Addressing stigma and discrimination in Andhra Pradesh: Alliance India Andhra Pradesh
Populations key to the epidemic (men who have sex with men, sex workers and people with HIV) are leading the response to HIV through Alliance India Andhra Pradesh.
All outreach work is carried out by key populations, who had reported numerous incidents of police harassment while carrying out their work. Alliance India Andhra Pradesh and partners met with the Andhra Pradesh Department of Police, with positive results: the Police Director General ordered district police to sign the identity cards of all outreach staff – the first time this had ever happened in Andhra Pradesh. The Director General’s office also requested awareness programmes for police at all levels in every district – which NGO partners are now providing.
Members of key populations are also working as peer educators, clinic administrators, and assistant programme coordinators and are involved in the clinic review committee.
Alliance India Andhra Pradesh is working with key stakeholders, such as religious leaders, young people, the Indian medical association and Mahila Mandals (women’s groups) to raise awareness and link the community with other services, such as medical camps and vocational training. Key population groups are also developing street plays and theatre, media events and police sensitisation.
Support groups and community-based organisations are helping people with HIV, for example, coming together to help people who have been thrown out of their homes, or when people with HIV have passed away.
People with HIV are also being supported to participate in a government programme, ASHA, where they can share their experiences and raise issues, with the benefit of reaching a larger audience.
Finally, 14 people affected by the epidemic were trained in documentary photography as part of the Frontiers Prevention Project’s Unheard Voices, Hidden Lives photography project and exhibition. They will be using their skills to strengthen the work of the programme.
