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.