HIV/AIDS Care for 600 Migrant Workers in India

Summary

600 industrial workers of Surat, India, receive free HIV care. Medicine, nutrition and counseling support for 80 patients a month, improving health, productivity and family life.

What is the issue, problem, or challenge?

The beneficiaries of the project are migrant men working in the diamond cutting and polishing industry. Their unique social condition, combined with lack of prevention information, quality services and alternative sources of entertainment push the men into unsafe sex. Their risk of contracting HIV is also increased by untreated sexually transmitted diseases. The project focuses on treatment and psychosocial support to men living with HIV so that they remain healthier and employed longer.

How will this project solve this problem?

The key activities are provision of HIV/AIDS education at worksites by outreach educators that are linked with HIV counseling, testing, and treatment facilities by trained personnel. The men are also supported with adequate nutrition.

Potential Long Term Impact

With access to HIV care and treatment, the project expects to promote behavior change in urban male migrants and prevent transmission to the spouse in the village. This should reduce transmission of HIV in rural communities.

Project Message

“Rural to urban migration of men is the key factor in transmission of HIV in the rural communities in India. Setting up services for these men in the cities brings them into care early.”
- Dr Vibha Marfatia, Director

Additional Documentation

This project has provided additional documentation in a Microsoft Word file (projdoc.doc).

Resources