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Ms. Anna Joy
PROJECT DIRECTOR IN CHARGE |
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AIDS is a fact of life. It
is no longer someone else’s disease. We are all equally
susceptible to it – if we continue to be ignorant about the
facts. The best protection the world has got against HIV/AIDS are
the actions of individuals. There’s no cure for AIDS, there
is no vaccine against HIV, but there are simple things that we all can
do to stop the spread of HIV. The crucial thing is knowing
what these simple, but very powerful, actions are in the first
place. Knowledge can change behaviour. And changing
behaviour can stop the spread of HIV. That will save lives.
Avert Society was founded to assist the efforts of National AIDS
Control Organisation (NACO) and the Government of Maharashtra. It
has received a major grant from USAID to be engaged in reducing the
transmission and mitigating the impact of STD/HIV/AIDS and related
infectious diseases.
Maharashtra accounts for more than 50 per cent of all reported HIV and
AIDS cases in India. There exists a strong epidemiological
association association between HIV/AIDS and other STDs. It is
now estimated there are nearly 3,000 new HIV infections daily in the
State.
The objective of Avert Society is increased use of effective and
sustainable responses to reduce the transmission and mitigate the
impact the impact of STD/HIV/AIDS and related infectious diseases in
Maharashtra.
Avert Society adopts the following strategies :
- Availability and Quality of prevention services
- Availability and Quality of Care and Support Services
- Support capacity building of Institutions including state/municipal bodies
- Research
- Communications
Avert Society’s main focus is to make available Care and Support
services, to support & disseminate research findings and increased
use of communication tools for behavioural change.
AVERT society focuses on the following THEMES:
- Intravenous Drug Users
- Brothel based Sex Workers
- Non brothel based Sex Workers
- Transport Workers/Truckers
- Slum based/young people
- Organized/Un-organised business/Industrial Sectors.
These themes are being implemented in 7 priority districts namely
Mumbai, Thane, Sangli, Satara, Aurangabad, Nagpur and Solapur.
The project activities at present reach out to different vulnerable
groups through NGOs, institutional collaborations, and other agencies
operating in Maharashtra State.
Health care providers, community based organization and NGOs working in
this or related field are welcome to approach us for financial
support. The selection procedure will mainly consider the
experience and dedication to the cause of the applying organizations.
Avert Society is committed to controlling the spread of HIV/AIDS as
well as caring for those afflicted by it. The Avert Society is
especially committed to the reduction of stigma and discrimination
& protection of human rights of people affected by HIV/AIDS,
particularly the vulnerable and marginalized, as it takes on the
formidable challenge of prevention & control of HIV/AIDS in
Maharashtra.
Ms. Anna Joy
Project Director In Charge
Avert Society |
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