Anandi Yuvaraj is a member of International Community of Women Living with HIV (ICW Global) based in Coimbatore. Anandi spearheaded the Asia Pacific Regional Chapter of ICW in the capacity of Regional Coordinator from 2008-2012. During this period, she led a community based research using PLHIV Stigma Index tool to measure the level of stigma experienced by PLHIV in Tamilnadu and it has been scaled up now to the Northeast states with UNAIDS support. Prior to joining ICW, Anandi worked as Program Manager for HIV and Sexual Reproductive Health at PATH’s India office, where she managed an advocacy project of the Global Campaign for Microbicides (GCM) in India. She was also employed by the International HIV/AIDS Alliance in India as Senior Programme Officer for over five years. During this time she got involved with the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, TB and Malaria (GFATM) as the Board representative of the Communities Delegation (2004-06). During her tenure, the communities delegation constituency got voting rights which formed the basis for fighting for voting rights at CCM level and other international and national policy making mechanisms.
Anandi has played a crucial role in mobilising the PLHIV community and civil society in India to influence the NACP- III and IV through national and regional level consultations. She is also a member of the national advisory board of the Indian chapter of IAVI. Anandi also served on the Board of the International Partnership on Microbicides (IPM) for 5 years. Since testing HIV-positive in 1997, she had played a vital role in broadening political and social responses to the epidemic in India. She began her work by establishing a local organisation to support fellow people living with HIV in her own community, which served as a model CBO work for the state. She has been instrumental in mobilising communities affected by HIV/AIDS to raise their voices, needs and concerns to build supportive environments..Anandi obtained a Master of Philosophy (M.Phil) degree in Zoology from Madras University in Tamil Nadu. She has gained strong experience in policy and advocacy, programme and financial management of HIV and AIDS programs at various levels.
Anandi most recently worked for ASAP as local associate in India designing and implementing a short study as part of multi-country project ASAP is undertaking for Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) on Marketing dynamics of HIV Diagnostics with a focus on HIV viral load tests (VLT), including point-of-care (PoC) diagnostics.
I strongly believe that communities affected by HIV have powers unlimited which need to be tapped for bringing in change in their lives and their immediate communities. So let us create opportunities for them to play a critical role in shaping the future response to HIV and other development domains that affect their lives.