Peer educators' efforts yield good results - Condom use among lorry drivers rises from 55 per cent to 91 per cent

September 13, 2008

Peer educators' efforts yield good results

Condom use among lorry drivers rises from 55 per cent to 91 per cent

Laudable role: A. Tamilarasi, Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare, addressing a

conference in Madurai on Friday.

MADURAI: Committed efforts by peer educators had increased condom use among

lorry drivers from 55 per cent to 91 per cent in the campaign against Acquired

Immuno Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) under the 'Prevention along the Highways'

programme, the Minister for Adi Dravidar Welfare, A. Tamilarsi, said on Friday.

She was addressing a two-day 'sixth peer educators' conference' here. More

awareness should be created among people as many were still living under cover

for various reasons. Though the estimated population of AIDS-affected people in

Tamil Nadu was 1.5 lakh, including 5,500 children, only one lakh people had been

identified.

The Minister also expressed concern over a survey conducted under the

programme that showed that 85 per cent of people approached thought that they

had risk of being infected with HIV. Earlier, it was only 35 per cent.

" Though it is not possible to make an AIDS-free Tamil Nadu now, we can stop

spreading the virus to achieve the status, " she pointed out.

" Encourage them "

Praising the service of peer educators, the Minister said that they

volunteered themselves for a social cause without expecting any

remuneration. Felicitating them would encourage these people to work more

vigorously and be committed in creating awareness that there was still life

after AIDS.

The Member of Parliament, P. Mohan, in his address, compared the educators to

counsellors as they acted as facilitators and helped individuals to understand

their health status so that they would not allow it to deteriorate.

The Minister released a souvenir and the Police Commissioner, K. Nandabalan,

received the first copy. Certificates and shields were distributed to peer

educators.

The conference passed resolutions urging the government to set up an

exclusive welfare board for people living with HIV/AIDS. It also insisted the

importance of roping in the service of police, lorry owners, employers, doctors

and non-governmental organisations to make highways AIDS-free.

The conference was jointly organised by AIDS Prevention and Control Project,

Voluntary Health Services (APAC-VHS) and Tamil Nadu Peer Educators Association

and PACHE Trust, a city-based non-governmental organisation.

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