About the Program

The Karnataka Technical Support Unit (KA TSU) was set up in 2007 to support the Karnataka State AIDS Prevention Society (KSAPS) to achieve a high level of coverage and quality of its HIV prevention, treatment and care programs, under the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO)’s Targeted Intervention (TI) Program.

KA TSU supported KSAPS in implementing 76 TI programs in partnership with 75 Non Governmental Organisations/Community Based Organisations to provide HIV services to Key Populations covering Female Sex Workers, Men who have Sex with Men, Transgenders, People Who Inject Drugs and Bridge Population covering Migrants and Truckers.

The project was officially closed on 15 September 2022.

KARNATAKA IN NUMBERS

The Approach

The Karnataka TSU (KA TSU) provided technical support to KSAPS by using an evidence based approach to strategic planning, resource allocation and program management. It helped KSAPS in managing Public Private Partnerships, coordinating with other departments and in capacity building of Non Government Organisations and Community Based Organisations that implement the TI programs. The TSU also supported in creating enabling environment through advocacy initiatives to reduce stigma and discrimination faced by Key Population and facilitating legal aid.

KA TSU supported NACO in the implementation of rural intervention programs through the Link Worker Scheme in nine districts of Karnataka, covering 100 villages in each district. Through the scheme, the TSU reaches out to Key Populations and vulnerable men and women in rural areas with information, knowledge, skills on HIV/STI prevention and risk reduction.

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What We Do

  • Perception Building and Sensitisation of Medical Fraternity

Regular medical check-ups were encouraged once in three months and HIV and syphilis screening once in six months. These services were institutionalised within the existing health system, and offered with respect and by ensuring dignity to all KPs, thus improving access and service uptake by nurturing an enabling environment. The KA TSU had taken a lead in sensitising the Medical Officers on the needs of KPs in order to make the government facilities KP-friendly and to reduce stigma and discrimination. Through integration into the existing health system, a wider service base in the state was created for effective prevention, detection, referrals and treatment linkages for HIV. Additionally, efforts were on to converge HIV service linkages with the ongoing activities of National Health Mission, Reproductive and Child Health, Tuberculosis control, and reproductive and sexual health services.

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  • Personality and Skill Development

The TSU has supported KSAPS in developing a systematic structure and plan of action to undertake interventions with children and adolescent daughters of KPs and PLHIV in the state. Community consultations indicated the need for addressing the mental health and wellbeing of these children and young girls. The KA TSU conducted discussions with Psychologists, skill development agencies and KSAPS to identify solutions that had the potential to address these needs. Need assessments and counseling sessions were conducted among children and adolescents. This revealed that, in order to provide a wide range of livelihood options, a course curriculum needs to be designed, incorporating soft skills, vocational training and basic job skills.

  • Social Protection and Empowerment

The KA TSU had been instrumental in leading the development of ‘Single window model for Social Protection’, that aims to facilitate entitlements and schemes provided by the State and Central Government to all eligible vulnerable groups for the most-at-risk population, PLHIV and their children. The KA TSU had capacitated the TI partners in implementing the social protection and empowerment intervention with the objectives of: (i) encouraging and promoting empowerment among KPs (ii) ensuring fulfilment of social and economic wellbeing (iii) protection of KPs from vulnerability arising from poverty and other structural factors.

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OUR IMPACT

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Over
3 lakh

Key Populations reached annually for HIV Prevention and Care program through the TI program

78582

Female Sex Workers reached annually for HIV Prevention and Care program through the TI program

21824

Men who have Sex with Men reached annually for HIV Prevention and Care program through the TI program

2295

Transgenders reached annually for HIV Prevention and Care program through the TI program

1171

People Who Inject Drugs reached annually for HIV Prevention and Care program through the TI program

142000

Migrants reached annually for HIV Prevention and Care program through the TI program

80000

Truckers reached annually for HIV Prevention and Care program through the TI program

Over
1500

Targeted Intervention Staff (Project Manager, Counsellors, M&E, ORWs and Peer Educators) across 76 TI partners Trained Annually on HIV

Over
700

Public sector doctors sensitised on issues related to KP and care model for them

Over
900

Network Operators including 300 brothel owners sensitised on HIV through TI programs

Over
700

Lawyers sensitised on the HIV/AIDS bill

Over
40,000

Workers in 44 private industries reached for sensitisation and testing on HIV

Over
9000

ASHA trained using satellite training on HIV intervention in rural areas

Over
7000

Anganwadi workers trained using satellite training on HIV intervention in rural areas

Awareness campaigns organised in 44 Prison

Awareness campaigns organised in 69 Ujwala/ Swadhar homes

Resources

15 Years of Journey – Technical Assistance to implement Targeted Interventions for HIV Prevention

IHAT has compiled this ‘15 Years of Journey of IHAT’ report for technical assistance in implementing TIs for HIV prevention. IHAT implemented a project for 15 years in Karnataka (since 2007) and seven years in Delhi (since 2014) to support the quality implementation of the national HIV program.

Read More
Suicidality among gender minorities in Karnataka, South India

It is argued that Indian gender minorities displayed differential mental health problems and suicide attempts. Hence, the study was intended to understand the prevalence of anxiety, depression and suicidality among this group, specifically those living in a metropolitan city in South India.

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KA TSU helps build capaccity of community based organization for prevention of HIV
Implementing TI Program through Group Approach

This document highlights the approach and achievements of Soukhya Samudaya Samasthe under the Targeted Interventions in Chitradurga district of Karnataka.

Read More