By Vibha Marfatia | Project leader
SAHAS is a development organization based in Surat, India working on health, education, livelihoods issues among the most marginalized communities in the society.
The organisation has undertaken work with men employed in the diamond cutting and polishing industry in the city which is reputed to be the largest in the world for supply of polished diamonds. Majority of the men are migrant labour from rural parts of Gujarat and other states of India and the special concern is their vulnerability to HIV and AIDS while in the city. Their single status, peer influences, disposable income , easy availability of sexual partners and low awareness regarding transmission of HIV are some of the factors which put the men at considerable risk of acquiring HIV infection. Of further concern is the possibility of transmission of the virus and other sexually transmitted diseases to the spouse/regular partner during annual/biannual visits home by the men who are already infected.
To address these concerns, the team of outreach educators provide HIV/AIDS and sexual health education to the workers at the worksites , promote safe sex to workers at risk and link them to counselling, testing and treatment facilities at the clinic set up by the project.
The clinic is very popular with the patients. The aim of the clinic is to provide general health care, counselling, treatment of sexually transmitted diseases, testing for HIV, early detection and treatment of opportunistic infections, counseling on nutrition and referrals for detection of tuberculosis, referrals for treatment of AIDS t and hospital care when needed. Involvement of people living with HIV as peer counselors has added value to the services provided.
In the last one year, the project was successful in reaching 12187 migrant workers with sexual health education and identification of 2505 men at risk of contracting HIV infection. The men were offered counseling, diagnosis and treatment for sexually transmitted diseases and HIV testing facilities . 824 men received treatment for sexually transmitted diseases, 372 men volunteered for HIV testing after counselling and 107 men who tested positive were given care and support facilities.
The project is forging ahead to cover more workers in the industry and also to involve some of the men as educators to spread awareness regarding HIV and AIDS in the rural populations who are highly vulnerable due to migration of the men from their villages.
Please click below to read the report and see a photo from the SAHAS work in India!
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