Introduction

The start of 4 years project named “SAKHYAM, a SRH & R and HIV Prevention Project funded by European Union, Interact worldwide and LEPRA Society was implemented in January, 2008 in 4 urban slums of Bhubaneswar i.e. Salia Sahi, Niladri Vihar, Mali Sahi & Bharatpu.

In line with the Government’s multi-sectoral partnership against HIV/AIDS initiative, the project shall work with an integral approach in the prevention of HIV/AIDS in combination with sharing work, ideas and cooperation between Health & Family Welfare department and Orissa State AIDS Control Society. The Chief Medical Officer and Nodal Officer of HIV/AIDS wing of Capital Hospital have agreed to treat all cases referred by SAKHYAM and for blood testing, counseling etc.

SRH Project activities

1. Improved quality and spread of SRH services (Family planning, 1 Mobile STD Clinic, 2 Drop-in centres, 4 Health Resource Centres in schools, clubs, community halls of corporate bodies, NGOs etc.)

2. Sexual education to peer group estimated 8000 adolescent boys and girls, 300 risk groups (female sex workers, 250 MSM and 160 of their female partners, 400 IDUs, 900 PLHAs)

3. Increased awareness of SRH among NGOs, CBOsm peer educators and politicians, departments and institutions (Government and Private health service providers), (police, Advocates and PRI members)

4. 5 programmes on IEC needs assessment at community level conducted in 5 identified locations in two of the three project target locations. A total of 216 people (93- Male, 123 –Female) from the target population participated in the IEC needs assessment meeting

5. Improved SRH status of the population

6. Identified 4 active NGOs (Care and Share Mission, World Vision, Ruchika, Trishakti) for a coordinated approach to disseminate the information on sexual education, health and sanitation, HIV/AIDS control and prevention.