HIV/AIDS is the most dreaded disease after cancer and contrary to our expectations; the menace has been sprawling unrelentingly reaching as far as our urban town. The virus gets into one’s body through vital body fluid of an infected person and destroys the essential cells and system that give the body basic immunity from all pathogens. Though a perfect cure is still awaited, it is possible to prevent the transmission of the virus from a host to the general population. The Odisha State AIDS Control Association (OSACS), the apex body of Odisha government on AIDS control, has launched Targeted Intervention Project on HIV/AIDS to effectively reverse the sprawl of the epidemic from all parts of the state over the next two years

With OSACS’s support, BSA launched Targeted Intervention (TI) Project in Kesinga, Narla & Bhawanipatna block in 2006. And after Population Mapping and Population Size (PMPSE) we are allotted 2 (Two) more Blocks i.e M.Rampur and Golamunda of Kalahandi District. Estimation of The Five blocks have a total Household of 124972 & Total population is 495631. The Project has been managing ‘Female Sex Worker’ (FSW) and ‘Men having Sex with Men’ (MSM) and Transgender (TG/Other Community) population in the city who constitute a High Risk Group to HIV/AIDS infections as well as potential transmission of the disease. It also targets a bridge population with an assumed number of     1, 00, 000 people consisting of clients, industrial labors, truckers, and migrant, who are more or less vulnerable to such infections through association with the former

The specific objectives of the project are:-

• Saturate coverage of core group i.e. Female sex workers, Men having sex with men & Transgender community through their identification by primary data collection, Social mapping, Focus Group Discussion, Key informant interviews, in-depth interview and probing stake holders, and secondary data collection.
• Scale up interventions among highly vulnerable populations namely truckers, migrants, industrial workers, as well as other bridge population.
• RReferral and linkages with other services for care, support, and treatment like ICTC, ART, RNTCP, STD clinic etc.
• Creating enabling environment through opening of Drop-in center, Self-help Group and other community forums Encouraging community participation through behavior change communication,
• Condom promotion with a view to reduce STI, and HIV among high risk population; Condom promotion by SHGs in each HRG site Stigma reduction through community events, video show, street play, and rally Encouraging gender equity by involving women in the targeted intervention program
• Referral to ICTC Organizing STI health camps, Community Based Screening (CBS) test in the operational hotspot for reducing STI vulnerability and for prevention of HIV.
• Linking all FSWs with Private preferred Provider STI clinics for availing STI services.
• Coordinating with truck owners association, community level health providers like ASHA, AWW, ANM, beauty parlor owners etc. for awareness generation. Organizing street theatres at the hot spots on the issues of HIV/AIDS
• Linking Positive cases with community care centers and ART centers for availing health services; Coverage of VDRL testing for all HRGs on priority basis, and
• Promoting alternative source of income, and ensuring social security and opportunity for sex workers through right based approach.

The Target Population At the time of launch, OSACS (under Health & Family Welfare Deptt, Govt of Orissa) set a target of 285 FSWs, 235 MSMs and 65 TGs to be covered under the project provision. These persons who get into the trade directly or inadvertently for a variety of reasons, such as institutional, instinctual, or social compulsion die a miserable death while infecting thousands of other people with the epidemic. HIV epidemic also move from HIV victims to the general population via a male sex partners. They are rarely brothel based that makes it difficult to identify them. These people may have a family and are leading a normal life. But their sexual association with a PLHA brings not only themselves to danger but also to their partners. Now till date T.I Project has13 hot spots & 8 free condom outlets are functioning at their operational area. Till date Total FSW HRG registration are 855 & MSM are 495 & TGs are 231