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HIV-AIDS
UNAIDS Study reveals term-end Results about HIV/AIDS Awareness
95 per cent men now believe condoms can protect against
HIV/AIDS; 70 per cent women know where to get them
 About
99 per cent of men in Aizwal now believe condoms protect HIV/AIDS. Incidence
of sexually transmitted infections across six districts is down from 55 per
cent to 17 per cent.
Charca—the joint UN project for reducing young women's vulnerability to
HIV/AIDS—noted significant successes during the dissemination of its term-end
results and recommendations.
The results and recommendations of the project that completes its three-year
term this year were released by Oscar Fernandes, Minister of State for Labour
and Employment and Convener, Parliamentarians' Forum on HIV/AIDS; K Sujatha
Rao, Director General, NACO; Dr Maxine Olson, UN Resident Co-ordinator in India
and Dr Denis Broun, Country Co-ordinator, UNAIDS.
Commending the initiative, Fernandes said, "Charca has unambiguously confirmed
the pivotal role that young women will occupy in a successful national HIV/AIDS
response. The results attained in a short duration of three years have clearly
demonstrated the effectiveness of a grassroots district level intervention that
empowers women to protect themselves and a possible route-map to rid the nation
of this devastating pandemic."
According to Rao, Director General, NACO, "Given the vulnerability and
risk of young women and the difficulty of 'mass reach' of awareness programmes,
Charca has been successful in building effective models of district level interventions
which address women's empowerment through an expanded response. We are sure
that the programmes developed will find a place in the National AIDS Control
Programme (NACP III)."
The project mandate extended to six select districts from
diverse parts of the country to explore the possibility of developing a model
district level intervention programme that could be implemented under the Government's
NACP III.
- Percentage of women visiting Government
facilities for treatment of menstrual problems increased in every district;
most remarkably in Aizwal (from 18% to 50%) and Kishanganj (from 2%
to 16%).
- Equally remarkable decrease in percentage
of young women with at least one misconception about HIV/AIDS. From
96% to an incredible 6% in Aizwal and 77% (basis NFHS 3) to 18% in Kanpur.
- Awareness of single partner sex as a preventive
measure against sexually transmitted infections increased from an average
of 40% to 76% across districts. Biggest gains in Bellary (from 9% aware
to 48% aware) and Guntur (16% to 92% aware). The incidence of sexually
transmitted infections also reduced from 55% to 17% average across districts.
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EH News Bureau
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