Raising awareness of HIV/AIDS

14 June 2007

India has an estimated 2 - 3.1 million people living with HIV, behind only South Africa and Nigeria in terms of the number of people infected.

Conservative social and cultural attitudes have meant that sexual and reproductive health education has not been included in the school curriculum. As a result, young people's knowledge of reproductive health, including HIV and AIDS, is limited.

How we are helping

Since July 2004, Y Care International has been supporting a network of YMCAs in four Indian cities: Jamshedpur (Jharkhand), Mangalore (Karnataka), Nagpur (Maharashtra) and Patna (Bihar) to raise awareness of the AIDS epidemic.

Each of the targeted cities and surrounding districts are growing fast and have a rising inflow of migrants from other parts of the country, as well as thousands of truck drivers passing through them every day. This has led to a high demand for the services of sex workers, and an alarming increase in the spread of HIV.

The project works to increase knowledge of HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and promote safe sex practices among at risk groups. It will directly benefit over 32,000 young people (aged 15 - 30), including those living in slums, school drop outs and marginalized rural youth, who lack access to basic education and health services.

The project also works with migrant groups, truck drivers and their cleaners (major clients of sex workers), female sex workers and sexual minorities.

Literature and educational materials have been developed for sex workers and truck drivers who will be trained as peer educators in safe sex practices, STI and HIV prevention, and counselling skills. Owners of ‘dhabas' (restaurants frequented by truck drivers) have also been trained to educate truck drivers and cleaners through individual and group counselling.

In schools and colleges, leaflets and magazines on HIV and AIDS are being distributed to students. Sexual and reproductive health is also being added to the curricula.

The project is also challenging the stigma faced by people living with HIV and AIDS by lobbying local medical practitioners, as well as offering improved medical support through mobile health clinics.

What we hope to achieve

• Increased understanding and awareness about HIV and AIDS and sexually transmitted infections among those at risk of infection
• A change in attitudes towards safer sex practices and an increase in the number of referrals for STI and HIV testing amongst all at risk groups
• Improved access to testing, care and support facilities
• Bringing together sexual minority groups and people living with HIV and AIDS in order to challenge the stigma and discrimination they face
• Sharing good practice between Indian YMCAs and other organisations involved in HIV and AIDS work to increase impact