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The twin cities of Hubli and Dharwad
have among the highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in the state of Karnataka in
India. Sex workers in these two cities have formed a peer group to educate
fellow workers to take precautions while having sex to avoid sexually
transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV. The Society for People Actions for
Development (SPAD) trained a team of 25 sex workers, mainly women, who will
visit other sex workers to educate them about the use of condoms and undergoing
an HIV test every six months.
Apart from the education initiative,
a team works with and provides counseling for fellow sex workers who have HIV
or STDs. Hubli and Dharwad have nearly 1,400 female sex workers: 40 percent of
the sex workers operate from their homes, and 60 percent work on the streets.
The SPAD peer educator said that the group meets with sex workers from rural
areas arriving in their cities, provides free condoms, and educates the rural
workers on prevention of HIV and STDs. SPAD also provides them with medical
check-ups and HIV tests every six months.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
