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ShareNew Delhi: The National Aids Control Organisation (NACO) feels that the Delhi high court verdict on legalising homosexuality will have a far reaching impact on its intervention programmes against HIV/AIDS."From the public health point of view this is a very positive step as it will help us reach out more and more men having sex with men (MSMs) in our endeavour against HIV/AIDS. Since homosexuality is illegal under IPC 377, not only the MSMs but many of our health workers are also arrested by the police for abetment of crime. As I result a lot of MSMs go underground and are reluctant to seek medical intervention. The HC verdict will help MSMs come out in open and access healthcare," said K Sujatha Rao, director general of NACO. MSM is a medical term used for the gay.
According to government estimates, there are about 25 lakh gays and 1 lakh lesbians in the country. The highest concentration of homosexual men in India is in four major states -- Maharashtra (48,000), Tamil Nadu (30,000), Delhi (28,000) and Gujarat (26,000). However, only 70% of the MSMs have identified themselves and are involved with NACO's intervention programmes. Officials in NACO said that about 30% of them are still not covered.
"Our programme is based on self identification. About 70% of the MSMs have identified themselves and are connected with NACO's programmes. Among the gays it is the kothis (the receptive partner) who are more at risk of STDs and HIV/AIDS. Our package on MSM involves behaviour change and prevention. Under this the health workers provide them condoms, get them tested for HIV/AIDS and help them with access to medical aid. Peer educators among the MSM community are also used to generate awareness. We hope to expand our programmes to 200 now," said an official.
