Recognised as a
force vital to controlling the spread of the disease with several new initiatives now actively targeting them.
India has about 5 million truckers, a number expected to double in the next ten years, according to the Asian Institute of Transport Development.
Also, the National Aids Control
Organisation (NACO) points out that about 40 per cent to 50 per cent of them ply long-distance routes and they have an estimated HIV prevalence of 11.16 per cent.
This means there could be an estimated 0.6-0.7 million HIV positive truckers in the country according to published official NACO research in 2005. Experts contend the numbers have gone up considerably.
The long-distance truckers are made vulnerable to AIDS because of their long stays away from the family, high alcohol consumption, easily accessible sex networks and limited access to sexual health services. Combined with almost no knowledge about AIDS, leave alone about prevention and treatment, these individuals not only fall prey to the disease but also end up infecting their partners back home.
"Project Humsafar", a brainchild of SABMiller India, one of the leading brewers in the country says it has covered about 38,000 truckers since 2008.
Experts opine that the country desperately needs more such initiatives to spread AIDS awareness.
A couple of years ago, Raju, a truck driver had not even heard about HIV AIDS, leave alone realising that he fell among the high risk group precisely because of his job.
"After attending HIV sessions of Project Humsafar, I realised that I am in the high risk group. Moreover I came to know that due to my high risk behaviour, I will be in deep trouble and my family will be worst affected This awareness knowledge has led me to take precautions when I am out of home for long duration on the road," he says.
SABMillers' strategy has been to intercept the constantly moving population of truckers at locations
Where they halt
frequently for sufficient duration, for instance food joints along the highway.
Similarly, the Transport Corporation of India (TCIF) through its Foundation has been directing "Project Kavach" which contacts 61,000 truckers every month through 5500 interpersonal communication sessions for education and medical treatment.
"We have stationed our volunteers and built clinics at transshipment locations where truckers stop for considerable amount of time i.E. Transport nagars," says Sachin Juneja, National Manager, TCIF, which has been chosen as the Technical Support Group by the government for its nationwide truckers program initiated by NACO from April 2009. MORE
