FHI - AIDS Awareness Event Attracts Thousands, Promotes HIV Prevention

MARCH 2007 — In the largest such event in India, an estimated 15,000 sex workers attended a ceremony in Mumbai Jan. 10 honoring their commitment to HIV prevention. The event featured Indian movie stars, singers, former "Indian Idol" winners and U.S. actor Richard Gere. Gere, who presented awards to sex workers, led the audience in a chant of "No condom, no sex. No condom, no sex."

The Atmavishwas (meaning "faith within") ceremony was organized by Family Health International (FHI) and local organizations, including the Mumbai District AIDS Control Society, Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society, and other NGOs. It sought to strengthen community activities reinforcing with sex workers the importance of safer sex practices and to acknowledge the contribution of program participants.

The event highlighted the accomplishments of Aastha, a five-year Indian program initiated in 2004 and funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) through its $258 million Avahan HIV prevention initiative. Aastha, meaning "to care about," seeks to reduce HIV and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among sex workers and their clients through behavior change activities, condom provision, and STI services. The project also refers sex workers seeking alternative employment to community organizations. FHI provides program and funding management assistance to its local partners for HIV prevention services in the Mumbai and Thane districts in Maharashtra State.

Aastha has provided approximately 47,500 sex workers with HIV education, prevention, and care services. Program officials are sharing lessons learned with the National AIDS Control Organization, state AIDS control societies, and U.S. government partners to replicate the initiative throughout the country. The aim is to reach 80 percent of sex workers by 2011. Many of the program's innovations are already being applied in other Avahan projects.

The program is one of many initiatives managed by FHI in India, several funded by BMGF, addressing the country's AIDS epidemic. More people live with HIV/AIDS in India (an estimated 5.7 million) than in any other country, UNAIDS reported last year. Nearly 40 percent are women, a majority of whom range in age from 15 to 29.

Program officials say sex workers assisted by these programs are more confident now and exercise greater control over their sexual behavior, which helps reduce HIV prevalence among sex workers and the general population. A client said she was not only protecting herself but felt she was no longer alone. "I have friends and help, and have regained my dignity," she said.

— Alan Goodman

PHOTO (top): Guest of honor Richard Gere (right) interacts with Parmeshwar Godrej (left), cochair of the Heroes Project, and Bipasha Basu, a popular "Bollywood" film actor.

(Center): Bollywood star Mandira Bedi hosting the Aastha Atmawishvas event.

(Above): Indian Idols team perform during the Atmawishvas event. Pictured from left to right are Abhijit Sawant, Rahul Vaidya, Aditi Paul, Prajakta Shukre, Amit Sana and Harish Moyal.

Photos by Prashant Panjiar