TARGETED INTERVENTION ( IDUs)SUB-DROP-IN-CENTRE (SUB-DIC), KHONGJOM
Targeted Intervention ( TI ) Projects is major continuation project of the Organization. The main objective of the project is to minimize the spread of HIV infection among the injecting Drug Users and to their sexual partners and spouses through a comprehensive harm reduction approach and activities, creation of an enabling environment through ongoing community advocacy, outreach services, sensitization the general community etc. The project was initiated since 10th October 2010 at Khongjom with the target of 250 IDUs in Thoubal District, Manipur. During the period 2024 – 2025 the project covered 370 IDUs for DIC Khongjom out of this 53 are newly enrolled in this financial year and 107 have dropped out and the remaining 283 by the end of this year is the active population.
i) Needle & Syringe Exchange Programme :
Needle and Syringe exchange programme aims to promote safe injection in every injecting act. Whereby the High Risk Groups are encourage not to share needle and use a new syringe for every injection. This is the best way for spread of HIV virus could be halted amongst the IDUs community. The goal of the NSEP is “to ensure that every injecting act is covered with a safe needle & syringe”. The HRGs mostly access the needle/syringe services through the Drop-in-Centre of the organization located at Khongjom Bazar. It has been distributed with basic counseling and awareness regarding bleach and teaches by the Outreach Workers and Peer Educators at field level. During the period from 1st April,2024 to 31st March, 2025 the project has distributed 84686 syringes and 75410 syringes were returned at DIC center. In every month average of 247 HRGs received needle syringes services through outreach service.
DURING THE PERIOD OF 2024-25 NEEDLE & SYRINGE DISTRIBUTED AND RETURNED
ii) Condom Promotion :
Condom promotion is a key HIV/AIDS strategy because the consistent and correct use of condoms significantly reduces the risk of transmission of HIV/STI and unwanted pregnancy. During the period from 1st April 2024 to 31st March, 2025, 17496 condoms have been distributed to IDUs 12187, spouses 2364 and through condom outlet 1815 & at DIC (1055 & 75 (social marketing) respectively which is one of the important components of Harm reduction activities under the TI-Project.
Objective: Ensuring availability, accessibility and correct and consistent use of condoms by HRGs.
iii) Networking Meeting:
As a part of Enabling Environment activities under TI project 2 nos. of Networking Meeting have been conducted at different places of the project area. In the meeting, TI project & People’s participation and need & importance of education, psychological support to PLWHA etc. were discussed. The methodologies of meeting were purely participatory manner. I.E.C material including poster, pamphlet etc, were also distributed and displayed among the participants& also distributed nutritional Support to PLHIV.
iv) Hot Spot Meeting (Demand Generation Activities):
During the period under report, 24 nos. of Hot Spot meeting were held with the IDUs. In the hot spot meeting HRGs are taught about safer injection, safer sex, overdose prevention, OST, HIV & co infection (TB) etc. BCC sessions, community mobilization process and crisis responds team information’s share to HRGs, during the year 2024 – 2024.
v) Care & Services:
During this reporting period, IDU 298 & Spouse 77 & 5 widow no’s of individual on head counts have attended the clinic (i.e.) an average of 90 – 100 IDUs attended clinic per month & average of 10-15 Spouses of IDU also attended the clinic per month including the follow up services. Patients have been provided clinical service along with provision of O.I medicines at free of cost. They were given counseling, Verbal screening for TB and basic health educations by the counselor of the DIC.
vi) DIC Level Meeting:
DIC level meeting is used as a monitoring tool to assess the availability, accessibility and quality of harm reduction services from the HRGs perspective and also asses the behavior change of the HRGs .During the reporting period, 24 nos. of DIC level meeting were held at both the DIC to finding a core area where level of sites and individual HRG also done to fill the gaps and education.
vii) General Medical Check-up :
During the period FY 2024 – 2025 298 IDU & Spouse 77 Health Check-up is being conducted as a routine work with trained doctor and ANM / Nurses of the both DICs. Here we keep confidentiality, care and support with kin supervision and imparts all the information they need for positive living. Every HRG are schedule to bring at GMC and STI detection and treatment is the primary objective of the GMC.
viii) In House Training for PE, ORW & ANM:
5 nos. (In house training) Peer Educators (P.E.), Outreach Worker (ORW) & ANM Training have been conducted at Drop in Centre of the Organization, Khongjom Bazar, Lecturer/Talk, Discussion.During the training Condom Demonstration, Overdose management. & demonstration on Harm Reduction practices as a demo were also the main activities of the training
ix) Community Event/Group Session :
Community event is a programme being conducted in close collaboration with the HRGs. 03 nos. of Community Event / Group Session for IDUs and community have been Conducted. It is the efforts initiated towards community representatives in order to make understand the programme and make them willing to participate in the project activities. TI Staff in collaboration with HRGs were conducted events like International AIDS Candle light memorial observation on the 3rd Sunday of May and World AIDS Day observation on 1st December Dec.2024 and 105 HRGs were participated. Experience sharing and interaction among the participants regarding the issues of HIV/AIDS, Stigma & Discrimination, Care &Nutrition support to PLWHA were main activities. As part of the program Carrom competition among the HRGs were also organized .Cash prize award were given to 1s,t 2nd and 3rd position .
Health Camp :
During the period (2024 – 2025) health camp is being conducted at far flung areas with trained doctor and nurses by looking for those HRGs who could not turned up at DIC and to bring an enabling environment in the area. 1 health camps were conducted for both the DIC, health camp is a process to make the HRGs have health seeking behavior .To identified HRGs from general public, to give maximum medicine and psychological support and to identified the status of IDUs at one time at one place and to reduce stigma and discrimination among the general public.
It is to give symptomatic relief to the HRGs and to develop a relationship between the HRGs and to develop a relationship between the HRGs health personals. All together 49 HRGs were attended the camp, out of which 33 IDUs 11 Spouses were health check up as follow up client and 5 general public were treated.
xi) Referral Services :
During this Financial year 2024 -2025, 272 IDUs & 80 spouses have been done voluntary testing through ICTC and 272 IDUs and 80 spouses screened for syphilis at Govt. hospital, private Lab. and DIC Clinic, None of the IDUs and their spouses were detected with HIV and STI. Those IDUs who seek OST have been referred to OST center Dist. Hospital Khangabok, 12 IDUs have been registered at OST center in this financial year and 18 are active as on date. The project also given nutrition support PLWHA.
xii) Staff Review Meeting :
The planning and target to be achieved are done during the meeting .Experience sharing and discussions of their field work are also done during the review meeting. Such type of meeting helps to perform the activities smoothly. Its help to work together team sprit through mutual understanding and support. This type of meeting is a process for every month by including all the staff, peer educators and project director. 60 review meeting were conducted at the DIC.
xiii) Community Base Screening:
Community Base Screening is one of the important activities of the TI project. During this program the project try to cover the unreached areas and the uncover population. This program gives an opportunity to those HRGs and the vulnerable populations to get them tested for HIV and know their HIV status and link them to the various service Centre’s for necessary treatment 104 HRGs &15 Spouses were screen during community base screening program.