Project Background

The background assessment carried out by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation provides both, a persuasive case for expanded HIV prevention and STI control in the country and an evidence-based set of strategies to achieve these goals. The “India AIDS Initiative” (IAI) design documents also mentions that about 70 percent of HIV cases are located in four southern and western states including the state of Andhra Pradesh. Based on trends in the surveillance data, it is expected that most of the new cases of HIV/AIDS in India, during the next five to seven years, will continue to be in these states, making the case for intensive and effective prevention in Andhra Pradesh even more compelling.

• To empower the sex workers and their associated population against HIV/AIDS.
• Reduce the incidence of curable sexually transmitted infections (STI) with improved identification.
• Diagnosis and treatment of STI’s among the sex workers through appropriate clinical interventions.
• Increase in the correct and consistent use of Condoms among the sex workers and high-risk     male population in Andhra Pradesh, through appropriate social marketing interventions.

This program offers to collaborate with IAI strategy and contribute to the “Stretch Goal” for reduction in HIV and STI prevalence in high-risk groups in Andhra Pradesh. The project intends to change the behaviour of sex workers and high-risk male population, to seek early treatment of STI’s and practice consistent use of condoms. The BCC campaign, aims at creating an enabling environment, for the sex workers and high-risk male population, for seeking early treatment of STI’s and to practice safe sex. The scale of operations complements with the current response in Andhra Pradesh and the comprehensiveness to cover sex workers in the entire state in partnership with the other IAI initiatives