The delivery of services for prevention of HIV infection and treatment and prevention of other STIs among FSW in Karachi actually our project is a follow up program of previous held project four years back, that project was closed after four year but we continue the project to develop our repo with Female Sex Workers. We have registered approximately 12000 female sex workers.
We are covering left side of the Karachi from Kemari to Toll Plaza, (UP, Baldia, Sohrab Goth, Brothel) etc. The female sex workers are migrating population now some of them are migrated from left to the right side of the Karachi, now we are also covering the right side of the Karachi.
The objectives of the project includes; Prevention of the HIV & AIDS; STIs prevalence remains below 3% among Female Sex Workers (FSWs) in target area. To reduce the rate of the other sexually transmitted disease; Condoms use rate at least 60% of sexual acts by Sex Workers.
The targeted audiences are Female Sex Workers (FSWs) and their families; local NGOs in our target areas; law Enforcement Agencies / Local Body Representatives; Health Care Providers (HCPs); Community Based Organizations. The nature of works includes brother based, street based and kothi khana.
The Services Provision includes; Provision of Voluntary Counseling and Testing (VCT) services pre & post test counseling; Primary Health Care services & Syndromic Management of sexually transmitted diseases under the define of WHO & National Guidelines; Education and counseling for prevention of H I V &S TIs; Linkages of services (e.g. laboratory referrals); Promotion and distribution of condoms and Lubricants; Distribution of the Infor-mation Education & Commu-nication (IEC) material i.e (Brouchers, pamphlets, booklet to FSWs and their families; Provision of Enabling Environment to support the intervention in the target area through a Advocacy Meeting with the Law Enforcement Agencies; Empowerment of female sex workers through their rights.
Capacity Building Trainings and sessions The training workshops for ORWs on STIs and HIV/AIDS and Safe Sex Practices including condom usage and disposal.
The Orientation Sessions for ORWs includes Basic Health Hygiene, STIs, HIV/AIDS prevention and proper Use of Condoms.
A daily visits by Out Reach Workers is done. Three groups visited areas include Brothels, UP Sohrab Goth & Baldia Town. The networking members includes Social Welfare Department, SAATH (Lyari), Linkages with PLHA, Kaiynat Foundation, Health Vision Foundation, Mehran Welfare Trust Larkana, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA), PAVHNA, Sindh AIDS Control Program, Town Nazims, Law Enforcement Agencies, Anjuman-e-Shopkeepers in Brothel Area, Karachi University’s Social Sciences Department, Liaison with Religious Person in our target areas, The liaison with Electronic & Print media are Dawn TV, Hum TV, CNBC, ARY; Daily Dawn, Daily Times, The News, Medical Review.
The Challenges we face i.e.
• The owner of the vehicle of the last program a treating us to return our vehicle otherwise we inter and FIR against you or otherwise you should pay Rs.36000/- per month rent of vehicles.
• Due to the bad political situation in Karachi our Field Workers are faced many problems during the working in the field and return back to the home with difficulties and do’not come on work during that days.
• In the Kothi Khana FSWs complaining that Madam pressurizing her to do sex during menstruation, pregnancy how we can solved them?
• Nazims, Councilors of the target areas due to the lack of knowledge the resist our work.
• If there is a lack of funding or delay of funding then there is a problem to us that we
do not able to give salary to staff on time. New intiatives Provision of the Education Service for Children of Sex Workers
• We develop a School in our Field Office Brothel based initially their was 56 children. We have given them free courses i.e. School Bags and some incentive.
• 27 children promoted to class VI in other Schools.
• Now we have 29 children in our classes. Now their Mothers and Sisters wanted to get admission in our school for education. But we do not have any funding for school.
Development of New business for MSMs & Hijras in Brothel Based
• After 9:00PM to whole night new business started for MSMs (Men sex with Men) & Hijras in Brothel Based they are standing on side of the road and attract the client
for sex. We are thinking some thing to do for them if we have got opportunity, because recently one Hijras die due to AIDS. In Brothel area every sex workers has their servent Hijra due to this the population of Hijras are increasing day by day in Brothel Based.
• Our organization wanted it is to be necessary to work for MSMs & Hijras.
• We have also meeting with MSMs & Hijras for the future plan.
Development of Community Based Organizations (CBOs)
Support from UNFPA, GRHF is implementing, Service Delivery Project (SDP) for the
FSWs in Karachi. We have also supported development of Community Based Organizations (CBOs) “Anjuman-e-Musakran & Fankaran” (Registered)Ê for the target community.
• Membership will be extended to the other areas, currently not covered by the SDP, to increase membership.
• A small fund will be created for the community welfare and emergency purposes
• Possibility of linkage of CBOs with others will be sorted
• Office bearers will organize training in Beautician & Industrial Home for the community.
• Possibility of seeking legal support also sorted out.
• To sensitize the health of sex workers for their rights.