Dr Aswath Narayan, MLA, Malleswaram, inaugurated the Bike Rally undertaken by Baduku project as part of its one-month campaign Spoorthi Jagruthi against stigma and discrimination against sex workers and HIV positive people here on Wednesday, 5th November.
Addressing about 150 members from the sex workers’ collectives and staff of Baduku Project, he gave a call to treat the HIV affected with affection and human touch. Baduku is a community-based organisation formed by women in sex work who are also HIV positive. The three collectives of sex workers, who took part in the programme are Swathi Mahila Sangha, Jyothi Mahila Sangha and Vijaya Mahila Sangha. Together they have reached out to about 24000 sex workers in Bangalore to provide medical services, condom promotion and awareness material.
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The 150 volunteers on 2-wheeler bikes visited different hospitals in Bangalore city including KC General Hospital, Victoria, Vani Vilas, KIMS, Jayanagara General Hospital & Bowring Hospital and addressed stigma and discrimination issues against women in sex work living with HIV. They biked around 30 km throughout the day spreading the message of HIV prevention.
They met all Medical officers, Nursing and other staff including Superintendents of each hospital and handed over leaflets. They thanked them for their support and sought the services with a human touch in the future too.
The month-long Spoorthi Jagruthi initiative will end on the world AIDS day on Dec 1st and aims to reach out to hospitals, police, vulnerable groups and the general public. ⊕