AEGiS-14IAC: Effective cross bonder intervention for transport workers and associated sexworkers can play important role in HIV/AIDS rrevention (A situation analysis of Benapole-Jessore, biggest land port in Bangladesh).

14th International AIDS Conference


Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

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Effective cross bonder intervention for transport workers and associated sexworkers can play important role in HIV/AIDS rrevention (A situation analysis of Benapole-Jessore, biggest land port in Bangladesh).

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. F11756)

Kazi FM, Chowdhury SA, Sharifuzzaman M, Jana S
Care-Bangladesh, Dhaka, Bangladesh

INTRODUCTION: In Benapole lot of trucks / lorrier are frequently crossing both Bangladesh and Indian border. On an average 700 truckers are crossing both the border and persons involved in this process are about 4000. As most of the trucks have to wait on an average 4/5 days to complete customs and other formalities, they frequently visit sex workers in the area. Baseline study shows that 14.7 % of truckers get involved in casual sex and 7 % has Syphilis positive during the study. Condom use rate was found to be very low (6.6 %).

ISSUES: CARE launched HIV/AIDS prevention program among the truckers and their associates at Benapole during 2000 soon it was realized that to bring faith of both the sex workers and transport workers joint cross border intervention is necessary. At the same time joint action plan and implementation strategy need to be developed to address truckers population with representatives from the donor agencies. CARE joins hand with Bhoruka Trust (India) for effective implementation of the people.

RECOMMENDATIONS: -Donor involvement in the whole process is essential at the same time participation from both the sides including target population is crucial. -Effective liaison, networking should be established with the stakeholders of both the sides. -Local leaders should be involved in the process. -Joint implementation and periodic supervision and monitoring should be done. -Joint IEC materials should be developed.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Prostitution, HIV Seropositivity, Bangladesh, Syphilis, India, manpower, NursingKWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,hivinfections,prostitution,hivseropositivity,bangladesh,syphilis,india,manpower,nursing

020707
F11756

Copyright © 2002 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.