AIDS
'Suraksha' Injecting Drugs Users Project
The St.John's Suraksha IDU Project was launched on 15th September 2008 at Alappuzha. As per the PSA done in 2006 there are 1060 IDUs. Adopted Peer Educators Development,community mobilizations and empowerment process of the IDUs as the major strategy.
Facts :
- Majority comes in the age group pf 26-35
- Most of the IDUs are school drop outs
- Have a tendency for theft
- 40% are not married & among this 23% have the behavior of pre-marital sexual relationships
- 74% injects drugs 1-3 times daily
Goal
To prevent incidence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases[STI]/HIV/AIDS among IDUs
Objectives
To bring about behavior change among the contacted IDUs by making them use safe injection and sex practices & motivate them to avail Oral Substitution Therapy
- To facilitate behavior change communication for safe injecting practices among 80% of the total contacted IDUs
- To enhance the needle and syringe exchange programme among the 80% of the high risk group and ensure 20% of the IDUs who access NSEP to avail OST
- To increase the clinical services in the project so as to enable 40% of the total contacts undergone regular medical checkup
- To create an effective networking with the existing power structure of the society
- To initiate the process of formation of community based structure
Activities
- Assessment of risk behavior
- Outreach using behaviour change communication tools, Peer Education and BCC events
- Promotion of harm reduction activities
- Needle and syringe exchange, safe disposal
- Treatment and management of STI
- OST referral and linkage with OST centres
- Abscess and detoxification services
- Awareness on HIV/AIDS
- Linkage with family members, health care sector, police and PRIs etc.
For further details contact :
Suraksha IDU Project Thulasithara Veedu, Panni Road Near Parayil Timbers, Alappuzha - 688 001 Phone : 91-9287207834 e-mail : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it