Arogya Shakthi
Arogya Shakthi – Promotion of Health and Development
HIV/AIDS Prevention Project among Core Population
From 1 October 2007, EMPOWER initiated Peer Driven STI /HIV/ AIDS Prevention Program among Core Population in 6 Blocks in Tuticorin District for five years in Tuticorin District with support of APAC- which is administered by Voluntary Health Services (VHS), Chennai with financial assistance from United States Agency for International Development (USAID) under bilateral agreement with the Government of India.
Target Population: It is mandated to cover the Female sex workers ( FSW) , Men who are having sex with men (MSM) and Injecting Drug users (IDU).
Target Area: To saturate coverage of the core population in six blocks of Tuticorin District such as Tuticorin, Ottapidaram, Villathikulam, Pudur, Kayathar and Kovilpatti.
Drop –in –centres are established in Tuticorin and Kovilpatti for the community to access services..
Counseling services in the rural hospitals in Tuticorin District
This project is being initiated from December 06 through support of Tamilnadu Health System Govt. of Tamilnadu for offering ANC and PNC counseling to mothers and their families with placement of Female Counselors in rural Government Hospitals of Kayalpattinam and Udangudi Blocks in Tuticorin District.
STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention among Slum Population of Tuticorin: EMPOWER is working in Tuticorin among the Urban Backward Settlements (Slum Populations) to carry out STD/HIV/AIDS prevention among 75,000 population covering 101 slums in urban and panchyat area for the past 9 through the support of the AIDS Prevention and Control Project (APAC) – VHS, Chennai. The basic thrust of this project is Quality care for STD, Behaviour Change Communication, Peer Education, Condom Promotion, and Advocacy. As part of this project a number “Teen Health clubs’ formed to promote and sustain Abstinence Messages among slum adolescents.
Major Accomplishment:
- 95 % of the members of the community outreached with inter-personal communication.
- The increase in health seeking behaviour of the community.
- Increase number of people reporting Reproductive and sexually transmitted infections and underwent counseling for HIV prevention.
- 6,359 persons with STI identified and 15, 023 treated for STI .
5. 466 condom outlets established and for selling condoms with number of women headed condom outlets.
6. 1130 of the members of slum community trained as Peer Educators trained in HIV prevention.
7. An excellent network of Health Care providers trained in HIV and Quality STI care and rapport established. – 65 private doctors, 60 pharmacists, 15 Indigenous Medical Practioners , 20 Auxiliary Nursing Midwives and 62 Community Health Workers .
8. 24 Teen Health Clubs and 8 Youth Clubs of formed focusing on safe behaviors and healthy life styles promoting abstinence. They function as change agents bringing about behavior development among adolescents and unmarried youths.
Rapid Assessment Situational Study in Tuticorin and Tirunelveli Districts.
Injecting drug users have become a significant risk group for the HIV and now play a major role in HIV transmission in many parts of the world. Injecting drug abuse is escalating in India and injecting drug users are found in all major metropolitan cities of the country. In order, to study the nature, dimension and magnitude of the problem, EMPOWER has conducted A Rapid Assessment Study among 150 IDUs in Tuticorin District and 100 IDUs in Tirunelveli District.
STD/HIV/AIDS Intervention among the Intravenous drug users in Tuticorin District.: This project is being initiated from October 06 to prevent HIV/STI among drug users and their regular sex partners in Tuticorin district with support of Project Network initiated by Sharan , New Delhi through DFID Challenge Fund.
Major Accomplishment:
Prevalence of IDUs in Tuticorin established Injecting practices and risk behavior studied in detail. Intervention initiated. Advocacy with the law enforcement agencies strengthened. Enlightened about the special problems of the female drug users and the spouses of male drug users. Self –support groups formed among spouses of IDU and heroin chasers.
Reducing Substance Use Related HIV Vulnerability in Female Drug Users & Female Partners of Male Drug Users:
With support of, UNODC ROSA, in collaboration with the Government of India, a study was conducted to assess and reduce the HIV-related vulnerabilities among women partners of male drug users. 43 female partners of male drug users and 17 female drug users were interviewed and 2 life narratives prepared which threw a lot their lives and how they are struggling to adapt to the spouse abusive behaviour owing to drug abuse. Majority needed free de-addiction services or some form of alternate therapy. All of them are desperate for some sort of support – psycho-social, vocational training and livelihood opportunities.
Major Accomplishment:
Two self- support groups have been initiated in Threspuram and Fathima Nagar.
e).Protection and Promotion of Breastfeeding:
EMPOWER had been working in the area of Reproductive and Child health for past three years. The organization had been actively promoting breast-feeding among the slum population in Tuticorin. EMPOWER has been committed to the cause of Breastfeeding and working among child care workers and health care providers and published posters on the Salient Features of the IMS act and a booklet entitled ‘Breastfeeding is Best’ .
EMPOWER is also the life member of BPNI. Besides, World Breast-Feeding Days have been observed by EMPOWER in collaboration with health and child welfare dept. of the district from 2002 onwards.
