AEGiS-15IAC: Control of HIV/AIDS in a migrant dominant city: An experience of Surat city in western India.

15th International AIDS Conference

Bangkok, Thailand - July 11-16, 2004

Control of HIV/AIDS in a migrant dominant city: An experience of Surat city in western India.

Int Conf AIDS 2004 Jul 11-16; 15:(abstract no. B10452)

Rathod UL
Institution, Surat, India

ISSUES: Controlling STDs and HIV/AIDS in a city of 2.5 million inhabitants through counseling, complete treatment, contact treatment and condom promotion within the existing health apparatus. Instead of a target group focused approach adoption of an overarching 'umbrella' approach covering various occupational and social groups together.

DESCRIPTION: Prevalence and increasing rate of HIV/AIDS is one of the public health problems around the world. This is as true of Surat city in the western state of Gujarat. The city attracts a very large migrant population from all over India; mainly young adults who work in the textile, dyeing printing mills, diamond and other small-scale industries. As most of them belong to sexually active age group, their exposure to sex workers or having multiple sexual partnerships is very high. This makes them a group with a sexually vulnerable high-risk behavior. Out of more than 2.5 million population of Surat City nearly 40 % (1 million) lives in a various slum pockets, with large sections among them being vulnerable including that of street children and eunuchs. The intervention as a universal model envisages raising awareness on HIV/AIDS, promoting health seeking behavior by making them aware about the services available in the public health system and facilitate early diagnosis and prompt treatment besides the implementation of focused IEC strategy. Lesson learned: Effective inter-sectoral co ordination between various health departments to Implements different programs. Improved resistant therapy to be adoptedImprovement of personal hygiene and nutritional status of slum population helps to control STD/HIV.

RECOMMENDATIONS: The target group approach may not be sufficient; there is a need to approach the whole settlement, rural or urban, small or large, as a whole. Increase involvement of people living with HIV/AIDS for Home based care, Need of Vocational training, Formation of self help groups, Treatment of Tuberculosis.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Seropositivity, HIV Infections, Transients and Migrants, Prevalence, Cities, India, Research, Population, Adult, Child, prevention & control, therapy, organization & administration

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B10452