Thiruvananthapuram: August 14, 2008- At a time when stigma and discrimination are rampant in the society against the HIV-positives, the Kerala State AIDS Control Society (KSACS) has decided to become a role model for others.

For the first time the KSACS will be appointing a GIPA (Greater Involvement of People Living with HIV/AIDS) coordinator, a post exclusively meant for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA).

This will also see an HIV-positive person securing a presence in the policymaking body of KSACS. The decision was taken by the Kerala Government based on the National AIDS Control Programme-III guidelines. Kerala will be the first state to dedicate such a post to the PLHA.