Sangama

Recent estimates have found that HIV prevalence among Sangama's main constituency is as high as 10 percent. It is therefore apparent that HIV has a serious impact on the lives of Hijras, Kothis and Doubledeckers (HKD). The program works to reduce the HIV incidence among HKD and their partners in Bangalore, as well as providing care and support for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA). The two major objectives of the program are

• To increase the frequency of condom use by the community and
• To reduce the incidence of Sexually Transmitted Infections (STI) within the community and with any partners from outside the community.

Peer-centered strategies utilizing community mobilizers‌ from the community who reinforce knowledge of HIV/AIDS and promote condom usage through community outreach activities. The mobilizers also serve as a link to the community for crisis intervention services. Additionally, they connect people to the Drop-in-Centers (DIC).

The program has reached out to at least 7000 people in Bangalore City on a regular basis. The main components of this program include: providing information to people on HIV/AIDS through 1-to-1 and group meetings in the office and cruising areas, distributing condoms and water based lubricants, providing STI (Sexually Transmitted Infections) treatment through clinics, providing safe spaces in the form of drop-in-centres, providing counseling and psychosocial support and providing HIV testing facilities through our CVCCTC (Community based Voluntary and Confidential Counseling and Testing Centre)