The ‘Link worker scheme’ addresses the complex needs in 100 rural villages of Amravati district in HIV prevention, care and support. 100 villages have been adopted in the district covering 12 talukas with high HIV prevalence. People are made aware of HIV and STI, red ribbon clubs are formed and volunteers are identified and trained. High risk groups and vulnerable people are identified and provided counseling. RTM SAP MANDAL works to eliminate the stigma and discrimination faced by HIV positive people living in the project villages. The outreach in these 100 villages is nearly 3.50 lakh population. The staff works with difference populations such as MSM (men having sex with men); FSWs (female sex workers); bridge populations like migrants, truck drivers, vulnerable population and also pregnant women. Awareness, prevention, use of condoms and availability of condoms are the activities covered.
| # | Block | No. Of village covered | Estimated Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Amravati district | 08 | 55000 |
| 2 | Chandur Railway | 05 | 18000 |
| 3 | Dhamangaon Railway | 05 | 21000 |
| 4 | Bhatkuli | 09 | 16788 |
| 5 | Morshi | 10 | 28755 |
| 6 | Anjangaon Surji | 04 | 18092 |
| 7 | Daryapur | 05 | 19860 |
| 8 | Chandur Bazar | 21 | 74755 |
| 9 | Warud | 11 | 31500 |
| 10 | Achalpur | 06 | 22850 |
| 11 | Nandgaon Khandeshwar | 06 | 19400 |
| 12 | Teosa | 10 | 24000 |
| Total | 100 | 3,50,000.00 | |
| High Risk Group | Bridge (male & female) | Vulnerable (male & female) | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Contacted (total) | 1214 | 19427 | 7617 |
| Contacted (cumulative) | 1973 | 95863 | 37505 |
| HIV +ve (cumulative) | 18 | 54 | 46 |
| STI (cumulative) | 19151 | 93620 | 36756 |
| Tested (cumulative) | 11633 | 63484 | 23797 |
Targeted Intervention is a very significant component of NACP (national AIDS control program). These interventions provide comprehensive and integrated approach for HIV prevention among the marginalized and vulnerable populations such as FSWs (female sex workers), IDUs (injecting drug users), MSM (men having sex with men) and bridge populations such as migrant workers and truck drivers.
RTM SAP MANDAL is working with FSWs in Amravati district’s urban areas. Working with the marginalized groups facing stigma, discrimination and violence is quite a challenge. Three fundamental beliefs that are critical to the success of this project are; first, RTM SAP MANDAL believes in the right to health based approach to ensure that the fundamental right to health services to prevent HIV & AIDS and avail related services are not violated. Second, as this group is marginalized and often hidden, the community of FSWs should play a central role in the project, third, that unsafe sexual practices are driven to a large extent by structural issues such as violence, stigma and economic vulnerability. We at RTM SAP MANDAL try to ensure that grassroots level FSWs take an active role in implementing, monitoring and governing the project.