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HIV/AIDS Prevention Program:
The HIV/AIDS program was initiated by Rainbow Nari O
Shishu Kallyan Foundation in 2005. The first project implemented in
Goalando Brothel by the technical support of SHARP, and later on with the
support from the Global Fund for Women, USA. The purpose of the project
has been to reduce the vulnerability of STI/HIV/AIDS of the target
beneficiaries (Residence Sex Workers) at Lalbagh and Kamragirchar thana
areas of Dhaka City. The objectives of the project have been Peer
Education, Referral of STI patients to clinic, counseling, condom
promotion and awareness building to improve the awareness scenario,
understanding and knowledge of the target populations about prevention of
HIV/AIDS by taking preventive initiatives and awareness raising programs.
The goal of the project has also been to ensure the
rights of Residence Sex Workers by training them to change their behavior
to ensure safe sex practice and develop their knowledge about STI/STDs,
HIV/AIDS and to make them conscious about the use of condom. The project
targeted to help prevent the infection of HIV/AIDS among RSWs and their
clients also. It also aimed at developing a safe sex behavior among the
target group.
Bangladesh is surrounded by high prevalence areas
such as the states of Manipur and also neighboring country, Myanmar. In
these areas the authorities concerned are now grappling with the
increasing number of HIV positive people. In all probability, the
proximity of these places to the so called Golden Triangle is responsible
for such a situation. In addition, the sprawling sex industries in
Thailand and India are not only posing threat to the individual countries,
but also to other countries including Bangladesh. A survey report has
depicted the HIV situation in Bangladesh in this way: Seer-epidemiological
survey carried out so far in Bangladesh indicates early epidemic;
fortunately, the country is still a low prevalence area.
So far more than 3,50,000 individuals have been
screened serologically in the country both from public and private
sources. According to the Bangladesh Government Report, the cumulative
number of HIV/AIDS cases in Bangladesh now stands at about 50,000. But
according to a report by WHO, the actual number is around 1,00,000 and its
increasing everyday which is quite alarming for a nation. On the other
hand, there is no Medicine/ treatment about AIDS diseases. For this
reason, our organization has taken up many kinds of programs to prevent
HIV/AIDS, STI.
Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan Foundation aims to
raising awareness among the people, particularly youth, adolescents and
street children, youth /adolescent students, domestic workers, transport
workers (truck, bus, tempo drivers and helpers), hotel/restaurant workers,
commercial sex workers, industry workers, professional blood donors,
infecting drug users etc, to reduce the spread of HIV/AIDS and STD even
further.
It organizes various programs such as awareness
raising trainings, workshops, seminars, public discussion meetings, grand
rallies, bazaar meetings, community meetings, home visits, and also
produce banners, animated cartoons with necessary information on HIV/AIDS
to develop the awareness of the target people. In this way, in between
July 2005 to June 2007, about 5000 people, particularly youth and
adolescents, received the benefits from such awareness activities on
HIV/AIDS. As a result they have become more conscious about HIV/AIDS and
STD and also about sexual health, reproductive health, BCC service,
primary health care etc.
During this period, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan
Foundation has produced several animated cartoons, songs, banners etc.
These BCC materials provided with the necessary information about HIV/AIDS
to both literate and illiterate people in the target areas. Since July
2005 to June 2007, about 1500 people, particularly the youth, adolescents,
transport workers, (bus, track, tempo drivers, helpers etc.), injecting
drug users, sex workers, call girls, NGO workers or staff, factory
workers, vulnerable youth and women groups, MSM etc. received awareness
training on HIV/AIDS, STD, and its protective means alongside gaining
knowledge on reproductive health, sexual health, primary health care etc.
After arranging such trainings, these target people are becoming more
conscious about HIV/AIDS & also about sexual health, reproductive health,
primary health care etc. These trainings will help these people to
disseminate their knowledge among their family members and neighborhood
and make them aware on HIV/AIDS, STD & different social issues. Besides,
during the above mentioned period, Rainbow Nari O Shishu Kallyan
Foundation organized 2 district level workshop/seminar, 8 action
researches among sex workers and their clients (Goalanda brothel,
Mymensingh brothel, Residence Sex Workers), 10 grass root and slum level
workshops, 10 NGOs’ workers awareness programs, hundreds of community
meetings, hundreds of courtyard meetings, 2 rallies on HIV/AIDS awareness
and over 500 home visits etc. about HIV/AIDS and STD.
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