LIFE for the People Living With HIV / AIDS ( PLHIV ) families and Prevention of HIV in Tirupur District

Tirupur being the largest industrial city in South India have mushroom growth of Hosiery Units, which employ lakhs of migrant workers from other states and districts. The entire district in and around also accommodate thousands of mini industries undertaking job works for hosiery units. The migrant workers due to lack of awareness on safe sex acquire HIV in a course of time. There are also thousands of commercial sex workers in the district.

The Tirupur district has a population around 30 lacks of whom as of 2017, as many as 2500 HIV infected persons have registered with Government Hospitals for ART treatments. Among them 80% of PLHIV have issues related to stigma, human rights violation and denial of opportunities. Most of them also lack adequate facilities to perform medical procedures and health care information. 60% of PLHIV and their family members need social protection support including livelihood to ensure life and dignity. Most of the PLHIV are reluctant to come to public service delivery system and need psycho social support and legal assistance.

The PLHIV in Tirupur District are identified through secondary and primary datas and reached out through home visits and care centers. Awareness on self care, counselling, and nutrition food supplements are provided at the door steps of the beneficiaries. Medical and financial assistance is provided to all PLHIV for attending to ART treatments regularly. PLHIV families are supported for maintaining kitchen gardens and milch animals to improve their health status.

Simultaneously training are conducted on self care & hygiene, life skill, vocational skills to PLHIV and career guidance training for Children Infected and Affected by HIV / AIDS are imparted at project level and care centers. Education support and Foster care support are provided to orphaned / semi orphaned children of HIV infected families.

Sensitization meetings to Health Care Providers including Doctors, Nurses, Counselors, and Lab Technicians are conducted to motivate them for providing Health Care Services to PLHIV without any stigma and discrimination. Sensitization meetings are also conducted to Panchayath Raj Institution members and other social workers in order to access Government Welfare Schemes and other social action programes by PLHIV families. Support of nutrition health supplements and other livelihood supports are provided to PLHIV, CLHIV and deserted widows through project and as well as through linkages and mobilizing donations.

1. Increased access to HIV Care and Treatment Services with decreased stigma and discrimination and developed positive attitude by disclosing their status by PLHIV.
2. Improved health and economic status among PLHIV.
3. Improved access to education, skill development and free from discrimination, violence and harassment for the CLHIV / CAA children at school and community level.
4. Strengthen district level mechanisms for enrollment of PLHIV in social entitlements and social protection schemes by advocacy and collective efforts.
5. Increased awareness on STI / HIV and allied Health issues among key population.
6. Ensuring dignity of life, and protection of human rights among PLHIV.