IDU project sensitising youth on AIDS drug abuse

The project is a very significant component of National AIDS Control Program (NACP). The initiatives under the project provide an opportunity to provide comprehensive and integrated HIV prevention as well as care and support services to extremely marginalised high-risk groups, such as Female Sex Workers (FSWs), Men who have Sex with Men (MSMs), Transgenders (TGs), People Who Inject Drugs (PWID) and to bridge populations like Migrant workers and long-distance Truckers. The National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO), in partnership with NGOs, provides HIV prevention, care and support (to those who are infected) services to these group in a friendly manner. AIILSG, under IDU Project, is working with many partner organisations to support vulnerable groups and spread awareness among public

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s per the HIV Sentinel Surveillance 2010-11 estimates, HIV prevalence among Injecting Drug Units (IDUs) was recorded 7.14 per cent, in comparison to 2.67 per cent among FSWs and 4.43 per cent among MSMs. Almost one-fifth of HIV positive people are living in Asia, and India accounts for about one-third of the world’s total cases. However, during 2001-2009, new HIV infections in India have declined by 50 per cent and in Africa by 35 per cent.

The project will involve interpersonal Behaviour Change Communication (BCC). Activities like promotion and distribution of commodities (Condoms, Jelly to MSMs & TGs and fresh needles and syringes to PWID) are to be carried out. Strategy is developed for provision of diagnosis and treatment of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs). It suggests linkages to Integrated Counseling and Testing (ICTC) of HIV and syphilis. The project includes advocacy for creation of enabling environment and building strategy for community mobilisation.

Services Provided by Drop-in centers

♦ Health Checkup of all IDUs in every 3 months ♦ HIV testing & Syphilis testing once in 6 months ♦ About 6000 new needles & syringes distributed per month and about 3000 are coming back ♦ Condoms are distributed regularly ♦ 59 HIV positive IDUs are diagnosed so far under this project. ♦ 678 IDUs are registered under this project ♦ 265 IDUs are registered at Oral Substitution

Therapy (OST) centers ♦ About 60 IDUs are taking OST at present

Details of activities conducted

An awareness program was organised by the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC). AIDS Control Society, Lions Club International, Parivartan Foundation, Bhartiya Education and Rapid Action Force were the co-organisers. Trophies were distributed for encouragement of activities performed by various stakeholders.

An Advocacy meeting was organised at Danilimda Police Station and Shahpur Police Station under the project. The AIILSG IDU project staff and police station staff were present. PPE Kits were disturbed among the staff. In addition, basic information was disseminated on how to combat the COVID-19. Moreover, details of the IDU project were also discussed with the police station staff. A program was organised by Umiya KVC Education Trust on the topics of IDU-TI project. Objectives of the project were discussed during the program. Other topics and activities were discussed with various types of addiction present among youth and ways to address them.

AIILSG, along with partner organisations, organised an event to spread awareness on AIDS prevention and drug abuse