Working with federations and self-help groups, we tell women about their sexual and reproductive rights and how to reduce vulnerability to HIV/Aids.
- We try to ensure HIV affected families do not suffer discrimination and receive the welfare benefits they are entitled to.
- We support an association of HIV positive people and encourage HIV positive people to join. This association has a good record in obtaining rights and entitlements for those affected by HIV.
- We urge HIV positive people to speak out in village meetings against discrimination and to demand fair treatment. This also increases public awareness of HIV and helps in prevention.
- We ensure condoms are readily available and work with men through volunteers trained as safe-sex promoters. They persuade their peers to use condoms to reduce the risk to themselves and their families.
- We identify and support families at risk and aim to reduce vulnerability by offering counselling and credit that can lessen financial dependence.
Case history - Nagarlakshmi
I was married at 20 and within two years my husband had died from Aids. He was a lorry driver, and although he knew he was HIV+ he didn’t reveal it until we had been married for 18 months, when he became very ill. After he died, I went to the hospital and found that I too was HIV+. I have one son, who is 3 years old now, he is HIV negative.
When I found out that I was HIV+ I was terrified, I felt suicidal. But who would look after my son? A local doctor gave me expensive indigenous medicines and told me I was going to die very soon. This doctor also told me about Theni district network of positive people (TDNP+). I contacted them and they came to visit me in my home. They talked to me a lot and educated me about this disease. They told me that I wasn’t going to die, but that I could live with it for a long time.
I didn’t have any money as my husband had died and I had spent a lot on medicines. TDNP+ have given me a loan for 8000 rupees. With that money I have bought a cow, I sell the milk for extra income, as well as working in the fields.
These days I have more confidence, I want to live for my son and make sure he is educated. There are 15 people in my village living with HIV. I give them counselling, support and information about HIV and motivate them to become active members of TDNP+.