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.