This intervention for long-distance truckers and allied populations started in 2005. The program has clear and well-defined objectives:
- To promote safe sexualbehavior and practices by long-distance
- To promote the use of condoms among long-distance
- To create awareness about STI/HIV/AIDS among long-distance
- To counsel and provide treatment for STI through clinics located on
As part of the program, Vatsalya provides STI/HIV/AIDS services at five major truck halting-points on the highways of Rajasthan and Gwalior in MP. The program began with theBill-Melinda Gates Foundation via the Transport Corporation of India Foundation (TCIF) in February 2005. In November 2011, the project was taken over by the National AIDS Control Society and has been supported by it ever since.
JK Tyre, a reputed multinational company, joined the campaign in the year 2008, realizing the significance and need for taking care of the trucker-population. In India, truckers most often come from the poorest of the poor section of society. They are poorly educated with little awareness of various health hazards and particularly that of unsafe sex.
- Total coverage: 40,830 truckers
- Total footfall in HIV clinics: 10,095
- Total number counselled:3,608
- Total ICTC testing: 3,335 (full form)
- STI cases identified and treated: 614
- Syphilis patients identified and treated: 100
- Number of HIV positive cases identified and treated: 4
- Total condoms sold: 58,769
Major funding support for HIV & AIDS program comes from the Government of Rajasthan and JK Tyre India Limited.