A preventive
medicine for AIDS, ‘Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis’ (PrEP), administered to sex
workers in Kolkata’s Sonagachi, one of Asia’s largest red light districts, has
revealed positive results.
Under a pilot
project, which has been cleared by the National AIDS Control Organisation
(NACO) and the Union Health Ministry, about 700 sex workers from Sonagachi are
being administered the drug since February 2016 in different batches.
“According to
available data, about 3% of sex workers at Sonagachi run the risk of HIV virus
contamination. In the past two years there has not been a single case among the
700 sex workers on whom the study is being carried out,” Smarajit Jana,
principal of the Sonagachi Research and Training Institute, toldThe Hindu on
Thursday on the eve of World AIDS Day.
Dr. Jana, who is
also the chief adviser of Durbar, the largest collective of sex workers with
65,000 members, said the study will be completed by early 2018.
“Sonagachi is
the only place in India where the study on the drug is being carried on such a
large population. We had counselled and screened those who are taking the drug
and not included those who are HIV positive, pregnant and suffering from
Hepatitis B in the study,” said Dr. Jana.
According to Dr.
Jana, despite an increase in condom use by sex workers, they are always
susceptible to HIV infection.
“Condom usage
among customers has increased in the past few decades and reached 95% . But
despite our best efforts, it is only 50% for babus (boyfriend or husband of a
sex worker),” he said.
Not enlisted
Charu Galla, a
doctor who is associated with the project, said there are many sex workers who
are not enlisted in the pilot project and want the drug as it gives them a
security that they will not get HIV infection. Dr. Galla said those who are
regularly taking the drug are tested every three months.
A 25-year-old
sex worker, who hails from Ranaghat in south Bengal and has been taking the
medicine since mid-2016, said she had some complications initially. “I felt
some headache but after a few days got used to the medicine. Even after the
project is over we would like to have the medicines,” she said. Dr. Galla said
contamination with HIV doesn't only mean a huge health risk for the sex
workers, but they are left marginalised and their source of income also comes
to an end.
According to
World Health Organization (WHO), “oral pre-exposure prophylaxis should be
offered as an additional prevention choice for people at substantial risk of
HIV infection”.
Dr. Jana said
once the final report of the project is compiled, Durbar will suggest that the
drug be used with a long-term objective of prevention of HIV infection in
populations which are more susceptible to AIDS.
Source: THE HINDU-1st December,2017
