Reaching out
Samraksha works towards prevention of AIDS by creating awareness about the
disease
AIDS has always spelt a sense of fear for most of us. This may be due to the
fact that it has not been possible to control the spread effectively or gain
easy access to treatment. Experiences across the world have shown that it is one
of the conditions which can be controlled effectively through dissemination of
information and proper access to treatment. Samraksha -the HIV/AIDS cell of
Samuha, a non-government organisation- has been working in this direction for
the past ten years.
Samraksha has been successfully operating in various places including Koppal,
Raichur, Karwar and parts of northern and coastal Karnataka other than Bangalore
urban district. It works with the twin objective of preventing the spread of
HIV/AIDS in the community and reducing its impact on those who are already
affected with the virus. Samraksha is of the firm belief that individuals and
communities, if armed with adequate information and power, will take the
responsibility to halt the spread of the epidemic.
Samraksha started working with sex workers in 1993 with the objective of
reducing their vulnerability towards getting AIDS, through dissemination of
information, empowerment and back-up health services. Samraksha reaches out to
over 3500 sex workers in Bangalore city. It has also been supporting sex workers
in Raichur and Koppal districts. What started as prevention work to protect sex
workers has now become a programme that protects large segments of the society
since sex workers have been acting as educators and reaching out to men and
women across the city. In fact a number of people affected with AIDS have been
approaching them for referrals and advice.
The organisation is now working towards large-scale mobilisation of rural and
urban communities in Raichur, Koppal, Uttara Kannada, and urban communities in
Bangalore for prevention of HIV/AIDS and access to healthcare. Samraksha
concentrates mainly on truck drivers and sex workers as they are more vulnerable
to the disease due to their occupation and rate of mobility. These initiatives
are supplemented by a reproductive and sexual health programme for women living
in the slums of Bangalore city. The support service is also available in six
towns of north Karnataka. Efforts for prevention also include combating violence
against sex workers.
Another area of Samraksha’s activities include care and support interventions.
It offers continuums of care at Raichur, Koppal and Bangalore. These continuums
consist of counselling, medical consultation and treatment through home care,
outpatient and inpatient services. Samraksha is reaching out to over 5500 people
affected with HIV/AIDS, of whom nearly 4000 are regularly seeking services. It
also offers medication for prevention of parent-to-child transmission as well as
psycho-social support for children.
Advocacy against discrimination, segregation and refusal to treat people living
with HIV/AIDS and access to better treatment, care and drugs are critical
components of its care programme.
For more information on their services, contact Stany/ Somashekar (Kustagi) on
08536 - 668214 or Ravi/ Devi (Koppal) on 08539 - 430182 or Bheri/Michel (Raichur)
on 08532 - 220402 or Sulekha/Bitamala (Bangalore) on 080 - 3546961.
Pavitra Shankar A clarification:
The vasectomy camp mentioned in the write-up on Dr H D Chandrappa Gowda, was the
first ever camp outside major hospitals in the then Mysore State and not as
published in these columns on August 1, 2003, it is clarified by Dr Chandrappa
Gowda.
[Deccan Herald, Friday, August 8, 2003]