Model for sexual health found in India's West Bengal

This article briefly identifies and describes a successful sexual health program, which was piloted in West Bengel state in India. The Indian National AIDS Control Organization established a model intervention project for HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in Calcutta. The project is funded for 1994-99 by the United Kingdom's Department of International Development. The project includes 8 interventions among brothel-based prostitutes, clients, and vulnerable groups, such as street children and homosexuals. There are 12 sites around Calcutta's "red light" district area of Sonagachi. During October 1996-June 1997, the project reached 150,000 individuals. Almost 650 peer educators were trained. 15,000 people were counseled for STDs. 6000 people were treated for STDs. The program distributed 1.3 million condoms. The project focus shifted from small interventions to empowerment and gender issues, on negotiating skills with clients, and training and capacity building. Success is attributed to the selection of brothel-based prostitutes, rather than free agent prostitutes who operate from hotels, lodges, and residential areas. The project plans to address the needs of sex workers who are free agents. The project has expanded to 4 other states. The future expansion of this project as well as AIDS prevention and control projects in India is uncertain. Currently programs are dependent on health program funding from multilateral and bilateral aid agencies. However, the greater challenge is not funding, but the powerful crime syndicates that run the massive prostitution industry in cities such as Bombay.