In a unique concept, Krishna District,A.P.India,Lorry Owners Association joined hands with the state and central government agencies in a fight against the dreaded disease — AIDS.
They took up a project with 50:50 share in expenditure, which is the first of its kind in the country. The AP State AIDS Control Society(APSACS) and the National AIDS Control Organisation(NACO) entered into a pact with the Krishna District Lorry Owners Association for one year.
"We already had experience in Surakshita Yatra programme in 2002. It lasted for four years till September 2006. We appointed peer educators and health volunteers for the programme. It was a big success and served as a morale booster for us," said Mr Potluri Raghavendra Rao, president of the association. Five years ago, Krishna district stood in the top in the state in HIV positive cases. With awareness being created by voluntary organisations, now it is in the fifth position. There are 7,000 sex workers in the district as on date.
"It is a new initiative we are launching in Vijayawada. Similar projects will come up in Warangal, Prakasam, Visakhapatnam and Hyderabad," APSACS project director, Mr R.V. Chandra Vadan said, after launching the project.
The government will provide drugs and other material for the project. The Lorry Owners Association maintains staff for the project and pays Rs 100 to each peer educator who gives counselling. We have alre-ady appointed 10 peer educators in the city," Mr Raghavendra Rao said.