Here, peer pressure8217; thwarts AIDS

Around 50,000 commercial sex workers operate out of probably the largest red-light district in Asia, which includes Kamathipura, Falkland Road and Khetwadi areas. Though no official census has been done in these areas, tests conducted this year at the comprehensive health care unit CHCU run by non-governmental organisationPopulation Services International PSI indicate that 58 per cent of the women are HIV positive.

But much before the statistics were worked out, groups working in the redlight areas had managed to convince a few CSWs that the big A was knocking on their doors. These women then took on the job of spreading HIV/AIDS awareness in their respective areas.

Shalu Enappa Aigoli is one of the crusaders of the AIDS STD Health Action ASHA project, run by the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation BMC. She left her home in Karnataka with a friend 15 years ago and found her way into a room in Kamathipura. But her journey from being just another CSW to crusader began four years back. Aigoli had frequently bumped into 8220;didis8221; trying to get the redlight areas to wake upto the reality of AIDS. Initial curiousity resulted in frequent visits to the ASHA project office. When the gravity of the disease sunk in, Aigoli wanted to do her 8220;good deed8221;.

8220;It was horrible in the beginning,8221; recalls Aigoli. 8220;Other CSWswouldn8217;t let us into their homes, they would abuse us and suspect us of being informants for the police. To start with, it had taken us a while to gather our courage, go upto our peers and talk to them about AIDS. It took them longer to believe that we were actually trying to help them. After four years of constant communication, today we can confidently say that almost everybody in these areas is aware and does what is required to keep the virus at bay.8221;

Aigoli is part of a group of 16 CSWs who reach out to their peers everyday. 8220;We started with just talking about AIDS,8221; informs Vasaka Krishna Kamble, who left home in Belgaum after her husband deserted her. 8220;But an integral part of our jobs is to look into the entire well being of a CSWs family. This includes taking ill women to hospitals, helping them open bank accounts, trying to get their children into school. We see ourselves as their friends.8221;

Explaining the concept, Anju Pawar, project manager of ASHA says: 8220;It is a holistic approach to theproblem. As peer educators, the women do more than just talk about HIV/AIDS. They also try and provide social and economic support.8221;

Chand Bi is one of the 12 peer educators working for PSI and categorically informs you that the programme is a success. Explaining she says: 8220;Today, everybody uses a condom. A client who says no is rejected even at the cost of losing business. We educate our clients and persuade them to practice safe sex. We have condoms or they bring their own.8221;

Now, concentrated effort is on to reach out to the karja CSWs, who are under the total control of the incharge of the brothel. Arupa Pawar, associate project manager of PSI8217;s redlight district project says: 8220;The independent CSWs and the ones who have a 50 per cent partnership with the madam put their foot down. But it is the new girls or the karja ones that have no say in the matter and we need to reach out to them. And, the peer educators are getting there.8221;

ASHA 8211; 3005175. PSI Helpline 8211; 3894371.