One lakh sex workers suffer from HIV/AIDS in India

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One lakh sex workers suffer from HIV/AIDS in India

New Delhi, May 23: Nearly one lakh women sex workers in the country

suffer from HIV/AIDS, according to a government survey.

The statistics are as per the HIV sentinel surveillance (HSS)

conducted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Minister of

State for Women and Child Development Renuka Chowdhury told Lok

Sabha in response to a question.

Under phase II of the National Aids Control Programme, 181 targeted

intervention projects are exclusively being implemented among sex

workers through NGOs for containing the spread of HIV infection, she

said.

In addition, 320 composite targeted interventions are also focusing

on sex workers for bringing in behaviour change from high-risk to

low-risk and provide holistic packages of services, including

behaviour change communication, condom promotion, treatment of

sexually-transmitted diseases and creation of enabling environment.

The ministry of WCD runs Swadhar Shelter home wherein sex workers

are provided shelter, food, clothing, emotional support,

counselling, rehabilitation and other facilities, Chowdhury said.

A pilot project on combating trafficking of women and children for

sexual exploitation is being implemented in source, destination and

traditional areas of prostitution, she said.

Bureau Report

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