Truckers TI programme must have VCT facility

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

I reckon, all the truckers Targetted Intervention (TI) programme must have

Voluntary counseling and Testing (VCT) facility

My name is sunil and having ten years experience in AIDS prevention programmes

in Kerala, India as project manager cum Counsellor and my background is Master

of Social Work and PGDHRM and doing M phil in Social Work. Now i am working in

state govt service.

In this letter i am pointing about the strategical side for the programme for

the truckers of the country by NACO. The latest news regarding the programme is

the formation of New Technical Support unit exclusively for truckers TI

programme.

I worked last year in atruck project at Palakkad, Kerala state. Exactly the

intervention spot is Wallayar where around 3000 trucks passes from both sides.

the nearest ICTC from the point around 25 Kms far.

So the chances for the immediate testing for the drivers is difficult and it is

very useful and certaily effective to establish a VCT exclusively for truckers

at Walayar with the co-operation of Sale tax check post authories.

There enough space is available for constructing a permenant or temporory

building and it is preferably on focus with multipupose facility centre for the

truckers ie refreshment center, having paid recreation facilities, paid toilets

and bathing facilities, canteen with ICTC , Couselling centre, STI care center,

IEC stall with Audio visuals etc .

Hope it will work very effectively and expenses for the establishments may meet

from sponsers and other supportin facilities can make available from the

respective runners like canteen etc.

If we can appoint five counsellors, cancover around 200 high risk truckers per

day and can apply the strategy of voluntary testing and mandatory counselling or

information giving sessions.

So i request you to kindly consider the above mentioned ideas and make grassroot

level discussios in this regard.

With regards

Sunil.P.V

e-mail: <sunilsunilputhanveedu@...>