About the Pakistan Truckers Project
Formal name: HIV/AIDS Service Package for Long Distance Truckers, Cleaners, Attendants, and Associated Populations

Funder: The World Bank, through the National AIDS Control Program of the Government of Pakistan

Dates: 2006–2009

Geographic area: All four provinces of Pakistan

Goal: Reduce the prevalence of HIV and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) among truck drivers and their sexual partners through a variety of interventions, including strategic behavioral communication, health education programs, counseling and testing, and service delivery and referral.

Partners: National and provincial AIDS control programs, the Ministry of Health, and truckers' organizations

Sub-grantees:

• Awareness on Social, Economic, Education Rights Foundation (ASEER)
• Lyari Community Development Project
• The Blessing Foundation
• Tender Hearts Development Organization
• Health Promotion Society
• The AWARD Street Theatre Award
• Gender and Reproductive Health Organization
• Organization for Participatory Development
• Human Development and Relief Society

Activities
The project develops strategic behavioral communication strategies, provides condom education, distributes water-based lubricants and condoms, and monitors the organization and locations of sex work. It also provides primary healthcare services for truckers, including diagnoses and treatment STIs and access to voluntary counseling and HIV testing.

In February 2006 prevention and education activities began at sites along Pakistan's major trucking routes and at truck stands in the cities of Gujranwala, Karachi, Lahore, and Taxila. The services were then phased into other major locations where trucks halt their journeys, including in Sukkur, DG Khan, Gujranwala, Peshawar, Torkham, and Quetta. The programmatic and technical monitoring and backstopping for all these project sites are being provided from the FHI office in Lahore.

Branding & Results
FHI is implementing this service delivery package for truckers under the brand name of Hamrahi. The hallmark of the project is the delivery of quality services through a network of Hamrahi Marakiz (centers) along the major trucking routes. The project has also built strong linkages with national and local unions and leaders of truckers to ensure ownership by the groups targeted.

FHI/Pakistan and the implementing agencies worked together to establish Hamrahi Marakiz facilities in these locations to house local project offices, drop-in centers, and primary healthcare and STI clinics. To date, over a million twin packs containing a condom and water-based lubricant have been distributed, and the centers have provided STI and primary care services for 38,056 clients and counseling services for 5,241 clients.

Since the project began in 2006, 196,991 meaningful contacts with clients have been made with truckers, cleaners, attendants, and associated populations. In addition, 56 street theater and puppet shows have provided information to 10,641 people about HIV infection, modes of transmission, risky behaviors and safer sex, prevention of HIV, and the need to end stigma and discrimination.