Josh
Title :
Comprehensive approach to reduce the spread of STIs/ HIV amongst MSM and gay
Identified men in Thane District.
Goal:
To create a safe space for MSM, to form support groups and generate awareness about
HIV/AIDS and STIs pertaining to the risk involved in male unprotected same sex activity in Thane
district.
Project duration:
2005 - 2008
Funded by:
USAID - AVERT Society
Summary:
This projects aims at providing inter personal communication through outreach focusing on safer
sex practices, correct and consistent condom usage and prompt treatment of STIs/ OIs by
providing comprehensive strategies to increase awareness, provide BCC materials, access to
health and care services to MSM and Transgendered individuals accessing cruising and sex
spots in Thane District in all 23 sites are covered by 10 outreach workers and 15 voluntary peer
educators.
Achievements:
- Sex mapping report completed and submitted to Avert Society.
- Baseline report of MSM activity completed, report is being drafted for the same and the study
will be disseminated in the forthcoming month.
- One self help group initiated in Thane region.
- Referrals networks established in Thane civil and Rukmani Bai hospital.
- World AIDS Day activity conducted in collaboration with KDMC and Mayor of Kalyan.
- Drop in center space established with weekly workshops catering to needs of approximately 50
drop ins per week.
- Counselors trained and posted in Thane hospital.
- 2 community counselors identified and trained.
Aarambh I and II
Title :
Raising Awareness and Motivating Safer Sex Behavior among MSM at Selected Sites in
Mumbai District.
Goal:
To reduce rate of HIV infection among MSM in Mumbai district.
Project duration:
1999 - ongoing
Funded by:
NACO - MDACS (Mumbai District AIDS Control Society)
Summary:
The objective analysis of the project is in a sense a positive mirror image of the problem viz.
higher rate of HIV infections among MSM becomes an end and for all the causes, means are
enlisted. In a way it becomes a means-end analysis. One may assume that the end of reduction
in HIV prevalence among MSM in Mumbai can be achieved by appropriate means such IEC and
BCC, Condom Promotion and by making Counseling and STI treatment services available to
MSM.
Achievements:
- IEC material produced in Hindi and Marathi and pre - tested and evaluated by the community.
- A Baseline Study Of Knowledge, Attitude, Behavior And Practices Among The MSM In Selected
hotspots in Mumbai and Then district.
- The HST initiated SSC (Safe Sailors Club) a group of MSM PLWHA, to look into the needs of
PLWHA.
- Under social marketing HST christened KHUSH PUDI, which contains flavoured and ribbed
condom along with KY Jelly pouch and condom usage flap.
- The HST is a sentinel surveillance site for the National Aids Control Organization (NACO) for
the last four years.
- The HST regularly organizes advocacy workshops for Doctors, Police department, Lawyers,
Government bodies, political parties, media, student community to sensitize them on MSM
issues.
- The Humsafar Trust human resource policy has made provision that minimum 20% of job
opportunities be extended to the MSM-PLWHA.
- The HST provides technical assistance to different MSM groups in Goa, Baroda and Surat and
helps them start projects in their respective cities.
- The HST regularly organizes advocacy workshops for Doctors, Police department, Lawyers,
Government bodies, political parties, media, student community to sensitize them on MSM
issues.
- The HST did its second tracking review in December 2001 and presented its results at a
dissemination program held at the conference hall of MDACS, Mumbai.
Sankalp CVCTC
Title :
Challenging AIDS Related Poverty.
Goal:
Reduce poverty and improve quality of life of poor and traditionally marginalized communities
disproportionately affected by or vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, and empower civil society organizations
to check the spread of HIV and reduce the impact of AIDS in the high prevalence states of
Maharashtra.
Project duration:
2006 - 2009
Funded by:
EU / HIVOS with SIAAP ( Chennai ) as lead partner.
Summary:
A memorandum of understanding was signed between the Humsafar Trust and SIAAP on 1st
January 2006 to commence its project 'Interventions with ownership, diversity, reach and
innovation for poor and marginalized communities in South India' The project with eight partners
in five states with the specific objective of "Establishing seven Community Based Voluntary
Counseling, Testing, Support and Care Centers (CVCTC+) in the five high prevalence states of
South India and Maharashtra" was commenced.
Specific Objectives:
The project revolves around three main objectives:
a) Reduction in stigma and discrimination and increase equitable access to HIV and AIDS
prevention.
b) Treatment delivery.
c) Care and support.
For Gay, Kothi, Panthi's, bisexual, transgender and transsexual community and all those who
come under the umbrella of MSM, people living with HIV/AIDS and their families and people living
in the immediate environment of the target communities through establishing -
1) Community based voluntary counseling, testing support and care centers (CVCTC+)
2) Promoting self help groups of members of target communities to address the sociological,
psychological and medical factors that increase their vulnerability to HIV/AIDS.
Achievements:
- Examination and treatment of general illnesses.
- Examination and treatment of STIs.
- HIV and VDRL testing facility.
- Link up with care and support services of the Humsafar Trust and other care and support
programs.
- Link up with Government of India (GOI) roll out program for providing ARV treatment.
- Arrange space for support group meetings of positive people.
- Conduct Advocacy with various stakeholders to reduce stigma and discrimination faced by
PLHAs.
- Link up with local Govt. hospitals (Chatrapati Shivaji Hospital, Kalva) for the referrals of STI's.
- Providing the HIV testing facility as well as the STI checkup for the AVERT Society THANE
district.
Shaan
Title :
Reducing risk of STI/HIV among Male Sex Workers (MSW) and their clients and high risk
males on and around truckstops in Mumbai.
Goal:
This project proposes to intervene and visiblize issues of prevention, treatment and care and
support with sex workers and their clients both in formal and unorganized male and
transgendered sex work.
Summary:
In 2002 the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) partnered with the Humsafar Trust to
undertake a targeted community based intervention with male sex workers at 5 identified
truckstops in Mumbai. The program aims at prompt treatment of STIs and OIs, increased condom
use, and health seeking behavior among the male sex workers operating on and around
truckstops. It has also undertaken and successfully completed a qualitative analysis of service
access and delivery issues of the targeted community.
Project duration:
2002 - ongoing
Funded by:
MDACS (Mumbai District AIDS Control Society)
Achievements:
- This project is highly focused on interventions among male sex workers operating
around the five truck stops, including octroi check-nakas.
- This project aims to mentor and network with Satla (Cross dressers males) kothis and
Hijras / Transgender male sex workers at various truck stops and train community
workers from among the male sex workers to build rapport, distribute condoms and
educate them on STIs in introducing safer sex practices and prompt treatment of STIs.
- This project reaches out to 1,000 male sex workers (200 MSWs at each site) and their
trucker sex partners at the five truck stops.
- Sex work along highways is also high - risk activity. However most truckers have
young male cleaners with them. There is considerable sexual activity reported in these
relations. This Men- to-Men trans-generational sexual activity is high risk as it is
unprotected and puts both at risk.
- The Humsafar Trust found male sex workers at all six major truck stops in Mumbai and
on its municipal outskirts. The rapid overview of these truckers revealed that nearly 30
percent of sex work is in MSM sector. In places like Cotton green and Wadala truck
terminus , which are not well lit and unsafe for woman in sex work , male sex work is
considerably larger and around 50 percent or more of total sex interactions.
VCCTC - MDACS
Title :
Provide confidential counseling and voluntary testing services to MSM/ Transgenders and
drops ins accessing VCCTC services.
Goal:
To provide non-discriminatory and quality VCCTC services in a community based setting .
Project duration:
1999 - ongoing
Funded by:
NACO - MDACS (Mumbai District AIDS Control Society)
Summary:
The HST has two qualified pre test / post test counsellor working full time on the project along
With eleven community counselors trained by the head of the counseling unit. The trained
community counselors provide counseling for MSM and Transgenders accessing the VCCTC at
the center.
Achievements:
- The HST has one qualified Mental Health Professional to look in the stress levels and other
emotional disorders amongst PLWHAs.
- The VCCTC has four qualified doctors working four hours for 2 days each.
- The VCCTC at the Vakola center provides services to around 2000 MSM and TG clients every
year.
- The VCCTC has provided services to more than 18,000 MSM and TG since it was set up 1999.
- The VCCTC is a sentinel surveillance site for NACO.
Yaraana
Title :
Reduce the risk of STI/HIV transmission and provide continuum of care services to MSM
and transgender population in Mumbai.
Goal:
Project duration:
February 2001 to September 2006
October 2006 to September 2009
Funded by:
USAID - FHI - IMPACT ( till September 2006)
USAID - AVERT Society ( October 2006 onwards )
Summary:
The HST was awarded the first pilot project to 'Motivate Safer Sex among MSM at Selected Sites
in Mumbai Metro' supported by MDACS in April 1999. Since February 2001, USAID / FHI under
its IMPACT project has been supporting the HST, this scaled up the MDACS project.
With this support from USAID / FHI under its IMPACT project, the VCCTC infrastructure was
upgraded. Doctors working honorary on the project were hired to work part-time at the VCCTC.
The HST implemented four phases of the intervention project, extending its services to 127 MSM
and transgender sites in Mumbai and its surrounding areas. The HST is a sentinel surveillance
site for the National Aids Control Organization (NACO) for the last four years.
The HST has recently completed an extensive research project titled "Six Years of Intervention
amongst MSM population in Mumbai Metro". A dissemination workshop to share the findings of
this study with key stakeholders is being organized September 2006. In November 2003, the HST
set-up INFOSEM to bring together like-minded lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT)
groups to work issues on sexuality, health and human rights. HST also extends technical
assistance to MSM groups across the country to start projects in their respective regions. So far,
with assistance from the HST, projects have started in Goa, Baroda, Surat, Rajkot and Pune
through local groups in these regions.
HST works closely within the public health systems and does continuous networking with various
public hospitals in Mumbai Metro. The HST was documented as Best Practices Model by
UNICEF in 2003.
HST has become the first community based organization to set up its own IRB ( Institutional
Review Board ), an ethic review committee that has been registered with NIH and awarded the
Federal Wide Acceptance (FWA) certificate. The projects of the organization are closely
monitored by a Community Advisory Board (CAB) and International Health Advisory Board (
IHAB). The project successfully completes its fourth phase of IMPACT in September 2006.
Achievements:
Key achievements of the IMPACT project titled "Yaarana" since its setting up include:
- A total of 42,400 MSM / TG reached with BCC messages through outreach activities at 127
sites in Mumbai and have been intensively serviced with 300,000 BCC contacts.
- 12,800 MSM/ TG accessed drop-in center services and regularly accessed it 31,300 times.
- 6,500 MSM/TG counseled for HIV testing and 6,320 took a HIV test of which more than 60%
followed up with report collection.
- 8,831 MSM/TG referred and counseled for STI and 2,346 reported STI of which 2132 were
treated for STI
- 33,06,172 condoms distributed free as well as through social marketing.
- 51,500 MSM and TG provided counseling through helpline.
- 1,200 HIV positive MSM and transgender provided care and support services
- 49 MSM and transgender living with HIV/AIDS registered under the government's anti-retroviral
treatment (ART) program and other treatment sources.
- In addition, a team of around 20 Peer Educators from the community has been formed for peer
education and advocacy activities have been carried out with the health department, government
hospitals, Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS) and Brihan Mumbai Municipal
Corporation (BMC) leading to increased access to health services for MSM and transgender
community across Mumbai city.
The data mentioned above has been provided from the MIS sheets of USAID-IMPACT project
starting Feb 2001 till 31st May 2006.
In the next 12 months, a total of approximately 4,000 new MSM and transgender population will
be contacted through 20,000 BCC contacts. The project will also reach around 10,000 community
people on a regular basis through the drop-in-center and other community mobilization programs.
CASP 004
The Humsafar Trust - Communications and Advocacy Support Programme
Title :
Enhancing the contribution of community-based organizations working with men who
have sex with men (MSM) and male-to-female transgender (TG) towards a better national
responses to the HIV epidemic.
Goal:
To reduce HIV prevalence among, and improve the sexual health of, MSM and TG in India by
strengthening the capacity of community-based organizations (CBO) to contribute towards the
national response to the HIV epidemic.
Project duration:
April 2006 - March 2007
Funded by:
The UK Department for International Development
Summary:
CBOs have enormous potential to effectively contribute to the national response to the HIV
epidemic. The Humsafar Trust, with experience and expertise in conducting interventions among
MSM in Mumbai, is conducting skills-building workshops to strengthen the capacities of
INFOSEM (India Network for Sexual Minorities) member organizations in program development
and implementation, advocacy, grant writing and bookkeeping, and documentation and reporting.
Additionally, the Humsafar team is facilitating a process for drafting an advocacy plan for
INFOSEM and a National MSM and Transgender HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care, and Treatment
Strategy and Implementation Plan for inclusion in the NACP III Strategy and Implementation Plan.
Outputs:
By the end of the project period the Humsafar team will have developed:
- An advocacy plan for INFOSEM.
- A National MSM and Transgender HIV/AIDS Prevention, Care, and Treatment.
- Strategy and Implementation Plan.
- Four guide-books on program development and implementation, advocacy, grant writing and
bookkeeping, and documentation and reporting.
Community development outputs include:
- Greater consensus among MSM and TG communities on national priority areas for HIV and
other sexual health issues.
- Greater organizational management skills among sexual minority CBOs for project
implementation.
- A stronger national AIDS program which adequately addresses the unique needs of MSM and
TG communities.
RALF 007
The Humsafar Trust - Communications and Advocacy Support Programme
Title :
Understanding the sexual and social networks of MSM and Hijras in India: building an
evidence base for hiv prevention intervention.
Goal:
The goal of this study is to build an evidence base to inform the design and implementation of
effective HIV prevention interventions (including IEC/BCC programs) for men who have sex with
men (MSM) and Hijra (male to female Transgender persons) in India.
Project duration:
The duration of the project spreads over a year's span, which includes from the conceptualization
of the project to the execution of the procedures that are required to make this project a success
like the methodology, analysis and reporting.
Funded by:
DFID / RALF
Summary:
Sexual and social networks are crucial to understanding HIV risk and transmission and for
dissemination of prevention interventions. The Humsafar Trust, in collaboration with the 6
community organizations from India Network for Sexual Minorities (INFOSEM), Proposes a
qualitative research study to understand and describe sexual and social networks of men who
have sex with men (MSM) and Hijras in 3 urban and 4 rural/semi-urban areas in Maharashtra,
Gujarat, West Bengal, Orissa and Delhi. This study will provide an evidence base to inform the
design and implementation of effective HIV prevention interventions (including IEC/BCC
programs) for MSM and Hijras in India.
Outputs:
The social networks at the different rural and semi urban areas amongst the MSM and
Transgender do differ but also there is vast difference in the understanding of the social ties and
relation within the MSM and Transgender groups.
Secondly the vulnerability for HIV is higher for this community and that is due to lack of
Knowledge or also lack insight that they have towards the disease. The MSM and Hijras feel
responsible towards the other members of the community or the members of the society that they
relate to in various ways will help them have a better and safer approach towards the sexual
practices they indulge in which in turn will prove to reduce the risk that they are at currently.
Sahara
The Humsafar Trust - Goa is a male sexual health agency working in the state of Goa for last 5
years, funded by Goa State AIDS Control Society through NACO on the Annual renewal of the
targeted Intervention Project.
Title :
Targeted Intervention on HIV/AIDS, STI's among MSM in Goa.
Goal:
Prevention & Awareness programme to reduce the increasing rate of HIV/AIDS, STI's among
MSM population in Goa.
Project duration:
Funded by:
Goa SACS - NACO
Summary:
The objective analysis of the project is to reduce HIV prevalence among MSM in the state of Goa,
which can be achieved by appropriate means such IEC and BCC, Condom Promotion and by
making Counseling and STI treatment services available to MSM in selected 10 (Ten) beat areas
and 19 (Nineteen) sites.
There remains a paucity of information on sexual behavior, especially among men who have sex
with men (MSM), gay identified men and bisexuals in cities like Panaji, Chimbel, Mapusa,
Calangute, Baga, Anjuna, Candolim, Bicholim, Ponda, Valpoi in North Goa & Vasco-Da-Gama,
Mormugao, Margao, Sanvordem in South Goa. These groups are most difficult to reach because
of their invisibility / inaccessibility and due to the stigma and denial attached to such behaviors.
The sexual behavior of MSM is of serious concern since usually MSM have multiple partners and
low levels of knowledge of HIV transmission. In 1992, the director of the WHO's Global
Programme on AIDS, Dr.M.H.Merson, stated that: "Currently the prevalence of homosexual
behaviour is extremely difficult to estimate with any accuracy. However, there is sufficient
evidence to conclude that homosexual and bisexual behaviour may be relatively common in
some regions of the world, with reports that 20 per cent of the men having same sex contacts at
some time in their life (Panos Chapter 7. Reference 3), even though the World Health
Organization insists that: "The majority of the world's HIV infections have been acquired through
sexual intercourse between men and women (heterosexual infection). The proportion of HIV
infections attributable to this mode of transmission continues to grow" (Chapter 7.Reference
No.1).
Achievements:
- Reached up to 6000 MSM clients and provides quality services and referrals in past 5 years.
- Increased knowledge in the MSM community in Goa on Sex & Sexuality, HIV/AIDS, STI's, Safer
Sex practices, condoms and lubes, preventive measures, etc. up to 80%.
- With the help of various capacity building workshops and trainings on various topics improved
the system and build up the capacity and self esteem in an individual staff, volunteers and clients.
- Achieved support and co-operation from main stream line population, stakeholders and other
NGO's.
- Got funding from NAZ Foundation International (NFI) to run a Advocacy Programme in the state
of Goa for the period of 1 year.
- Got approval & funding for separate Drop-in Centre in the district of North Goa from Goa State
AIDS Control Society.
- Increased number of clients at the Drop-in centres, STD Clinics, VCCTC's and other referral
linkages up to 35%.
- Increased number of condom distribution for the clients i.e. 4,00,000 (Four Lakhs) for the past 5
years.
- Increase number of I.E.C. & BCC materials for the clients i.e. 35,000 (Thirty Five Thousand) for
the past 5 years.