Health - HIV/AIDS education and prevention
· Targeted intervention (TI) project:
· Integrated Counseling and Treatment Centre (ICTC)
· CFHI – HIV and public health challenges in India
· Reducing the risk of HIV among drug users (a DFID initiative)
· Prevention of transmission of HIV among drug users in SAARC countries (H-13)
· Empowering communities on primary prevention of drugs and HIV
Targeted intervention (TI) project
Objective
· To focus our HIV transmission prevention efforts on the highest-risk groups, namely truckers, commercial sex workers (CSWs), men who have sex with men (MSMs), and intravenous drug users (IDUs)
SPYM has been implementing a comprehensive HIV/AIDS prevention programme through targeted interventions with the mobile population of truckers and their families since 1995. Since 2006, we have been working with injecting drug users; CSWs, MSMs, the transgender population and young people. We have been operating with the support of the Delhi State AIDS Control Society, NACO and the Government of India, on two highways: Delhi-Jaipur Highway (NH-8), Delhi-Mathura Highway (NH-2).
Services
· Treatment of STDs
· Counseling for STDs/HIV/AIDS prevention
· Condom promotion
· Awareness generation regarding STDs/HIV/AIDS through Behavior Change Communication session i.e. One to One and One to Group, Audio visual shows, Street Plays, Panchayat Sensitization Programmes and various other methods.
· Counseling for improving couple relationship
· Counseling on issues related with sex and sexuality
· Medicine to STD clients
· Peer education
· Partner management
· Referral network and linkages with drug demand reduction programs, HIV testing, DOTS and various other care & support services.
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Achievements · 171,055 CSW, MSM, Eunuchs, IDUs & Truckers were provided regular access of quality condoms over the 2006/2007 period… · 1635 STI cases were treated and counseled in two centres over a period of a year. · Over a period of one year, the Behaviour Change Communication program have reached the following groups of people: 984 CSWs, 779 MSMs, 1132 IDUs and 28 561 truckers.
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 A peer educator at our TI program in Laal Kuan, South Delhi |
It is estimated that only 25-30% of HIV positive people in India are aware of their status, and it takes an average of 5-7 years for an HIV positive individual to develop AIDS. In order to tackle the AIDS epidemic in the best possible manner, it follows that we must try to make people aware of their status, so that, if they are HIV positive, they do not infect others and that they may pursue life-saving treatment. In accordance with the National AIDS Control Program, Phase-III (an initiative of NACO), we have established an Integrated Counseling and Treatment Centre (ICTC) in Laal Kuan, South Delhi.
Objectives
· To provide easily accessible, free HIV testing
· To educate among HIV-positive clients the basic modes of transmission
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Activities/Services · A full time lab technician is available for testing · Pre and post-testing counseling · Referrals to medical services at hospitals, other NGOs and anti-retroviral treatment services
Achievements · Over the 2006-2007 period, the following HIV positive cases have been detected: 6 MSMs (out of 126 tested), 3 IDUs (out of 48 tested) and 20 truckers (out of 251 tested)
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 Our ICTC site at Laal Kaun, South Delhi |
CFHI – HIV and public health challenges in India
Objective
· To broaden public health knowledge, provide exposure to a different culture and develop creativity in problem solving.
This program exposes students to the public and clinical health efforts in Northern India to stem the spread of AIDS. Students witness first-hand the avenues of treatment for PHAs: in a hospital or clinical setting, in a community with an NGO, or in a care home. Participants spend two weeks in Delhi, a day in Mewat (on the outskirts of Delhi) and one week in Jaipur.
Achievements
· 22 students from all over the world have been a part of this programme from April 2006 to March 2007.
Reducing the risk of HIV among drug users
SPYM believes that the only approach that can stem the tide of HIV epidemics is a multi-sector response involving NGOs, CBOs, medical professionals, bilateral agencies, research agencies and a host of other government organisations. Through the PLI project, SPYM has tried to evolve an adequate platform for developing a network of alliances which are crucial for developing a multi-sector response. This SPYM initiative is a partnership with 300 NGOs and 7 Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs), and the primary funder is the Department for International Development (DFID).
Objectives
· To increase the number of sites where peer-led interventions for preventing HIV among drug users are available.
· To facilitate the cooperation between NGOs and Government Organisations (i.e. State AIDS Control Societies, Social Welfare Department, National Institute of Social Defence and Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Govt. of India)
Activities/Services
As a project secretariat the responsibilities of SPYM were to:
· Manage the implementation of the National Component;
· Provide technical support to the Regional Resource and Training Centres (RRTCs);
· Monitor the implementation process of the project;
· Coordinate with National Institute of Social Defence (NISD), Ministry of Social Justice & Empowerment (MSJE), National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), Govt. of India, State AIDS Control Societies (SACSs), State Social Welfare Departments, DFID, UNODC, UNAIDS, and other stakeholders;
· Develop need based BCC/IEC materials for the stakeholders and
· Manage the finances of the project at the national level etc.
Achievements
· 300 NGOs were contracted as partners to implement the countrywide project on reducing the risk of HIV among drug users through Peer-led Intervention.
· 1200 Peer Educators and NGOs Project support staff were capacitated to enable them to provide information on the risk reduction, safe practices as well as referrals to health care facilities. These training courses were provided by SPYM (RRTC- North) and another six regional RRTCs.
· 67,314 substance users including Injecting Drug Users have been contacted.
· 1,84,336 clients have been provided BCC services as part of follow up services.
· 43,373 clients have been provided referral services.
Prevention of transmission of HIV among drug users in SAARC countries (H-13)
A project on reducing the risk of HIV among the Injecting drug users (IDUs) is being implemented by SPYM in Northern India in partnership with NGOs and UNODC.
Objectives
· To improve quality coverage of injecting drug users, to prevent the spread of HIV among this population.
· To improve both quality and coverage of Drug Demand Reduction services in the country in order to raise awareness of the adverse consequences of drug use including HIV/AIDS, and to reduce risky behaviour among drug using populations to break the chain of HIV transmission
Activities/Services
· Provision of sterilized Needle and Syringes
· Oral Substitution Treatment
· Abscess Management services
· Overdose management services
· Individual/ Group Counseling and Family Counseling
· Counseling and De‑addiction camps
· Psychotherapy, Family Work and Recreational therapy.
· Home Visits
· Film shows on Substance abuse, IDU and HIV infection
· HIV/AIDS prevention education
· Linkages & referral services to VCTC, DOTS and other care & support services
Objectives
· To reduce the vulnerability of female drug users and female partners of drug users and in this way
· To reverse the overall feminization of the HIV epidemic in India
· To fortify the technical capacities of women's groups and NGOs working on drug demand
· To reduce HIV-related vulnerabilities among women partners of male drug users
This project was initiated in December 2005, with the assistance of UNODC.
Activities/Services
· Awareness generation and counseling regarding STIs/HIV/AIDS and harm reduction
· STIs risk assessment and risk reduction treatment and referrals of clients to establish linkages with the need based health care facilities /services
· Condom Promotion
· Counseling for improving couple relationships
· Counseling on problems related with sex and sexuality
· Organizing different programmes for enabling environment and for sensitization programmes to mobilize the support of Panchayats, community members and other stakeholders
· Outreach services through peer educators referral services to Drug Abuse Prevention & treatment centers, Dots, support groups and related health care facilities
· Procurement of drugs for clients with STIs.
· Follow up of STI cases through networking with other clinics/NGOs.
· Regular capacity building training programmes were organized by SPYM for the staff & Peer Educators on how to deal with the health concerns of female drug users and partners of drug users.
· Outreach Counseling camps were organized for Voluntary Blood testing of the target population groups to avail the services of ICTC
· Monthly review meetings were organized with the staff to monitor project progress
· Formation of Self help group for improving the financial condition of the women drug users or partners of drug users.
Reducing substance use related HIV vulnerabilities in female drug users and female partners of male drug users
Objectives
· To reduce the vulnerability of female drug users and female partners of drug users and in this way
· To reverse the overall feminization of the HIV epidemic in India
· To fortify the technical capacities of women's groups and NGOs working on drug demand
· To reduce HIV-related vulnerabilities among women partners of male drug users
This project was initiated in December 2005, with the assistance of UNODC.
Activities/Services
· Awareness generation and counseling regarding STIs/HIV/AIDS and harm reduction
· STIs risk assessment and risk reduction treatment and referrals of clients to establish linkages with the need based health care facilities /services
· Condom Promotion
· Counseling for improving couple relationships
· Counseling on problems related with sex and sexuality
· Organizing different programmes for enabling environment and for sensitization programmes to mobilize the support of Panchayats, community members and other stakeholders
· Outreach services through peer educators referral services to Drug Abuse Prevention & treatment centers, Dots, support groups and related health care facilities
· Procurement of drugs for clients with STIs.
· Follow up of STI cases through networking with other clinics/NGOs.
· Regular capacity building training programmes were organized by SPYM for the staff & Peer Educators on how to deal with the health concerns of Female drug users and partners of drug users.
· Outreach Counseling camps were organized for Voluntary Blood testing of the target population groups to avail the services of ICTC
· Monthly review meetings were organized with the staff to monitor the project progress.
· Formation of Self help group for improving the financial condition of the women drug users or partners of drug users.
Objectives
· To prevent and reduce the abuse of drugs and spread of drug-related HIV in Delhi.
The project on “Empowering communities for the prevention of drugs and HIV in India” was implemented by Society for Promotion of Youth & Masses in partnership with United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in South Delhi.
Activities/Services
· Meetings with community leaders and stakeholders
· Awareness generation activities (in particular public mime shows and puppet shows, leaflet distribution)
· Referrals to our drug treatment cum rehabilitation centre, various STI clinics, our Integrated Counseling and Treatment Centre, the DOT centre, etc.
· Follow up services and home visits
Achievements
· Number of individuals given referrals: 299
· No. of people given counseling (IDUs and their families): 244
Empowering communities on primary prevention of drugs and HIV:
Objectives
· To reduce drug use and the spread of drug-related HIV in India
· To strengthen the capacity of government and civil society organizations to prevent drug abuse and scale-up interventions
· This project was initiated in December 2005, with the assistance of UNODC.
Activities/Services
· Development of support groups
· Provision the backup for referral and care.
· To ensure that the peer educators and health worker are in contact and working with local SHGs.
· Awareness generation and counseling regarding STIs/HIV/AIDS and drug use
· STIs risk assessment and risk reduction treatment and referrals of clients to establish linkages with the need based health care facilities /services
· Condom promotion
· Counseling for improving couple relationship
· Counseling on problems related with sex and sexuality
· Organizing different programmes for an enabling environment and for sensitization programmes to mobilize the support of Panchayats, community members and other stakeholders
· HIV pre/post-test counseling
· Outreach services through peer educators
· Referral services to drug abuse prevention & treatment centers, DOTS, support groups and related health care facilities
· Procurement of drugs for clients with STIs.
· Follow up of STI cases through networking with other clinics/NGOs.
· Regular capacity building training programmes
· Outreach Counseling camps were organized for Voluntary Blood testing of the target population groups to avail the services of ICTC