Work Experience on Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights and HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs of ACLAB

4:20:00 AM


Alliance for Cooperation and Legal Aid Bangladesh are implementing several projects on Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights issues including prevention of HIV/AIDS in Bangladesh. ACLAB has been working on those issues since late eighteen century. In this beginning period of ACLAB there many supportive organizations and donors are mentionable. But on the HIV/AIDS and Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights issues, HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN ELIZABETH 2ND IN RIGHT OF COMMONWEALTH REALMS, the Head of the Commonwealth Nations and European Union - her name are unforgettable for she funded to ACLAB in 1995 through CIDA Canada for a project of HIV/AIDS prevention program and to promote a prolonging life for all. After this times, ACLAB has been received several support and cooperation by many National & International Organization, completed few project on this issue. Currently ACLAB has been working all most 5 number of projects of Sexual Health and Reproductive Rights and HIV/AIDS Prevention Programs in Bangladesh with close support & cooperation and partnership by 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, 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. 


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

  1. Awareness raising and community sensitization  on STI/HIV/AIDS
  2. Treatment of STI and general diseases
  3. Referral for treatment and rehabilitation
  4. Condom promotion for safer sex practicing
  5. Advocacy and BCC activities
  6. VCT services and counseling
  7. Life Skill Training for Peer Educators
  8. Formation and activation of Self Help Group
  9. Capacity Building Training for Self Help Group
  10. Community based Drug detoxification and treatment
  11. Recreational activities
  12. Mother list  preparation of existing MSM
  13. Life skill education on SRHR, HIV, and Family Planning
  14. Group discussion
  15. Organize workshop & Seminar
  16. Condom promotion
  17. 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. 

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