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December 1, 2003: World AIDS Day

USAID Targets At-Risk Populations in India

India has the second largest number of people living with HIV/AIDS in Asia (over four million people). While it still mostly affects people with occupations or lifestyles that put them at risk, like commercial sex workers, injecting drug users and truck drivers; that is changing. In some areas, the infection is moving into the general population.

Care and treatment for AIDS patients is an important part of the USAID's efforts in India. An NGO supported by USAID works with children infected and affected by the disease. At an orphanage in Chennai, children with HIV or those at-risk for the infection are cared for in a safe and loving environment. They are given a "safe zone" where they can learn, grow and be accepted by their peers.

USAID is one of the largest donors to HIV/AIDS prevention and control programs in the country. Much of its work is focused on the states of Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra, where the rates of infection are highest. In Tamil Nadu, USAID funds the AIDS Prevention and Control project (APAC) that introduces HIV-preventive behavior among high risk groups, including sex workers, truck drivers, migrant labor, tourists and slum dwellers; and promotes condom use and safe behavior among these groups.

Varalakshmi, a young sex worker in Tamil Nadu, entered the profession when her husband abandoned her. She used to contract sexually transmitted diseases because many of her clients refused to wear condoms. She said, "I am helpless when they are drunk and refuse to wear condoms….But these days, I select my clients carefully. My hospital friends have taught me how to be careful." The APAC field workers are the friends she refers to. For the first time in her life, Varalakshmi feels she can make a conscious decision to protect herself.

As a result of APAC, condom usage among sex workers increased from 56 percent in 1996 to 88 percent in 2002. More than 3,000 doctors were trained, and over 100,000 patients with sexually transmitted diseases were treated.