AAG AT A GLANCE

Background

AIDS Awareness Group an NGO, was established in 1991 and was registered as a society in March 1994.

Our Mission is to minimize human suffering in the field of health and HIV / AIDS.

We consider that enhancing STIs / HIV / AIDS awareness is the cheapest, most effective programme for minimizing spread of HIV / AIDS. Hence this is one of our major objectives in all our programmes/ projects.

Our Areas of Work: -

AAG is working in the following Areas: -

1. The Jails at Tihar,

2. The red light area on GB Road,

3. In Central Delhi primarily but not exclusively with Nepali Migrants.

4. In the Resettlement (JJ) Colony at Madan Pur Khader for ex slum dwellers.

Our Programmes: -

1. Enhancing AIDS Awareness through conducting Sessions, Street Corner Meetings, Street Plays and Magic Shows on HIV /AIDS, and lastly through one to one sessions.

Depending on the area we adopt one or more of the following methods:

a) Participatory Group Sessions with a large number of assembled persons like the jails using Flip Charts and having question and answer sessions during and after the session. These include discussions on Attitudes, Stigma and Discrimination, and where necessary on HIV / AIDS Home Care, diet for positive people and referrals for testing and treatment and allied topics. This is very effective in Jails, schools and colleges and with Corporate Houses on invitation.

b) For Mass awareness programmes, Street Plays and/or Magic Shows on HIV / AIDS are used. These are conducted by professional groups trained and briefed by AAG. These are used in Tihar Jails, in the parks at Madan Pur Khader, for Nepali Migrants and others in Central Delhi, and on some Sundays on GB Road near the brothels when there is almost no traffic. Except for Tihar Jail where we can only distribute IEC material (Condoms can not be given), elsewhere in all other areas we distribute condoms also after giving Condom demonstrations on the right way of using them. We distribute IEC material and provide referrals if some people from the audience want0

c) For Smaller Groups (10 to 50) on the roads we use Street Corner Meetings using Flip Charts. We have teams of two with a complete package of Flip Charts, IEC material, and a supply of Condoms both for demonstration and distribution. At the end of the session lasting about 15 to 20 minutes, if someone wants to see a doctor for their personal medical problem/s, we refer them to one of our three clinics located at Minto Road; GB Road and at Madan Pur Khader as relevant. Otherwise we refer them to the nearest Government hospitals. We have found that this method for enhancing HIV / AIDS awareness is very effective and we use it on GB Road near the brothels, on the roads in Central Delhi (Connaught Place, Gole Market, near Shivaji Stadium, on Bara Khamba Road, Jhandelwalan Road, Karol Bagh etc.) and outside Dhabas (Small wayside eating places, where usually Nepalis work) in Central Delhi and on the streets at Madan Pur Khader.

HIV/AIDS Awareness Programme in Jail
Annual Report 06-07
Activities	Number	Participants
No of HIV/AIDS Sessions Conducted	57	5785
No of Street Plays conducted	5	5800
No of Magic shows Organised	3	2750
No of Training Sessions organised for Para Medics	4	50
No of HIV+ve follow up / ongoing counselling given	4	50
Monthly medical check up of all HIV+ prisoners done	12	12
Total No of Inmates benefited from our Programme		14435

d) Inside Brothels we hold one to one or one to five or six mini sessions (5-6 minutes) with the sex workers. They usually have no time available for longer sessions. We provide information on how one can get infected, how one does not get infected, and the precautions available to us. We distribute condoms at the end of each session.

e) At our Drop-in-Centres / Clinics in the three places mentioned above, we provide information to small groups and even hold one to one discussions. We provide pre- test counselling for STIs / HIV / AIDS and testing for HIV at our drop-in-centres located on Minto Road and at GB Road. In the cases of STIs we provide Syndromic (Symptomatic) treatment and also refer them to Government Hospitals. For people testing positive with our Kit, we refer the clients to the nearest Government Hospital for ELISA tests and CD 4 count. The Drop-in-Centre at Minto Road was opened in Aug. 2006

Central Delhi Project with Migrants (Aug 06 to Mar. 07)
Particulars	Conducted by	Male	Female	Total
No. of new individuals registered During the year		601	45	646
No. of PE trained		18	1	19
Strategic Behaviour Change Communication
No. of individuals reached through one-on-one BCC (ORW)		1931	145	2076
No. of individuals reached through one-on-one BCC (PEs)		130	0	130
No. of group sessions conducted	Out Reach Workers (ORWs)			134
	Peer Educators (PEs)			11
	Total			145
No. of individuals reached through 1-Group sessions	ORWs	823	153	976
	PEs	71	0	71
	Total	894	153	1047
No. of radio programs facilitated	ORWs			2
	PEs			8
	Total			10
No. of individuals reached through radio programs	ORWs	21	0	21
	PEs	137	0	137
	Total	158	0	158
No. of individual reached by Peer educators		338	0	338
No. of mass awareness activities conducted				44
No. of individuals reached through mass awareness activities		1775	75	1850
No. of IEC materials distributed				6576
No. of condoms distributed				86406
No. of individuals accessed our drop-in-centers		654	51	705
Counselling and Testing
No. of individual received pre-test counselling and referred for HIV testing		35	6	41
No. of individuals undergone HIV test		29	5	34
No. of individuals received test results and post-test counselling		31	6	37
No. of individuals tested positive		1	2	3
No. of individuals who received on going psychosocial counselling		16	2	18
Access to Clinical Services including STI management
No. of Individual accessed project clinics		320	767	1087
No. of Individuals diagnosed and treated for STIs		64	140	204
No. of health camps organized				4
No. of individuals provided services in the health camps		136	71	207

Counselling inside Jails:

There are about 35 HIV + prisoners in the various jails. We have a very regular ongoing counselling programme. With the permission of the jails we monitor the diet they are getting. We have apprised the Director General (Prisons) about the need for a special diet for HIV + prisoners as prescribed by the Doctors treating HIV + prisoners. As a result of the briefing he has passed appropriate orders to all jails for ensuring this diet is given to all HIV + prisoners.

We ensure that their health checks take place every month, and they are sent to a designated hospital/s for their six-monthly CD 4 counts. We talk with these prisoners at least once every week and help in raising their morale especially as they feel that there are people who care for them.

Telephonic Helpline:

We have two telephones used as help lines for Counselling on STIs / HIV / AIDS. The same help lines are also used for Marital and Crisis Counselling. Now by word of mouth we get many calls asking for information and referrals.

2. Therapeutic Community based Rehabilitation Programmes for adolescent Drug Addicts in Central Jail No 5 at Tihar. AAG has been conducting this programme for over seven years. The Addicts are first detoxified under the supervision of Jail Doctors. After detoxification they are transferred to the barrack 8/2 where AAG conducts the TC programme. We have an average of 100 drug addicts at any time Here we give them information in stages, as their mind becomes a little clear and is able to absorb information. Almost all of them come from very poor homes, with a lot of domestic violence, often with a drunken or addicted father or both parents are addicts. Most do not know what a good family life can be. We create an artificial family of five or six –one of them becomes the big brother, the others become siblings in the family. The big brother takes responsibility for the others. He distributes duties as in a well knit family and ensures that the duties are performed and their difficulties attended to by the appropriate person. We pay particular attention to IV drug users as this is the fastest method of getting infected if the syringe and needles are shared. When they are well out of withdrawal we give detailed information on HIV and AIDS and precautions available. Unfortunately these boys (18 -21 age group) stay with us for a very short time – usually two to three months before they are either released from the jail or transferred to a jail for adults (above 21 years of age). Thus the complete programme which should last for at least 10 months to a year is not completed and many come back to jail; after a relapse.

T.C Based Rehab Prog for Juvenile Drug Addicts in Tihar Jail
Annual Report 06-07
	Particulars	Number
1	TOTAL NO. OF INMATES	1081
2	NEW COMERS	388
3	REPEATERS	693
4	CONVICTS	22
5	UNDER TRIALS	1059
6	TYPES OF ADDICTION
	SMACK	686
	INJECTING DRUG USE	50
	GANJA	116
	ALCOHOL	76
	TABLETS	34
	CHARAS	62
	MULTI DRUG USERS	57
8	EDUCATION
	ILLITERATE	840
	PRIMARY	97
	MIDDLE & ABOVE	144
9	NO. OF TIMES ARRESTED
	ONCE	388
	TWICE	241
	THRICE	147
	MORE THAN 3 TIMES	305
10	INCOME SOURCE
	LABOURERS	115
	PICK POCKETS	718
	UNEMPLOYED	13
	RICKSHAW PULLERS	48
	KABARI (RAG PICKERS)	28
	DRUG PEDDLERS	38
	OTHERS	88
	TRANSPORT	33
11	DURATION OF DRUG USAGE
	1-MONTH TO 6-MONTH	113
	6-MONTH TO 1-YEAR	145
	1-YEAR TO 2 YEARS	224
	MORE THAN 2 TO 5 YEARS	599
12	CAUSE OF ADDICTION
	PEER GROUP PRESSURE	196
	CURIOSITY	539
	FAMILY PROBLEMS	96
	INDIVIDUAL	35
	SICKNESS	168
	OTHER	37
	SEXUAL	5

3. FREE LEGAL AID AND LEGAL LITERACY IN JAILS: -

When we started work in the jails we started with the objective of enhancing HIV / AIDS awareness. We found that there was a great expressed need for Legal information, counselling and free legal representation in courts than information on HIV. So we got hold of some very dedicated lawyers and started free legal aid in two jails (CJ III and CJ IV. AAG’s lawyer visits each jail twice a month, to meet his clients and take up new cases. We are providing this service in jails for nearly 12 years.

We started legal literacy sessions in all the jails at Tihar from the year 2003. The prisoners wanted IEC material. We conducted a needs assessment on the type of information required by the prisoners. We gradually prepared various booklets covering the most frequently asked questions and then distributed a large number of copies of these booklets in the jails and their libraries. A list of our IEC material is given at the end of this report. The jail authorities liked the booklets so much that they took copies of these booklets from us and distributed them in all the Central Jails all over India. This was in the year 2003- 2004.

Legal Aid in Jails in 06-07
Particulars	Number
No. of prisoners in Jail No.3 and 5 interviewed by AAG Volunteers	16310
No. of prisoners interviewed by AAG’s Advocate	1410
Numbers of Acquittals	19
Numbers of bail applications filed	76
Numbers of Bailed Out	52
Numbers of Bails granted	100
Numbers of Bail applications pending admission in Courts	117
Numbers of Bail applications rejected	3
Number of Appeals filed in High Court	23
Numbers of Appeals decided in High Court	2
Numbers of Under-trial released on sentence undergone	44
Convictions	17
No. of Legal Literacy sessions held	11
No of Participants attended the Sessions	2650

4. INTEGRATED HEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT RELATED PROGRAMMES

AT MADAN PUR KHADER:

a) Health:

1) Opening a clinic manned by a Qualified MBBS, DGO Lady Doctor who started a general health clinic.

2) Starting the Anaemia correction (iron supplement) Horlicks programme for the children and pregnant Women as recommended by our Lady Doctor.

3) Health and Hygiene awareness programme and safe drinking water awareness programme. Obtaining Chlorine tablets from MCD and distribution after teaching the community how to use them to make the water safe for drinking.

4) Teaching Family Planning methods to the Community,

5) An immunisation programme for the community,

b) Vocational Training Programmes:

1) Computer Training Programme for boys and girls,

2) Sewing and tailoring training programme for adolescent girls and women.

c) Opening a Tuition Centre for children from classes 1 to 5 for those children who have either never been to school or have dropped out from schools.

d) Started an Adult literacy programme for women

e) Started Self Help Groups as part of our Micro- finance and Micro-credit programme.

Health related Programmes at Madanpur Khadar :New Delhi 06-07
SELF HELP GROUPS (SHG)
Particulars	Number
Total number of groups formed	19
Total numbers of membership	355
Total number of Beneficiaries	159
Total number of non members attending Gp Meetings.	1702
Total amount collected	1,91,181
Total money loaned in the group	98,600
No. Of bank accounts opened	5
HIV/AIDS and STIs Awareness:-
Number of street corner meetings held on HIV/AIDS &STIs	321
Number participants attended (approx.) the sessions	4458
No of One to One Counselling	160
No. of HIV/AIDS booklets distributed	993
No. of STIs booklets distributed	912
No. of Leaflets distributed	1885
Number of Condom demonstrations	78
Medical Interventions
Total no. of OPD conducted	145
Total no. of Patients	2530
New Patients	844
Follow up Patients	1686
Referral to hospitals	76
Total no. of ANC patients	446
Total no. of new ANC cases	181
Total no. of cases of STIs	114
Total no. of pregnancy kits used	81
Delivery in govt. hospitals	20
TT given	108
F.S. Kid distributed	7310
Intensive Immunization Programme started w.e.f July 2006
Total no. of children immunised	534
DPT	286
MMR	154
Measles	70
Booster	99
DT	71
BCG	49

A Write-up by a Jail Inmate

THE LAST SHIRT HAS NO POCKETS - by Richard.

First let me explain; the last shirt has no pockets is my way of saying, no matter how wealthy you are, at the end you cannot take anything with you on that last journey, not even those little critters named HIV/AIDS – they die with you, simple fact. Yes, this is about HIV and how I managed to cope with it in a place where I would not wish my enemy to be: Tihar Jail.

When I came to Tihar in 1999 (it was a shock that will last my whole life). The food, the cells and the clash of cultures and most disturbing, the fact that I was (and, of course, still am) HIV+ve. No body seemed to know about it, at least not much. Never having to hide because of my infection, it was very awkward telling the authorities about it. A lot of guys told me back then, to keep it to myself as it would attract unnecessary attention. My first reaction was to ‘freak-out and call them brainless idiots. How would a doctor be able to really treat me according to my needs if I keep such an important information to myself? Why act as if everything is A.O.K while you are dying faster without treatment, since nobody has a clue as to what is wrong.

Of course I made my status known and had to face a lot of dumb questions. But that died down after the lot got to know me. It was shocking to see that the majority of inmates knew almost nothing about HIV/AIDS, and if they did, they sure concealed it well. Let’s face it, we’re all in the same boat. I was asked how it felt to know that I have to die, which I always answered with a counter question “Why? Don’t you? Fact. We all embarked on our last journey on the day of our birth or do you know any immortals?” Some have to go earlier than others, so look on each day that you are permitted to live as a gift – even being HIV+ve. There is absolutely no reason to give up and let the little killers take charge. HIV or not, it is up to you to make something out of your life. Do not look for someone to blame because you alone decide, and whom to blame for a mistake made by you? Coming from Germany, it is clear I was well informed about the risks of contracting HIV, still, since I was in a relationship over a longer period, I (the stupid one) thought now is the time we could lower the safety measures, which as you know by now, changed my life forever. Instead of joining the blame game, I sat back and thought: How could I have been so stupid? Why me? (What a ridiculous question!) After getting my test result, I must admit, that I already said to myself – O.K, if it is possible I will have to live with it and in order to do that, I must tell those close to me, and then carefully widen the circle of “knowers”. Even in good old Europe, not everybody can handle it. Surely I lost friends, those who turned away from me and those who acted as if I had a new form of leprosy, but who needs people like that around anyway? When I got transferred to the jail hospital, I met a very special lady who I cal my Fairy Godmother! She has really done some amazing work here and still has a long way to go. It would make it a lot easier if the guys would not lie so much as to how they got infected. Do they really think that the Director of AAG cannot see the forest because of the trees? Even I make my thoughts, and to tell you the truth, none of them look like they have had an organ transplant or blood transfusion and the most used cause of infection is …… No, not what you thought. The sharing of syringes (according to them). Strangely enough, it seems I am the only one who contracted HIV through unprotected sex! It is hard to believe anyway, that from about 15,000 inmates only 15 are officially HIV+ve and they “lie the blue out of the sky!” I was asked by one inmate if I am going to tell my next partner that I am +ve; because he is not going to! I told him that just for that he is in the right place. Knowingly having unprotected sex is attempted murder and in case the other person gets infected, it IS murder. It is every HIV+ve person’s duty to inform the person who is getting; into the relationship. Just because you are HIV +ve does not mean that you cannot get any STI or infection either. It is your responsibility to protect yourself, but most of all, your partner. How long would you give to a relationship built on a lie? Life is not easy, why make it harder than it already is? Make it easier for yourself by looking forward not back, back in the past, gone for ever and unchangeable, just let go of it, why carry all that unnecessary baggage around with you? Think positive and be thankful for the time you were allowed to roam this planet called Earth – the official asylum for the insane of the Universe! There is always something or other to do. So get involved with some volunteer work – sports, reading, and take up a hobby and, for God’s sake –and yours – stop pitying yourself. There are so many people who are far worse off – Look at it like this; it is like a tug of war, as soon as you let yourself hang the other side wins. After every high comes a low, knowing that, you should say to yourself “Oh well, that will pass” and just let go of it. Naturally it is not that easy, so what is? For cowards and sulking poor me’s, suicide would be the easiest way out, but for me the challenge to overcome most of the obstacles in my path is the only option. My life is worth fighting for is what I say. When I am not in a good mood and feel negativity creeping in on me, now is the time to live! Most people seem to forget that one is longer dead than alive. Try to enjoy the time given to you, you work to live and not the other way around!! Actually, I do not see what the ruckus is all about, being HIV+ve today is like living with diabetes or Hep C. Simple as that and by hiding it is not going to make things better. Be open and honest to yourself, and, most important, think positive, and here’s Rick’s top 10 (the most unbelievable reasons one cannot get infected – as given from inmates).

10 I make sure that everything and everyone around me is clean.

9. I do not use drugs, so no sharing of syringes.

8. In my family and social circles, no HIV case has ever occurred. (Now how would he know?)

7. I have been healthy all my life, no alcohol, no drugs, no accidents (meaning no organ transplant or mental problem. But how about sex?)

6. Only prostitutes and homosexuals indulge in risky sexual behaviour (this one refused to explain what risky sexual behaviour meant to him – just said: You know!”)

5. I am very religious (Right! But what does that have to do with HIV/AIDS or sex)

4. I have only had sex with one person (Yes, but what about that one person?)

3. I pick my partners very carefully. (Of course! I forgot that an HIV infected person glows in the dark!)

2. I never had sex. (Now who would take that?)

1. I did a test a year ago and it was negative.

Now does this not tell us that there is something wrong here? Write if you have questions and what you think about what you have read so far.

O.k.- ; by the way, my goal is to be a long term survivor, if possible, the longest living at that!

See you around next time, love Rick.

ADVOCACY AND NETWORKING

Lawyer’s Collective an NGO,

ATN a network of NGOs,

E networking:-

- Saathii@Yahoogroup.com

-community-research@eforums.healthdev.org,

AIDS-INDIA@yahoogroups.com

AAG is a member of the Anti Trafficking Network (ATN), which is a group of about 20 NGOs working against the trafficking of minor girl, in to the flesh trade.

Future Directions

• We want to set up a Drug De-addiction Centre for juvenile drug addicts who do not complete their course during their stay in jail where we are already conducting the said Therapeutic .Community based rehabilitation programme for Drug Addicts if we can raise the necessary funds.
• AAG is planning to start a Mobile AIDS Awareness Programme at slums, resettlement colonies and even organising Street Plays and/or Magic shows on HIV / AIDS during these programmes

We would be very grateful for your support in any one or more of the above mentioned or following programmes:

1. Setting up a rehabilitation centre in South Delhi primarily but not exclusively for juvenile drug addicts ex jail

2. A mobile HIV / AIDS awareness programme and a linked mobile counselling service in Delhi and adjacent areas

If you find the above information relevant to the purpose for which your esteemed organization provides grants, we would be more than willing to send in a Letter of Inquiry (LOI).

Publications and Reports:

1) Booklet on The NDPS Act, Delhi Police Act and Sections 107,149 - 151

2) Booklet on Hepatitis ready for printing

3) Booklets in Hindi and English on Information on AIDS (Third Edition)

4) Booklets in Hindi and English on “Sexually Transmitted Diseases

5) Booklet titled “Basic (Legal) Information for under trials” (2^nd Edition) Vols. I and II

6) Booklet titled “Legal Rights and Options Available to Convicts.”

7) Is Section 376 IPC being misused? }Research Papers

8) Are Dowry Related Laws being Abused? } “ “

Our Donors, Supporters and Well Wishers –

1. Individual Donors

a) Mr. Yogesh Jain,

b) Mr. & Dr.(Mrs.) Tony Carlier,

c) Mr. Sorab Modi,

d) Ms Ellena Christie

e) Mr. S. P. Loonker,

f) Ms Priya Vishwanath,

g) Mr Puneet Nath Kapil,

h) Ms Elizabeth

i) Mr Siddhartha

j) Ms Minoti Bahri

2. Our Funding Agencies

a) Elton John AIDS Foundation,

b) Standard Chartered Bank

c) Family Health International / SARDI

3. Supporting Agencies

a) Charities Aid Foundation,

b) Glaxo & SmithKline consumer Ltd.

c) Family Planning Association of India

4. Our Special Thanks to:

a) Mr Yogesh Jain

b) Mr B.K.Gupta IPS.,DG (Prisons)

c) Mr. JV Sunder Singh, Head, Credit Ops } Standard Chartered Bank

d) Ms. Chandni Lamba } “ “

e) Ms. Priya Viswanath, CEO CAF

f) Mr Surya Prakash Loonker,

5. Thanks for Keeping our donation boxes:-

I. Rainbow Restaurant SDA Market, Opp IIT

II. Canara Bank, East of Kailash.

III. Abrol Sons, Sarojini Nagar