJAM and all who benefit from our work.

§  We endorse our culture, background, traditions and way of life in all we do.

§  We will endeavor to attain the highest standards throughout our work.

Objectives

To eliminate stigma & discrimination in our community by

§  Removing prejudices in society towards those who are disadvantaged through their habits or livelihoods.

§  Creating a positive and caring environment for Drug users, TB patient & PLHIV.

§  Protecting the rights of those people infected and affected by TB, HIV & AIDS.

To increase the knowledge & understanding of those in our community by

§  Promoting education through an information & resource centre with a focus on offering information and education about Harm reduction, TB, HIV & AIDS.

§  Supporting deprived children in education, in particular those from families of PLHIV.

§  Creating a central referral point for out of school children especially street children to provide them with education on life based skills and HIV & AIDS.

To encourage community involvement by

§  Initiating community interaction to make an institutional change in society.

§  Strengthening the existing network of coordination & communication in the community to make a more effective response to the HIV & AIDS epidemic.

§  Mobilizing the youth.

§  Enhancing participation in the planning, implementation and evaluation of the activities of the organization from increased membership.

§  Maximizing participation of minorities, women & PLHIV among staff, board, members, volunteers and beneficiaries for mainstreaming the social development of the community.

To change the behavior of key target groups within the community by

§  Offering syringe exchange, condom distribution, educative and Interpersonal communication programs.

§  Organizing and educating Peer volunteers.

§  Providing treatment services to drug users so that they can re-establish themselves in the community.

To strengthen organizational capacity by

§  Developing, arranging and participating in a program of activities designed to strengthen the organizational management.

§  Promoting Good Governance within and outside the organization

§  Building Human Resource capabilities.

Core Programmes

o   Drug rehabilitation centre for drug users in Birgunj under BIJAM core fund.

o   Comprehensive package for injecting drug users in Bara, Parsa & Makwanpur under SSF-GFATM Round/Save the children.

o   Integrated FP, HIV prevention, care, treatment service for FSWs, Clients of FSWs & PLHA in Parsa district under Saath Saath/ FHI 360/USAID project.

o   Community Library & Information Centre under US Embassy.

o   LGCDP program under District Development Committee.

o   HAMI project under AMDA

o   TB Reach Project under the support of BMNT.

Staff Numbers