Grameen Swapna

Bangladesh is fortunate to have this window of opportunity to prevent an HIV epidemic and it is imperative not to waste this opportunity by ensuring that appropriate interventions are in place. Up until recently Bangladesh has been a low prevalence country for HIV/AIDS. The first case of HIV was reported in Bangladesh in 1989. During that time a total of 2533 case of HIV/AIDS have been detected (Ref: NASP update, 1st December, 2011). Though the overall HIV prevalence in Bangladesh is below 1%, but it is still alarming that concentrated epidemic among IDU(s) is 5.3%, and all the risk factors for HIV infection e.g. Syringe/Needle sharing, unprotected sex, STIs among MARPs still exist. Keeping in mind the challenge of preventing HIV/AIDS among the high population density countries, and the rapid increase of HIV prevalence in surrounding countries as well south east Asia, Grameen Swapna started its HIV prevention program in early 2001 s with its strong wing of Addiction Management integrated Care (AMIC). From the very beginning AMIC has taken up different types of programs including awareness and capacity building program, interventions, research & advocacy to prevent HIV/AIDS with the support of a number of development partners, for the people of this country and especially targeted at the risk population. In order to prevent HIV/AIDS Grameen Swapna is running several projects.

Mass Awareness Program:
Grameen Swapna has been working intensively in the anti-drug activities with its anti-drug network from 2001. Awareness raising campaign for prevention of HIV/AIDS goes along with anti-drug messages as an integrated package. On one hand the Grameen Swapna network of local level initiatives works through a system of committees composed of teachers and students and on the other hand work the guardians, youths and local level organizations. Until now a total of 235 community based committee were formed. Grameen Swapna network initiated various activities in support of its intervention areas.

Training Courses
The branch committees are entrusted to create awareness among the members of the society, the parents and youths including students so as to create a movement against HIV/AIDS. To carry out these tasks the local level Branch Committee members were trained on different aspects of the HIV/AIDS & drug problems. Since 2001 Grameen Swapna conducted a number of training courses on Community Based Drug Demand Reduction and HIV/AIDS Prevention in Bangladesh.

Materials Development
A number of information and awareness creation materials such as, booklets, posters, leaflets were developed under the preventive programme, and were supplied throughout the country by the local level committees. Grameen Swapna has a particular advantage in material development as it has a full-fledged Training & Materials Development Division, which has proven expertise in developing and publishing HIV/AIDS awareness materials. Each of the 402 Branch Committees work for creating awareness among the masses about various aspects of HIV/AIDS.

Survey
Grameen Swapna Mission conducted a survey to identify and review the successful non-formal education programs focusing on building awareness and preparation for actions on HIV/ AIDS. In the survey it was found that in the non-formal education sector, especially for youths, the issue of HIV/AIDS is not adequately addressed.

Peer led Intervention
Grameen Swapna has taken a programme on experimental basis. The objective of the programme is to keep the drug addicts away from the risk behavior of HIV/AIDS. In the meantime 400 drug addicts have been enlisted under the programme. Amongst the addicts 150 have been implicated with the programme as “Peer volunteers”. These “peer volunteers” will be trained up in a course of training of 7 sessions. After having the training they will create awareness among the people by forming small groups at grass root level. The prevention programme of HIV/AIDS does not run only on the basis of how it is beeing spreads & as to how it can be prevented. It is more comprehensive & intricate. The main basis of the programme is to change the behavior. Sex, health of the drug addicts. So the drug addicts, sex workers, youths, parents, neighbours, friends & different kind of stakeholders will be implicated with the programme. By this time in each of the three districts a committee of concern has been constituted along with the stakeholders with a view to create awareness among the general mass & to faster a positive attitude towards the issues.

Prevention of Transmission of HIV Among Drug Abusers
Though the prevalence is low but the risk of HIV /AIDS is high among the target group of the project, who were street-based female drug users. Male drug abusers and sex partners of those drug abusers were mainly covered in a small scale; towards female drug abusers and the female sex partner of male drug abuser. A drop-in center was established. Female centered to provide different services such as condom distribution, VCT, health education and support group.

Community Sensitization Meeting
Seventeen sensitization meetings were organized during the project period. The objectives of the meetings were to sensitize the community people about HIV/AIDS, selecting the participants from students, community leader, housewife, forest guard, shopkeeper, and the general populations.

Clinical Services:
A total of 525 beneficiaries received clinical service from Grameen Swapna’s Clinical Services this project. Among whom 420 were general health treatment and 105 clients were STI.

Condom demonstration distribution:
134 condom demonstration sessions were conducted by Grameen Swapna in the field level. A total of 52890 condoms were distributed.