In
HIV and AIDS Prevention,
Reproductive Rights
Work Experience on Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights and HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs of ACLAB
Project Title(s):
- HIV/AIDS Intervention Services (HAIS)!
- Expanding HIV prevention for MSM and Hijra in Bangladesh!
- Harm Reduction Program, HIV/AIDS Intervention Services (HAIS)!
- Community Action for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights Policies in Asia!
- Link-Up Project on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR)!
Donor: World Bank, National AIDS/STD Programme (NASP), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of GoB, European Union, Alliance International UK, Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs!
Partners/Consortium: Development Organisation of the Rural Poor (DORP), PAICT Bangladesh, Light House Consortium, Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra, HIV/AIDS and STD Alliance Bangladesh (HASAB), Marie Stopes Bangladesh and Population Council!
Targeted Beneficiaries: Commercial Sex Workers, MSM, Hijra, IDUs, Migrant People, Young and Adolescent!
ACLAB has been implementing HIV/AIDS Intervention Services (HAIS),
Street Based Sex Workers under Package#11 in Cox’s Bazar Sadar and Teknaf
Upazila of Cox's Bazar district, Noakhali and Dhaka district since August 2004
as a member of the consortium of NGOs led by DORP and PAICT Bangladesh. The
project is funded by World Bank, managed by NASP under the implementation of
the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The aim of the project is to reduce
the vulnerability of the target group on HIV/AIDS/STI. A number of 1,050 sex workers have been
covered under the program. The main activities are Health education, STI
treatment, Condom promotion, Advocacy, Capacity Building Training, Counseling,
VCT, etc. ACLAB also closely working of the project with local NGOs, CBOs,
Local Government, and community people.
ACLAB has also been implementing a project entitled Expanding HIV
prevention for MSM and Hijra in Bangladesh, in Satkhira district as a
member of Light House Consortium since October 2010. The aim of the project is
to reduce the vulnerability on HIV/AIDS and to raise the voice of MSM and
Hijra. The Main activities are Health education, Human right activities, Condom
proportion, Community sensitization, advocacy, STI treatment and counseling.
It has been implementing another project entitled Harm Reduction
Program, HIV/AIDS Intervention Services (HAIS) under HNPSP Package -15/2 in
Jhenaidah district as a member of Padakhep Manabik Unnayan Kendra consortium.
ACLAB has been
implementing the Link-Up Project on Sexual and Reproductive Health Rights (SRHR) supported by Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs
through HASAB. The aim is to improve sexual and reproductive health of young
people in Bangladesh affected by HIV/AIDS. Link-UP is implemented in a
consortium approach under the leadership of Health and Social Action Bureau
(HASAB) with Marie Stopes Bangladesh and Population Council as implementing
partners. The program covers 11 districts of Chittagong division. 30,000 vulnerable young people –Man who have sex with a Man (MSM) are total
target beneficiaries.
Main Activities of the project
- Awareness raising and community sensitization on STI/HIV/AIDS
- Treatment of STI and general diseases
- Referral for treatment and rehabilitation
- Condom promotion for safer sex practicing
- Advocacy and BCC activities
- VCT services and counseling
- Life Skill Training for Peer Educators
- Formation and activation of Self Help Group
- Capacity Building Training for Self Help Group
- Community based Drug detoxification and treatment
- Recreational activities
- Mother list preparation of existing MSM
- Life skill education on SRHR, HIV, and Family Planning
- Group discussion
- Organize workshop & Seminar
- Condom promotion
- Referral Heath service on SRHR, HIV/ AIDS and Family planning
The above activities are implemented through Drop-in-centers (DICs) in
Teknaf, Cox’s Bazar Sadar, and Dhaka, Satkhira and Jhenaidah districts. Each of
the DICs is equipped with necessary diagnostic equipments and serves as a
clinic. The DIC is staffed with a DIC Manager, a part-time Medical Officer, a
Counselor, a trained Paramedic and 5 Peer Educators. In the DICs, the
baneberries are examined, provided syndromic treatment & medicines for STI
management and followed-up. The target groups are also counseled about STI and
HIV/AIDS and provided condoms. A referral system has been established to
resolve complicated STI cases. One of the most important activities of the DICs
is to refer SBSWs, MSM and Hijra, IDUs for Voluntary Counseling and Testing
(VCT) services. Furthermore, the DICs have facilities for washing, resting,
food and recreation for the target group. The outreach activities include
counseling, condom promotion, BCC activities, and motivating the target group
to come to DICs for receiving the services arranged for them. The outreach
activities are carried out by the Peer Educators who are developed and trained
to help their other colleagues to get knowledge on the issues.
Achievement of the project
The following table shows the achievement of the project.
Project Activity
|
Achievement
|
|
Beneficiaries
|
||
SBSW
|
Others (MSM and Hijra and IDUs)
|
|
ST I treatment
|
2054
|
109
|
General
treatment
|
983
|
315
|
Referral
for better treatment
|
71
|
75
|
Advocacy Meeting
|
26
|
331
|
Popular theater
|
393
|
5960
|
Health education
|
2232
|
637
|
Psychological
counseling
|
3251
|
98
|
Condom Promotion
|
15972
|
10731
|
Mass
campaign/Rally
|
2315
|
1352
|
No.
of peer educator
|
20
|
30
|
VCT
services
|
23
|
57
|
Self
Help Group (SHG)
|
96
|
12
|
Above table reveals that remarkable success was achieved by the project
in providing services to the SBSWs. The figure shows huge reporting cases of
STI treatment that indicates the vulnerability of the SBSWs towards HIV/AIDS
and STIs in that region. Condom promotion and health education achieved notable
success which is essential for prevention of HIV/AIDS/STIs. It also shows that
during the period, a large number of beneficiaries received psychological
counseling services which are an essential part of behavior change. Initiatives
have been taken to create positive attitude and enabling community environment
for the sustainability of the program.
Learning from project intervention
- The targeted SBSWs are cooperative and eager to receive services from the center,
- The participation of general people should be increased more,
- More emphasis should be given on providing knowledge and services to the general people,
ACLAB has successfully completed
the project “Community Action for Sexual Reproductive Health and Rights
Policies in Asia” in Dhaka Metropolitan City and in Mymensingh district
towns with the financial supports from HASAB, European Union and Alliance
International. The overall objective of the project was to improve the sexual
and reproductive health and rights amongst/for adolescents and young people
especially those from the most vulnerable and marginalized groups. Target
groups were: Civil society organizations, Youth groups, Government officials,
policy makers, health care providers, religious leaders, and other individuals.
As working strategy ACLAB formed 18 Youth groups (12 in Dhaka & 8 in
Mymensingh) with the youth (male & female) having aged 15 to 24 years. Each
group consists of 25 youths. Main activities of the project were: formation of
youth group, formation of youth partnership platform, Information center,
organize and conduct training and advocacy meetings, stakeholders meeting,
meeting with peer leaders, gate keepers meeting, sessions visit by government
officials, develop youth leaders. Although the project is ended, but ACLAB as a
Civil Society Organization has been putting its effort to maintain linkage and
liaison with service providing organizations, Government departments like
Department of Social Services, Department of Family Planning, Department of
Youth Development to link with the project peer groups and peer leaders for
their further capacity building and development.
