Saturday, December 22, 2012
Monday, May 7, 2012
Compassionate Healer/Dr.Chinkholal Thangsing
Interviewed by Hoihnu Hauzel
Richard Gere was touched by his work and presented him a motorbike. He’s hobnobbed with the likes of Melinda Gates, among others, deliberating on issues that are closest to his heart: HIV/AIDS. Chinkholal Thangsing is no ordinary physician. He’s someone who takes the Hippocratic Oath a little too seriously and literally committed his life for the welfare of HIV patients. The MBBS from Manipur’s North Eastern Regional Medical College and a Postgraduate Fellow from Vellore’s Christian Academy of Medical Science is a jet setter who flies across the continent collaborating with experts and dignitaries to find solutions on reducing drug menace and find new healing solutions to HIV patients. When he isn’t in New York City, you’ll probably find him somewhere in a quaint village in the North of Thailand like Chiang Mai treating patients and listening to their sad tales.
A recipient of many prestigious awards including the Royal Order of Sahametrei that was conferred by the Royal Government of Cambodia for distinguished humanitarian work in public health and HIV, Thangsing is also a recipient of the Karmaveer Purushkaar award in 2009 by the Indian Confederation of NGOs (ICONGO) for his decade long HIV work.Trained in medicine, HIVAIDS and Applied Psychology, his long experience has taken him all over the world. He’s worked for over 20 years as a clinician; a HIV specialist, an educator and an activist for universal access to treatment and fight stigma and discrimination.
Thangsing’s career in HIV management started in 1990 and never looked back since then. He pioneered the need to give clinical as well as psychological care to patients and advocate for the rights of people with HIVAIDS. He established AIDS care programs in Manipur in 1993 and set up the first AIDS Care home in Delhi in 1998 when HIV patients where shunned like outcasts. He serves on various national and international boards, committees and different forums.
Some of his precious stints included heading the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, USA’s largest non-profit AIDS organization. He also served as the Chief of International Affairs, of Access Quality International based in Thailand. He helped established over 30 AIDS care centers in Asia providing lifesaving medical services to over 30,000 people living with AIDS.
At the moment, his pet project is The Touch of Hope Foundation (THF) that he conceived in 1993 to provide healing and care to those living with HIV and AIDS. The foundation also initiates Hope projects that provide educational support for children infected and affected by HIV, livelihood support for AIDS widows and affected families and conducts research studies in HIV.
Rarely, will you find him not working. But if you do, expect him to capture moments of life in his camera or reading or even penning his thoughts. The super busy physician is also a keen photographer whose works “Photos of Hope” was exhibited at the American Center and consulates in 2006 and released his music video “Song of Hope” at the US Embassy American Center.
Thangsing gets candid and shares his dreams, works, regrets, challenges and plans with sun magazine
1. In your long and tedious journey spanning more than two decades bringing health and healing to patients, what has been the biggest challenge in areas like Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram that has many cases of HIV patients?
The challenges in the work of battling the epidemic of HIV is in many ways the same all over the world but in various proportion of ignorance of the disease, lack of awareness, apathy from society, inadequate knowledge about the disease even from healthcare providers, lack of financial resources, stigma and discrimination. These are faced in the states you mentioned however additionally at this juncture the unavailability of second line anti-retroviral drugs for those needing it a major challenge for people with HIV. Greater interest, concern in both those infected, affected and could be infected and affected need to be something that is so crucially needed even after two decades of HIV and AIDS in India and in the North East.
2. As a former director of an International HIVAIDS organization, you have represented various national and international organizations and established over 30 HIV clinics and care centers besides strengthening healthcare delivery systems, community HIV testing and prevention initiatives in India and other part of the globe. In what way and manner do you think your global exposure and expertise will help you in your attempt to solve the HIV and many other related problems in our region?
I had the privilege of working for people with HIV and AIDS in different countries and gained immense experience and insights in the subject. I have worked with and observed what works and what didn’t work. I have seen laudable works by governments and non-government organizations, individuals and at the same time pathetic efforts too. I have also witnessed many success stories where both government and community work together made a difference. I have seen how the best of AIDS clinics run and how excellent community AIDS care services are delivered. I have been involved in numerable innovative and creative awareness campaigns and these will definitely make me more equipped even as I attempt to do many things. I am sure that a combination of these experiences and observations, if applied, with active support from all quarters in the north eastern states, I am sure we will be able to make a dent in our current HIV and AIDS scenario in the region.
3. What according to you are the innovative approaches that healthcare professionals in the Northeast can adopt for better response to HIV epidemic and other communicable diseases?
The key to containing the disease lies in caring for the currently infected and educating them and the general public about the disease. The better care we provide and more aware and educated a community is, we would be naturally in a better position to check the spread of the virus. Healthcare professional should take up the issue of HIV and AIDS in a larger scale and not passing on the buck to each other. The question is are they ready – yes, each doctor should begin to participate in the battle by having information leaflets, taking time to spread the message in their own clinics and showing solidarity with those infected and affected. They should equip themselves with added information on the management of HIV and AIDS, practice universal precautions and not shy away from addressing sexual health issues.
4. Do you believe members of the society play a pivotal role in reducing the number drug users and drug menace in the society? How can they help?
Yes indeed, members of the society have a crucial role and responsibility in addressing drug use and drug users in the society. Without active community participation there can be no reduction of drug abuse. The menace of drug use fuel HIV infection among drug users. Drug use is increasing and rapidly spreading to various communities and many other states in India. The community needs to take up more concerted effort to understand why people use drugs and ponder on why more people are involved despite all the negative effects. What has the society taken up to reduce drug availability? There is a need to create alternative outlets for the youth to vent their angst and boredom in the community. The community at large can provide support to existing services by introducing value added services, detoxification, rehabilitation, re-integration of drug users into mainstream society though employment and various methods of livelihood skills building.
5. You have pioneered HIVAIDS treatment services in early 1990 in the Northeast where you set up treatment and care services, home based care services and work on harm Reduction programs for IDUs, SNEP, DIC, was that a fruitful effort in the real sense? How much of difference were you able to do then?
Being there, being always available, caring and not being judgmental are the basic tools one must possess to make a difference for those infected and affected. Far too long we have marginalized, stigmatized and treated people who are HIV infected as outcasts. Such treatment meted out to them has only made them suffer and distance them further from any kind of help that may be available. HIV treatment services in early ’90s was mostly managing the opportunistic infection but crucial in extending quality of life for many. Awareness efforts provided better understanding of the epidemic and our dedicated services help both patients and families reduce their fear and stigma and removed the any myths. Harm reduction programs like Syringe and needle exchange, creating a space to drop in – DIC, has over the years made huge difference by reducing HIV infected from say for instance, 94 per cent to as low as 12 per cent amongst drug users. I consider that an absolutely fruitful effort and we made a difference in many peoples’ lives then and continue to do so today.
6. You have worked in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Vietnam and the Quang Ninh Medical College and also collaborated with other universities on physician education on HIV? Would you plan to do a similar collaboration with universities/institutes abroad with those in the Northeast? Do you think a lot can be exchange if such collaboration happens?
Yes, indeed, with HIV treatment becoming more complex with the availability of ARV drugs newer challenges side effects has cropped up today. It is crucial to continue and constantly educate, refresh doctors, nurses and other HIV healthcare providers. I had helped start Physician education programs in many countries like India, Vietnam and China. In India, I worked closely with IGNOU on HIV Medics program. I have also established and initiated under the Touch of Hope Foundation - the AIDS Care Physician Alliance and TREAT (Technical Resource, Education and AIDS Training). We are in touch with various NGOs and educational institutions to collaborate and help similar projects with the institutions in North East. I am a trustee member of the board International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, based in Chicago and training of physicians is key to beating the HIV disease. I would certainly like to associate with those centers in the North East.
6. You also help set up the first HIV Clinic and Home Based AIDS Care program in Manipur. Besides you also set up first HIVAIDS specialty clinic, AIDS Care Home in Delhi in 1998. What were the challenges then in both places?
The task of setting up and beginning the work for patients mostly always shunned by people in professional field and marginalized and stigmatized by the community was a Himalayan task in the early 1990’s and continues to be taxing even today. The work in HIV care in Manipur was not easy but the high prevalence of HIV made the community realized the need for intervention and such awareness of the devastating disease reduce obstacles in setting up Clinic or care centers. The situation was not that different in Delhi but people were more vocal and demonstrative of their fear to the idea of having Clinics or Care homes for people with AIDS. I vividly remember having to run from pillar to post, one locality to another to find a space to operate the care for those with AIDS, the efforts to secure as space was so frustrating as most willing to rent out buildings would not agree when they learnt that it’s to care for people with AIDS. And eventually, when we find a landlord willing to rent out a place, the locality people would object and cut off electricity and water supply. It remains a challenge in both places for stigma and discrimination is unavoidable.
7. As someone who has managed and conducted multiple complex multinational, multi-disciplinary HIV healthcare projects in Asia and Pacific region, what do you think is the need of the hour in India in order to carry out correct, accurate and effective treatment towards HIV patients?
The HIV and AIDS scenario has changed dramatically and with the government providing free HIV treatment through ART centers in the country. However, the continuing spread of new infections is a matter of serious concern, plus rapidly increasing apathy, fatigue awareness programs, dreadful complacency setting in from various corners. Under these circumstances, there is a need to consider creative and innovative treatment and education approach and value added services like counseling, support groups, treatment preparedness education, and early detection of treatment failures. We also need to make the 2nd line ART available for all in all ART centers, setting up livelihood – IGP programs are all essential today to sustain effective treatment for people with HIV and AIDS.
8. What prompted you to set up the Touch of Hope Foundation? What are your ultimate objectives or goal as far as the foundation is concerned?
In the early days of HIV in India, I had experienced isolation as a physician interested in caring for people with AIDS. There were ill-informed health professionals including members of families who were not as helpful as they should be. Ignorance compounded with outright arrogance made things worse. I have also experienced the social, professional discrimination to the point that some care providers would not touch their patients with AIDS. I had always wanted to add the humanitarian portion and compassion for those infected in each and every professional intervention project, which was never a subject that was raised nor considered. I have seen the power of a concerned caring touch and its impact on the patients. It made me think of the human touch, an essential and integral part of healing and therefore giving hope. This led to the name, Foundation in 1993. We have not turned back since touching people lives and giving them a smile, more confident to meeting life.
Our mission and vision is to provide health, healing and hope to meet the fundamental needs of all people who needed it most through innovative and creative services with compassionate care to make a positive difference, give voice to the unheard, improve quality of life, restore dignity and secure a healthier and sustainable future for the community we serve each day.
9. Today, THF manages highly complex HIVAIDS and public health programs in Manipur with over 700 patients and reached out to over 2000 family members of PLHAs, particularly in Lamka town, Churachandpur district of Manipur. Would you have similar plan to reach out to other neighboring states?
We certainly would desire to work with like-minded individuals, NGOs, FBOs, CBOs, and institutions to expand the comprehensive, caring, concerned and compassionate approach to professional healthcare support services we deliver to our neighboring states and beyond.
10. What has been the overall response of the people and the state government if at all it notices and recognizes your work?
The responses by the state government under the HIV and AIDS control program mandate is encouraging but is often limited to the national AIDS control Program and leave room for additional support and service which the community can leverage.
11. What have been the sweetest part of your journey and the most difficult part?
The journey is long and often lonely but enriched by a mixture of tenderly sweet and touching moments and many extremely heart wrenchingly painful, sad and sorrowful ones. As a physician working in the field HIV and AIDS for over 20 years, life is different from colleagues' in general clinical practice. The work is demanding as, once you have a patient they are your patients for a long period of time. In any cases, I have become an honorary family member to many families; which to me is the sweetest part of the my work in the field of AIDS care, which paradoxically is also the most difficult part especially in the earlier years (pre-ARV era) when you lost a patient so frequently. I have seen too many deaths and as a caring care provider it’s not easy to maintain a professional stance when you lost a patient who has become ‘family’. There were too many of those moments, which to me are the most difficult part of being an AIDS care physician.
12. Where do we see you five years from now?
The opportunity to touch people’s lives, to make a difference, to create positive change and save lives and bring hope is a truly fulfilling experience and I shall be doing what I do. I want to make each day count and in the next five years, it is my hope that The Touch of Hope Foundation will expand and extend its mission of compassionate professional service to many more people in many more places. We will also concentrate on mentoring, capacity building, strengthening of individuals, organizations to better their services to achieve international standards and enable long-term sustainability.
Richard Gere was touched by his work and presented him a motorbike. He’s hobnobbed with the likes of Melinda Gates, among others, deliberating on issues that are closest to his heart: HIV/AIDS. Chinkholal Thangsing is no ordinary physician. He’s someone who takes the Hippocratic Oath a little too seriously and literally committed his life for the welfare of HIV patients. The MBBS from Manipur’s North Eastern Regional Medical College and a Postgraduate Fellow from Vellore’s Christian Academy of Medical Science is a jet setter who flies across the continent collaborating with experts and dignitaries to find solutions on reducing drug menace and find new healing solutions to HIV patients. When he isn’t in New York City, you’ll probably find him somewhere in a quaint village in the North of Thailand like Chiang Mai treating patients and listening to their sad tales.
A recipient of many prestigious awards including the Royal Order of Sahametrei that was conferred by the Royal Government of Cambodia for distinguished humanitarian work in public health and HIV, Thangsing is also a recipient of the Karmaveer Purushkaar award in 2009 by the Indian Confederation of NGOs (ICONGO) for his decade long HIV work.Trained in medicine, HIVAIDS and Applied Psychology, his long experience has taken him all over the world. He’s worked for over 20 years as a clinician; a HIV specialist, an educator and an activist for universal access to treatment and fight stigma and discrimination.
Thangsing’s career in HIV management started in 1990 and never looked back since then. He pioneered the need to give clinical as well as psychological care to patients and advocate for the rights of people with HIVAIDS. He established AIDS care programs in Manipur in 1993 and set up the first AIDS Care home in Delhi in 1998 when HIV patients where shunned like outcasts. He serves on various national and international boards, committees and different forums.
Some of his precious stints included heading the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, USA’s largest non-profit AIDS organization. He also served as the Chief of International Affairs, of Access Quality International based in Thailand. He helped established over 30 AIDS care centers in Asia providing lifesaving medical services to over 30,000 people living with AIDS.
At the moment, his pet project is The Touch of Hope Foundation (THF) that he conceived in 1993 to provide healing and care to those living with HIV and AIDS. The foundation also initiates Hope projects that provide educational support for children infected and affected by HIV, livelihood support for AIDS widows and affected families and conducts research studies in HIV.
Rarely, will you find him not working. But if you do, expect him to capture moments of life in his camera or reading or even penning his thoughts. The super busy physician is also a keen photographer whose works “Photos of Hope” was exhibited at the American Center and consulates in 2006 and released his music video “Song of Hope” at the US Embassy American Center.
Thangsing gets candid and shares his dreams, works, regrets, challenges and plans with sun magazine
1. In your long and tedious journey spanning more than two decades bringing health and healing to patients, what has been the biggest challenge in areas like Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram that has many cases of HIV patients?
The challenges in the work of battling the epidemic of HIV is in many ways the same all over the world but in various proportion of ignorance of the disease, lack of awareness, apathy from society, inadequate knowledge about the disease even from healthcare providers, lack of financial resources, stigma and discrimination. These are faced in the states you mentioned however additionally at this juncture the unavailability of second line anti-retroviral drugs for those needing it a major challenge for people with HIV. Greater interest, concern in both those infected, affected and could be infected and affected need to be something that is so crucially needed even after two decades of HIV and AIDS in India and in the North East.
2. As a former director of an International HIVAIDS organization, you have represented various national and international organizations and established over 30 HIV clinics and care centers besides strengthening healthcare delivery systems, community HIV testing and prevention initiatives in India and other part of the globe. In what way and manner do you think your global exposure and expertise will help you in your attempt to solve the HIV and many other related problems in our region?
I had the privilege of working for people with HIV and AIDS in different countries and gained immense experience and insights in the subject. I have worked with and observed what works and what didn’t work. I have seen laudable works by governments and non-government organizations, individuals and at the same time pathetic efforts too. I have also witnessed many success stories where both government and community work together made a difference. I have seen how the best of AIDS clinics run and how excellent community AIDS care services are delivered. I have been involved in numerable innovative and creative awareness campaigns and these will definitely make me more equipped even as I attempt to do many things. I am sure that a combination of these experiences and observations, if applied, with active support from all quarters in the north eastern states, I am sure we will be able to make a dent in our current HIV and AIDS scenario in the region.
3. What according to you are the innovative approaches that healthcare professionals in the Northeast can adopt for better response to HIV epidemic and other communicable diseases?
The key to containing the disease lies in caring for the currently infected and educating them and the general public about the disease. The better care we provide and more aware and educated a community is, we would be naturally in a better position to check the spread of the virus. Healthcare professional should take up the issue of HIV and AIDS in a larger scale and not passing on the buck to each other. The question is are they ready – yes, each doctor should begin to participate in the battle by having information leaflets, taking time to spread the message in their own clinics and showing solidarity with those infected and affected. They should equip themselves with added information on the management of HIV and AIDS, practice universal precautions and not shy away from addressing sexual health issues.
4. Do you believe members of the society play a pivotal role in reducing the number drug users and drug menace in the society? How can they help?
Yes indeed, members of the society have a crucial role and responsibility in addressing drug use and drug users in the society. Without active community participation there can be no reduction of drug abuse. The menace of drug use fuel HIV infection among drug users. Drug use is increasing and rapidly spreading to various communities and many other states in India. The community needs to take up more concerted effort to understand why people use drugs and ponder on why more people are involved despite all the negative effects. What has the society taken up to reduce drug availability? There is a need to create alternative outlets for the youth to vent their angst and boredom in the community. The community at large can provide support to existing services by introducing value added services, detoxification, rehabilitation, re-integration of drug users into mainstream society though employment and various methods of livelihood skills building.
5. You have pioneered HIVAIDS treatment services in early 1990 in the Northeast where you set up treatment and care services, home based care services and work on harm Reduction programs for IDUs, SNEP, DIC, was that a fruitful effort in the real sense? How much of difference were you able to do then?
Being there, being always available, caring and not being judgmental are the basic tools one must possess to make a difference for those infected and affected. Far too long we have marginalized, stigmatized and treated people who are HIV infected as outcasts. Such treatment meted out to them has only made them suffer and distance them further from any kind of help that may be available. HIV treatment services in early ’90s was mostly managing the opportunistic infection but crucial in extending quality of life for many. Awareness efforts provided better understanding of the epidemic and our dedicated services help both patients and families reduce their fear and stigma and removed the any myths. Harm reduction programs like Syringe and needle exchange, creating a space to drop in – DIC, has over the years made huge difference by reducing HIV infected from say for instance, 94 per cent to as low as 12 per cent amongst drug users. I consider that an absolutely fruitful effort and we made a difference in many peoples’ lives then and continue to do so today.
6. You have worked in collaboration with Ministry of Health, Vietnam and the Quang Ninh Medical College and also collaborated with other universities on physician education on HIV? Would you plan to do a similar collaboration with universities/institutes abroad with those in the Northeast? Do you think a lot can be exchange if such collaboration happens?
Yes, indeed, with HIV treatment becoming more complex with the availability of ARV drugs newer challenges side effects has cropped up today. It is crucial to continue and constantly educate, refresh doctors, nurses and other HIV healthcare providers. I had helped start Physician education programs in many countries like India, Vietnam and China. In India, I worked closely with IGNOU on HIV Medics program. I have also established and initiated under the Touch of Hope Foundation - the AIDS Care Physician Alliance and TREAT (Technical Resource, Education and AIDS Training). We are in touch with various NGOs and educational institutions to collaborate and help similar projects with the institutions in North East. I am a trustee member of the board International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care, based in Chicago and training of physicians is key to beating the HIV disease. I would certainly like to associate with those centers in the North East.
6. You also help set up the first HIV Clinic and Home Based AIDS Care program in Manipur. Besides you also set up first HIVAIDS specialty clinic, AIDS Care Home in Delhi in 1998. What were the challenges then in both places?
The task of setting up and beginning the work for patients mostly always shunned by people in professional field and marginalized and stigmatized by the community was a Himalayan task in the early 1990’s and continues to be taxing even today. The work in HIV care in Manipur was not easy but the high prevalence of HIV made the community realized the need for intervention and such awareness of the devastating disease reduce obstacles in setting up Clinic or care centers. The situation was not that different in Delhi but people were more vocal and demonstrative of their fear to the idea of having Clinics or Care homes for people with AIDS. I vividly remember having to run from pillar to post, one locality to another to find a space to operate the care for those with AIDS, the efforts to secure as space was so frustrating as most willing to rent out buildings would not agree when they learnt that it’s to care for people with AIDS. And eventually, when we find a landlord willing to rent out a place, the locality people would object and cut off electricity and water supply. It remains a challenge in both places for stigma and discrimination is unavoidable.
7. As someone who has managed and conducted multiple complex multinational, multi-disciplinary HIV healthcare projects in Asia and Pacific region, what do you think is the need of the hour in India in order to carry out correct, accurate and effective treatment towards HIV patients?
The HIV and AIDS scenario has changed dramatically and with the government providing free HIV treatment through ART centers in the country. However, the continuing spread of new infections is a matter of serious concern, plus rapidly increasing apathy, fatigue awareness programs, dreadful complacency setting in from various corners. Under these circumstances, there is a need to consider creative and innovative treatment and education approach and value added services like counseling, support groups, treatment preparedness education, and early detection of treatment failures. We also need to make the 2nd line ART available for all in all ART centers, setting up livelihood – IGP programs are all essential today to sustain effective treatment for people with HIV and AIDS.
8. What prompted you to set up the Touch of Hope Foundation? What are your ultimate objectives or goal as far as the foundation is concerned?
In the early days of HIV in India, I had experienced isolation as a physician interested in caring for people with AIDS. There were ill-informed health professionals including members of families who were not as helpful as they should be. Ignorance compounded with outright arrogance made things worse. I have also experienced the social, professional discrimination to the point that some care providers would not touch their patients with AIDS. I had always wanted to add the humanitarian portion and compassion for those infected in each and every professional intervention project, which was never a subject that was raised nor considered. I have seen the power of a concerned caring touch and its impact on the patients. It made me think of the human touch, an essential and integral part of healing and therefore giving hope. This led to the name, Foundation in 1993. We have not turned back since touching people lives and giving them a smile, more confident to meeting life.
Our mission and vision is to provide health, healing and hope to meet the fundamental needs of all people who needed it most through innovative and creative services with compassionate care to make a positive difference, give voice to the unheard, improve quality of life, restore dignity and secure a healthier and sustainable future for the community we serve each day.
9. Today, THF manages highly complex HIVAIDS and public health programs in Manipur with over 700 patients and reached out to over 2000 family members of PLHAs, particularly in Lamka town, Churachandpur district of Manipur. Would you have similar plan to reach out to other neighboring states?
We certainly would desire to work with like-minded individuals, NGOs, FBOs, CBOs, and institutions to expand the comprehensive, caring, concerned and compassionate approach to professional healthcare support services we deliver to our neighboring states and beyond.
10. What has been the overall response of the people and the state government if at all it notices and recognizes your work?
The responses by the state government under the HIV and AIDS control program mandate is encouraging but is often limited to the national AIDS control Program and leave room for additional support and service which the community can leverage.
11. What have been the sweetest part of your journey and the most difficult part?
The journey is long and often lonely but enriched by a mixture of tenderly sweet and touching moments and many extremely heart wrenchingly painful, sad and sorrowful ones. As a physician working in the field HIV and AIDS for over 20 years, life is different from colleagues' in general clinical practice. The work is demanding as, once you have a patient they are your patients for a long period of time. In any cases, I have become an honorary family member to many families; which to me is the sweetest part of the my work in the field of AIDS care, which paradoxically is also the most difficult part especially in the earlier years (pre-ARV era) when you lost a patient so frequently. I have seen too many deaths and as a caring care provider it’s not easy to maintain a professional stance when you lost a patient who has become ‘family’. There were too many of those moments, which to me are the most difficult part of being an AIDS care physician.
12. Where do we see you five years from now?
The opportunity to touch people’s lives, to make a difference, to create positive change and save lives and bring hope is a truly fulfilling experience and I shall be doing what I do. I want to make each day count and in the next five years, it is my hope that The Touch of Hope Foundation will expand and extend its mission of compassionate professional service to many more people in many more places. We will also concentrate on mentoring, capacity building, strengthening of individuals, organizations to better their services to achieve international standards and enable long-term sustainability.
C Thangsing
Dr. Chinkholal Thangsing, MBBS, FCAMS a recipient of the Royal Order of Sahametrei awarded by the Royal Government of Cambodia for his dedicated and distinguished humanitarian work in HIV and public health in 2008, the Karmaveer Purushkaar in 2009 by the Indian Confederation of NGOs (ICONGO) for his decade long HIV work. He graduated from North Eastern Regional Medical College, Manipur and a Postgraduate Fellow of the Christian Academy of Medical Sciences, Vellore. Trained in medicine, HIVAIDS, Applied Psychology has and experience of over twenty years as a clinician, a HIV specialist, an educator and an activist for universal access to treatment and fight stigma and discrimination. He passionately promotes professionalism and combined compassion as crucial component in the care and support for people, especially those living with HIV and AIDS. He dedicated his medical career, personal life and resources to promote positive changes in the basic attitude and perception within societies to combat the devastating epidemic.
Dr. Thangsing’s career in HIV management started in 1990, he provides clinical and psychological care for patients and advocate for the rights of people with HIVAIDS. He established AIDS care programs in Manipur in 1993 and help set up the first AIDS Care home in Delhi in 1998. He extend his expertise and associate himself with agencies, organizations often wearing diverse portfolio - as a Specialist, a Consultant, Medical Director, Trainer, Activist and advisor for non-profit organizations or for profit organizations in Asia. He heads HIV Programs for International organizations such as Project Concern International as its Director. He collaborates with UN agencies; with pharmaceutical companies to build capacity and improve treatment skills of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to ensure delivery of high quality care services through committed compassionate care methods. He established Agency for Community Care and Development (ACCAD) in 1999 and initiated a network of physicians providing HIV care services - ‘AIDS Care Physicians Alliance’ (ACPA), AIDS Care Treatment Coalition and started the ‘The Touch of Hope Foundation’ in 1993. He serves on various Boards and Committees, forums and is a Trustee at the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC), an Advisory Board Member of Mainline Holland, Member of the Board of Ethical committees such as the LRS Institute of TB and Allied Chest Diseases, Asia Pacific NeuroAIDS Consortium, Asia Pacific Pediatric HIVAIDS Consortium, Member of the Editorial Board of American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM), advisory committee of UNITAID.
His clinical expertise is widely recognized and he connects with patients and clients and e-consults, writes and contributed on medical issues, HIVAIDS, sexual health, preventive medicine, safe sex behavior for national dailies and magazines including Marie Claire. He is keen photographer and The US Embassy showcase his work “Photos of Hope” exhibiting at the American Center and consulates in 2006 and released his music video “Song of Hope” at the US Embassy American Center, New Delhi.
He was the Asia Pacific Bureau Chief of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, USA’s largest non-profit AIDS organization and established centers that delivers cutting edge HIV clinical care and support services in six countries Viz. Cambodia, China, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Nepal working in partnership and collaboration with governments, national and international non-governmental organizations. He also served as the Chief of International Affairs, of Access Quality International 2010 - 2011 based in Thailand. He excels in program design, development of strategic plans, establishing programs ensuring its effective and efficient implementation, maintaining quality, monitor and evaluate comprehensive healthcare treatment programs to help strengthen healthcare systems. He manages complex multinational, multidisciplinary healthcare projects across multi sectoral, multi cultural groups working with multi-sectoral agencies including UN, Ministries of Health and Civil societies in the Asia Pacific region.
His excellent cross-cultural communication and interactive skills help establish and create a strong partnership with major stakeholders that contributed to enhancing effective response and secure high impact results in the battle of the HIV epidemic. He help established over 30 AIDS care centers in Asia providing life saving medical services to over 30,000 people living with AIDS.
________________________________________
The Touch of Hope Foundation (THF) today, operates in northeastern India and provides comprehensive medical and psycho-social care and support services to over 1000 people living with HIV and AIDS, reached over 3000 family member of those infected and affected. The foundation also initiated Hope projects that provide educational support for children infected and affected by HIV, livelihood support for AIDS widows and affected families and conducts research studies in HIV. THF reaches out to over 100,000 people though its awareness programs. The Foundation is a registered non – profit, humanitarian non-governmental organization in India.
Contact:
Dr. Chinkholal Thangsing
The Touch of Hope Foundation
902/Gh7, Orchid Gardens, Suncity, Sector 54, Gurgaon 122002
cthangsing@touchofhopefoundation.org
www.touchofhopefoundation.org
(+91) 9818270687(Mobile)
Dr. Thangsing’s career in HIV management started in 1990, he provides clinical and psychological care for patients and advocate for the rights of people with HIVAIDS. He established AIDS care programs in Manipur in 1993 and help set up the first AIDS Care home in Delhi in 1998. He extend his expertise and associate himself with agencies, organizations often wearing diverse portfolio - as a Specialist, a Consultant, Medical Director, Trainer, Activist and advisor for non-profit organizations or for profit organizations in Asia. He heads HIV Programs for International organizations such as Project Concern International as its Director. He collaborates with UN agencies; with pharmaceutical companies to build capacity and improve treatment skills of doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals to ensure delivery of high quality care services through committed compassionate care methods. He established Agency for Community Care and Development (ACCAD) in 1999 and initiated a network of physicians providing HIV care services - ‘AIDS Care Physicians Alliance’ (ACPA), AIDS Care Treatment Coalition and started the ‘The Touch of Hope Foundation’ in 1993. He serves on various Boards and Committees, forums and is a Trustee at the International Association of Physicians in AIDS Care (IAPAC), an Advisory Board Member of Mainline Holland, Member of the Board of Ethical committees such as the LRS Institute of TB and Allied Chest Diseases, Asia Pacific NeuroAIDS Consortium, Asia Pacific Pediatric HIVAIDS Consortium, Member of the Editorial Board of American Academy of HIV Medicine (AAHIVM), advisory committee of UNITAID.
His clinical expertise is widely recognized and he connects with patients and clients and e-consults, writes and contributed on medical issues, HIVAIDS, sexual health, preventive medicine, safe sex behavior for national dailies and magazines including Marie Claire. He is keen photographer and The US Embassy showcase his work “Photos of Hope” exhibiting at the American Center and consulates in 2006 and released his music video “Song of Hope” at the US Embassy American Center, New Delhi.
He was the Asia Pacific Bureau Chief of AIDS Healthcare Foundation, USA’s largest non-profit AIDS organization and established centers that delivers cutting edge HIV clinical care and support services in six countries Viz. Cambodia, China, India, Thailand, Vietnam and Nepal working in partnership and collaboration with governments, national and international non-governmental organizations. He also served as the Chief of International Affairs, of Access Quality International 2010 - 2011 based in Thailand. He excels in program design, development of strategic plans, establishing programs ensuring its effective and efficient implementation, maintaining quality, monitor and evaluate comprehensive healthcare treatment programs to help strengthen healthcare systems. He manages complex multinational, multidisciplinary healthcare projects across multi sectoral, multi cultural groups working with multi-sectoral agencies including UN, Ministries of Health and Civil societies in the Asia Pacific region.
His excellent cross-cultural communication and interactive skills help establish and create a strong partnership with major stakeholders that contributed to enhancing effective response and secure high impact results in the battle of the HIV epidemic. He help established over 30 AIDS care centers in Asia providing life saving medical services to over 30,000 people living with AIDS.
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The Touch of Hope Foundation (THF) today, operates in northeastern India and provides comprehensive medical and psycho-social care and support services to over 1000 people living with HIV and AIDS, reached over 3000 family member of those infected and affected. The foundation also initiated Hope projects that provide educational support for children infected and affected by HIV, livelihood support for AIDS widows and affected families and conducts research studies in HIV. THF reaches out to over 100,000 people though its awareness programs. The Foundation is a registered non – profit, humanitarian non-governmental organization in India.
Contact:
Dr. Chinkholal Thangsing
The Touch of Hope Foundation
902/Gh7, Orchid Gardens, Suncity, Sector 54, Gurgaon 122002
cthangsing@touchofhopefoundation.org
www.touchofhopefoundation.org
(+91) 9818270687(Mobile)
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