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SANGRAM: A Progressive Approach to HIV/AIDS in India
In India, IWHC supports SANGRAM, an organization working to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic comprehensively through prevention, treatment, and support. Reaching populations with prevention efforts--particularly women, who represent roughly 40% of new infections--will be crucial to halting India's epidemic.
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An education site run by SANGRAM
and its partners. |
IWHC has supported SANGRAM since 2006 to serve as the Secretariat of Action Plus, a network of activist groups fighting to make India's HIV/AIDS policy more responsive to the needs of its population. Drawing on 15 years of work in communities to strengthen and empower women against HIV/AIDS, SANGRAM is becoming an increasingly stronger policy advocate nationally, and globally. SANGRAM's activities through Action Plus include documenting the experiences of individuals who have been left out of national HIV/AIDS policies, including women, and coordinating their testimonies before policymakers. It is also working to produce a report on the status of India's HIV/AIDS epidemic which will highlight urgent issues not addressed by the government. The first report's release is planned for late 2007.
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Attendees leave a meeting of
SANGRAM's District Campaign. |
IWHC also supports SANGRAM's District Campaign, which works in two ways to reach women and young people with HIV/AIDS information and services. The Maitrin program trains rural women as peer educators to share knowledge with other women in their villages, enabling a safer and more comfortable environment for difficult conversations on taboo topics. At the same time, the Campaign trains social workers to act as patient advocates in the medical sector. Social workers' activities include running a rural medical center; facilitating prevention, treatment, and/or support for rural women; and sensitizing medical professionals and local government officials on issues relating to HIV/AIDS. SANGRAM is based in Sangli, Maharashtra.
Learn more about SANGRAM
Visit SANGRAM's website>>
Read the story of Anita, a sex worker active in SANGRAM's programs>>
Page last updated 9/5/07.
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