APAC is a pioneer in implementing targeted intervention programs in the country. The TI model conceptualized by APAC has been appreciated and adopted by SACS and other agencies. APAC works with certain specific populations, which are vulnerable to HIV infection due to their profession and lifestyle. Targeted interventions aim to:

• Educate individuals on STI/HIV/AIDS.

• Help the community to perceive their risk to STI/HIV/AIDS

• Bring about appropriate behavior change and enable them to protect themselves from STI/HIV/AIDS.

• Develop health seeking behavior for early treatment of STI.

• Reduction of stigma and discrimination by creating an enabling environment.

• Creating a voluntary peer driven network to sustain behavior change among target groups.

APAC works with the following target populations to curb the spread of the HIV epidemic in the state of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry.

1. Women in Prostitution (WIPs)

2. Men having sex with Men (MSM)

3. Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs)

4. Prevention Along the Highway (PATH)

5. Migrants

6. Slum Intervention Program

7. Industrial Intervention Program

8. Youth Intervention

Men having sex with Men (MSM)

MSM intervention focuses on Kothis, DDs and aravanis. The primary activities in MSM intervention are BCC, STI treatment, condom promotion and capacity building. The MSM intervention of APAC are implemented through community based organizations

Intravenous Drug Users (IDUs)

Interventions among IDUs include behavior change, in terms of safe sexual practices and safe injecting practices through inter personal communication (IPC) initiatives. Activities such as BCC, STI, abscess management, detoxification and rehabilitation, advocacy with law enforcement agencies and sensitization of health care providers are undertaken. The project will be a peer-driven intervention model.

Prevention Along the Highway (PATH)

The long distance truckers and helpers are vulnerable to unsafe sex and hence, they can easily get contracted with STD/HIV/AIDS. Therefore it is considered important to intervene effectively among them. In this context, APAC initiated the intervention called PATH.

One-to-one interaction, group discussion, BCC events, distribution of IEC materials, peer education, condom promotion, STD identification and referral, counseling, STD follow up, etc. are the activities under PATH.

Migrant population is another important section in the society who needs HIV/AIDS intervention. Migrant population are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS as they are away from their families and home, and those with high risk behaviour can easily acquire HIV infection and can also easily transmit HIV infection received else where. APAC in its intervention among the migrant population focuses on the migrant workers. Migrant workers in the APAC project are reached out through BCC, distributing of IEC materials, developing peer educators, condom promotion, STD identification and referral, STD follow up.

Slum Population is vulnerable to HIV infection as they are poorly educated and have no adequate knowledge about HIV/AIDS. They are also vulnerable to HIV due to their life style pattern especially the slum youth. Slum population is another important target group that needs to be included in the HIV/AIDS intervention programs. Therefore APAC has included slum population in its targeted intervention. Slum Intervention Program targets married and unmarried male and female in the slum. One-to-one interaction, one to group interaction, BCC events, distribution of IEC materials, developing peer educators, condom promotion, STD identification and referral, STD follow up are the activities in this project.

The negative impact that HIV/AIDS have created in industrial growth and the economy of the African countries cautions our country to work in advance to prevent any adverse situation in our economy and industrial growth. Industrial workers are also vulnerable HIV infections due to reasons such as young people migrating for jobs and are living away from family, industrial workers involvement in casual sex, etc. APAC have included Industrial workers also in its targeted intervention. Apart from reaching out to the male and female industrial workers through BCC, distribution of IEC materials, developing peer educators, condom promotion, STD identification and referral, STD follow, APAC’s industrial intervention program also targets the industries management, unions by sensitizing them on HIV/AIDS and addressing stigma and discrimination.

The youth populations are an important section of the society which needs to be reached out with HIV prevention messages. APACs youth interventions include reaching out college students who are affiliated to five universities. APAC has established Abstinence clubs, to reiterate that prevention is the best form of prevention. Students are motivated, and are trained to become peer educators.

<  Top  >