Aghaz-e-Nau

INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND Today, young people (15-24) account for 40 per cent of all new adult HIV infections. Each day, more than 2400 young people become infected with HIV—and some five million young people are living with HIV. Young people are a fulcrum. They remain at the center of the epidemic and they have the power, through their leadership, to definitively change the course of the AIDS epidemic. Experience over the past decade has demonstrated how to address HIV among young people . In countries with concentrated epidemics, programs and resources must focus on adolescents and youth who engage in risky behaviors, including injecting drugs, selling sex and men who have sex with men. In countries with generalized epidemics, where the general population is at risk, all vulnerable young people, particularly young women, need to be targeted priority in policy and program design. Evidence shows that sex education helps in reducing the risk of HIV by delaying the onset of sexual

AeN is working in collaboration with Legal Aid Center to provide training to Female Para legal Workers on drug abuse and HIV Prevention since 1994. AeN provides training to 40 Female Para legal Workers every year from 40 slums of Lahore. After completing training sessions these Female Para legal Workers conduct seminars in slums of Lahore under direct supervision of AeN. It is estimated that there are 8,000 Drug Users and approximately 1 200 female drug users with a very low number of injecting drug users. Females in these areas are using heroin, hash and local alcohol. Awareness of HIV transmission is increasing in these areas still many females are into high risk behavior including selling sex. It is estimated that approximately 50 per cent of Female Drug Users sell sex to earn their bread and butter and they are unable to negotiate safe sex. Almost each female is having 4-5 sex partners thus putting themselves at high risk of HIV/AIDS and other blood borne diseases. There is

AeN worked to provide treatment services to female with drug abuse problem from 2006-2009 and the project was funded by UNODC. AeN established two Drop-In Centers in Kachi Basti and Red Light Area, Lahore. The project was implemented with the following objectives: To provide drug addiction treatment and rehabilitation services to females with drug abuse problem To Provide primary health care services and treatment of STIs to females with drug abuse problem To provide HIV/AIDS awareness and education to females with drug abuse problem Implementation of behavior modification tools for assertiveness training, communication skills, role modeling, role rehearsal and negotiation skills for behavioral change and safer sex To develop linkages with existing VCCT facilities for HIV testing http://www.unodc.org/documents/evaluation/ProEvals-2008/PAKI35%20-FINAL.pdf