India has an estimated 5.1 million cases of HIV, the second largest population in the world. Misperceptions about AIDS often lead to orphaned children being banned from schools, doctors refusing to provide care, loss employment and arrest of health educators. Often infected by their husbands and then widowed, women not only have suffered through the disease but have been tormented by their in-laws, lost their families, and their land. Mobilizing communities, disseminating information, and raising awareness are the best practice interventions that AID promotes.

In 2004-2005, AID disbursed $31,000 to raise community awareness and support people living with HIV. AID Duke is collaborating with Sahanivasa in Andhra Pradesh to educate people in villages through cultural groups and entertainment. Mercy Trust in Madurai, funded by AID Penn State, works on providing alternative employment to HIV-affected sex workers. AID-Cincinnati is working with Suraksha to provide counseling about HIV/AIDS to people living in slums of Bangalore and refer HIV-positive people to hospitals for treatment.

Suraksha empowers women on reproductive health issues; provides microcredit programs for the women, youth activities for adolescents, and engages men to play a supportive role. Jagurata Bharata has raised awareness on health in Mysore, and communities have begun to demand more blood testing services and condoms. AID Boise has funded Snehalaya Bhavan in Ahmednagar to provide health and education services to children in prostitution areas, to raise HIV/AIDS awareness and condom use, and to stop human trafficking. Snehalaya has intervened in about 200 atrocity cases and compelled the police department to take action against the criminals involved. In the future, AID can make a difference by empowering rural women on reproductive health and raising awareness about relationship of TB, nutrition, and HIV.

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Rahel Mathews, Durham