Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Intervention project launched with Japanese funding

Chennai: The Chennai branch of the Family Planning Association of India (FPAI) has launched a project to provide interventions to sex workers, people living with HIV/AIDS and men having sex with men (MSM). The aim of the Japanese-funded project ‘Expanding Access to Information and Services to Key Population’ was to provide information, create awareness and clarify doubts on various issues. A drop in centre ‘Sangamam’ was also launched by P. Padmanabhan, director, Public Health and Preventive Medicine. He spoke about the importance of increasing infrastructure to meet the challenges of discrimination and stigma that is especially faced in villages where people living with HIV/ AIDS are still being looked down upon.

Sujatha Natarajan, vice-president, FPAI - Chennai, said the programme was designed with the help of beneficiaries. The activities planned include conducting out-patient sessions, arranging for small loans, providing vocational training, and forming support groups. Sensitisation meetings for police and medical personnel would be organised. Film director S.P.Muthuraman, Ranjini Murugan, president of the association, and sexologist D. Narayana Reddy spoke.

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