New strategy for prevention of HIV among transgenders

Considering the relatively high prevalence of HIV among transgenders, the department of AIDS Control has designed a strategy to prevent the spread of the disease among the community.
During the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme 2007-12, it was found that transgenders have different HIV prevention and care needs although some commonalities remain between them and Men who have Sex with Men (MSM).
The interventions under the Fourth National AIDS Control Programme (NACP IV) will focus on scaling up of comprehensive prevention and care package to achieve significantly increased coverage, along with strengthening the involvement of transgender in HIV/AIDS response through community development and mobilisation.

The programme is also aimed at strengthening the quality and intensity of transgender specific prevention services and building the technical skills and organisational capacity of community-based organisations (CBOs) towards effective implementation of prevention activities.
It also aims at strengthening the partnership between the transgender community, government and technical assistance providers to wipe out the stigma and discrimination against them and creating an enabled environment for the welfare of the community.
Three broad strategies have been adopted in order to ensure saturation of this key population with HIV prevention services including field based outreach, outreach through support of Gurus or Gharana/Jammath leaders and Outreach through melas where transgenders congregate.

Apart from this, diverse activities have been proposed to promote enabling environment.