In the past 2 decades, MAS has been instrumental in empowering the transgender community by building their capacities to collectivize and advocate for their varied health and socio-economic rights, through a comprehensive and integrated approach of establishing linkages with relevant government and non-government stakeholders.
ADVOCACY WINS:
- 10 Transgender HG groups formed after consistent advocacy efforts with the District MEPMA (Mission for Elimination of Poverty in Urban Areas) officials; 6 SHG groups have received a loan amount.
- More than an acre of land allocated for housing of the community members and separate space with funds granted for a community hall in Ursu Kareemabad, Warangal.
HEALTH – HIV/AIDS PREVENTION, TREATMENT & SUPPORT SERVICES
VIHAAN Care and Support Centre (CSC):
Since 2018, MAS has been implementing the Vihaan CSC in 6 districts of Telangana – Warangal, Hanamkonda, Jangaon, Mahabubabad, Mulugu and Bhupalpally. Supported by the Global Fund through Alliance India and National Coalition of People Living with HIV/AIDS (NCPI+), Vihaan CSC is a comprehensive program targeted at improving the survival rate and quality of life of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV).
Till date, Vihaan CSC of MAS has benefitted 427 community members affected by HIV/AIDS by focusing on:
- Early linkages to care, support & treatment services, supporting the newly-identified PLHIV to enrol into the ART program.
- Improved treatment adherence and education, helping the PLHIV to sustain and manage their treatment regimens.
- Increased early testing and expanded positive prevention activities, contributing to national efforts to prevent HIV transmission and reduce overall burden of disease
- Improved social protection and wellbeing of PLHIV, by facilitating access to existing social welfare and protection schemes.
- Strengthened community systems and reduced stigma & discrimination, by building skills of community members to advocate for access to stigma- and discrimination-free services..
Additionally, 900+ PLHIV under Vihaan have been linked to social welfare and protection schemes of the government.
MAS also implemented with the Pehchan project, with support from Alliance India from 2011-2015. The project focused on HIV and STI prevention amongst transgender community in the Warangal District.
CRISIS RESOLUTION :
The transgender community is often vulnerable to abuse and violence from diverse stakeholders such as family, police, partners, goons, public, etc. The Crisis Committees formed by MAS promptly deal with the instances of violence faced by the transgender community.
The crisis resolution interventions, partly supported by Solidarity Foundation have benefitted 430+ community members till date.
COVID-19 RELIEF
During COVID-19, MAS collaborated with district authorities and other NGOs (Solidary Foundation, Azim Premji Foundation, Bal Vikas) to ensure regular supply of ration and hygiene kits to the marginalized transgender community.
We mobilized the transgender community for COVID-19 vaccination by addressing their apprehensions and misconceptions about the vaccine.