Truly Affordable Quality Care
+91 - 9884730000
Truly Affordable Quality Care
+91 - 9884730000
Tamil Nadu AIDS initiative (TAI) project of VHS is supported by Avahan – India AIDS Initiative of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. The first phase of the project was from 2004 to 2014 which focused on scaling up of services among the sex workers in 13 high-prevalent districts in the western region of Tamil Nadu. The project covered approximately 50,000 sex workers and MSM (Female Sex Workers, including Transgender/Kothis).
The core value of the project is:
The project was initially implemented through 25 NGOs and 2 management agencies for implementing thematic clinical services. The program transitioned to natural owners – CBOs and government.
VHS-TAI project promoted 13 FSW CBOs and 10 MSM CBOs across Tamil Nadu and capacitated them to manage the project by themselves by strengthening the CBO governing body, project and finance management.
Innovative dialogue-based behavior change communication using multimedia focusing on high-risk behaviors were conceptualized and introduced.
Strategies formulated and activities implemented were designed to sustain safer sexual practices and improved quality of life for the marginalized community.
To implement a community driven STD/HIV/AIDS prevention program in 13 high prevalent districts in Tamil Nadu.
Community Advisor - Community consultants who were part of designing the program, were later engaged in providing advice and on-site mentoring support to the CBOs in identifying the community issues and facilitate addressing the issues by themselves. They will listen to the voices of the community systematically on a monthly basis.
Counseling - In addition to the prevention counseling, VHS-TAI project also addresses the emotional issues of the sex workers towards stigma, discrimination and violence.
TAI Azhagu Nilayam (Beauty clinic) - TG communities have been trained as beauticians and created facilities called TAI Azhagu Nilayam (Beauty centre) at SESA clinic. While they do provide beauty services, they also counsel KPs on risk reduction behaviour and encourage them to access clinic services.
TAI Kaaviya – Potential community been trained on traditional folk arts to deliver the message against stigma and discrimination towards the marginalized. They conducted street plays in public places at intervention locations and performed major events such as World AIDS Day, women’s day, koovagam festival and government events.
Health hub – In order to create an enabling environment at the government hospital, VHS-TAI program has facilitated drop-in-center called ‘health hub’ in each government hospital. This initiative created a demand for seeking health behaviour and also help to sensitize government doctors and para-medicals in the hospitals.
South to North (S2N) program– Odisha – VHS-TAI was requested by NACO to partner with Odisha State AIDS Control Society (OSACS) for development of learning sites, capacity building and transfer of best practices of community-based STD/HIV program in Tamil Nadu. Established four learning sites.
.webp)
Director - Projects
CHARTERED - Projects Division
The Voluntary Health Services (VHS)
Rajiv Gandhi Salai, TTTI Post,
Taramani, Chennai – 600 113.
Email ID: williams@vhsprojects.org
For additional information on VHS Projects Division - CHARTERED, its objectives, partnerships, key activities, projects managed, overall achievements, key publications, and publications for downloading, please visit or click Here