The Population Services International (PSI) on Monday launched a risk perception campaign at Visakhapatnam as part of the AIDS awareness programme across Andhra Pradesh. A 'Puliraja' campaign to explain how it was not safe to have sex with the unknown and a 'Consequences' campaign to drive home the disastrous effects of AIDS are part of the programme.
Established in the year 1988, the US-based PSI was a non-profit NGO operating in about 70 countries, including India, said Justin De Normandie, its Regional Programme Manager. The PSI was implementing an HIV/AIDS prevention programme, 'Operation Lighthouse' in 12 major port communities in the country in partnership with the National AIDS Control Organisation, and with the funding support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Ports were targeted as port communities were crucial and served as a convergence point for many Indians at the highest risk for contracting the disease themselves and transmitting to others. Among the interventions carried out by the PSI, as part of the Operation Lighthouse, to address gaps in the current HIV/AIDS prevention programme, was intensive condom social marketing which involved ensuring widespread availability and visibility of condoms in all types of retail outlets and multi-media promotion of condoms, Justin Normandie said.
Also, the PSI developed and promoted high-quality voluntary counselling and HIV testing service(VCT) centres to provide affordable, acceptable and confidential counselling, besides working in partnership with the existing governmental, NGO and private sector organisations involved in AIDS prevention so as to maximise the effectiveness.
In Visakhapatnam, the Operation Lighthouse was being implemented in the Jalaripeta Colony, the fishing harbour area, Malkapuram, the port area, and Gajuwaka.
Making a presentation on 'Care and support for the people living with HIV/AIDS,'G Prabhakar, Health Consultant for the PSI, noted that the AIDS epidemic claimed over three million lives last year and an estimated five million acquired HIV during the same period. "It is feasible to open up on ways that will reduce the stigma and target the individuals to promote awareness and HIV/AIDS risk perception. Conveying of focused messages, organizing community events, street plays etc. and ensuring access to condoms will help," he said.
He also suggested counselling, home visits, spiritual support, and facilitating formation of support groups of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHS). Training to NGOs and their personnel, who in turn provide training to a number of doctors and representatives of NGOs working on AIDS prevention attended the PSI meeting.