Voice Trust, in association with the Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society (TANSACS) and NACO implemented workplace-based HIV prevention care program for the benefit of Industrial workers in the month of April 2023. The HIV/AIDS program aims to sustain optimal workplace productivity by conducting prevention, education and awareness training and reduce the spread of new infections. The project was to enhance coverage of workers linked with industries, using existing structures and systems of the industries. 7 Industries were covered in Ramnad under the proposed project.
ACTIVITIES CARRIED OUT DURING THE PROJECT

• In all the 7 Industries (Agro Sea Foods Ltd.,Sambai – Rameshwaram, Ramnad Dist, Indian Oil Corporation Limited, Gas Compressor Station. Valantharava Ramamnathapuram, Ksa Sea Foods ,Thangachi Madam-Rameshwaram, Rmt Sea Foods ,Thondi Ramnad District, Siva Timbers, Ramnad, Sri Ayyan, Champer Briks Company, Manjur, Shivaji Weavers Co-Operative Production & Sales Ltd, Paramakudi) Awareness and informative Education sessions on AIDS/HIV were conducted by Mr. T. Murugesan, Director Voice Trust, Mr Jeyakumar, Project Manager, Voice Trust Ramnad and Mr Poovendhan, Assistant Director, Voice Trust Madurai. Guest lecturers were also delivered by eminent personalities
• HIV/AIDS awareness Rally by the Industry employees and other dignitaries from the project sites to the neighborhood were carried out. The rally was conducted by the employees holding placards with AIDS related slogans. All the participants were provided with caps and badges.
• In-factory training program for workers covering basic facts about HIV, its prevention, to understand how HIV is treated and how to live and work with HIV-infected persons. The training also included condom use, awareness of discrimination, and the importance of an HIV/AIDS work place policy.
• Integrated HIV and AIDS awareness activities within existing health and safety, welfare and human resources (HR) activities
• Imparted the importance of Nutrition and exhibition of nutritious and healthy food.
• The heads of the Industries were honored with Shields and shawls.
• Distribution of IEC material (pamphlets & Notices) as per the prototypes provided by SACS were distributed to all the employees of the Industry
• Posters containing valuable information on HIV/AIDS were released. These posters were pasted inside the premises of the workplace.

“Equalize” is this year’s World AIDS Day theme. It’s a rallying cry to get
serious about addressing disparities and doing everything we can to end
AIDS. Therefore, it is important to increase access to HIV treatment, testing, and prevention services by bettering their availability, quality, and applicability. Individuals living with HIV and other vulnerable and marginalized groups risk discrimination and isolation because of the virus. On 10th December, Voice Trust joined hands with CUBE HIGHWAYS, a Singapore-based company, to commemorate World AIDS Day 2022, under the theme “Equalize”. Mr Shibashish Sahoo, VP, Social Safeguard of Cube Highways presided over the function. The CSR activities included nutritious Samapandhi Bhojanam and distribution of groceries to around 160 beneficiaries affected with AIDS. The program was a integrated effort of Voice Trust, CUBE Highways, CUBEROOTS Foundation, Madurai- Kanyakumari Tollway Ltd, Kanyakumari- Etturvattam Tollway Ltd and TANSACS. At the event, Voice Trust Director Mr T Murugesan was honoured with the Appreciation Award for AIDS Awareness Creation from National Aids Control Organization Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, DAPCU Collectorate Madurai and Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society, Govt of Tamil Nadu.

Under the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Our Organization has been selected byTANSACS (TAMIL NADU STATE AID CONTROL SOCIETY) to implement TI FSW(TARGETED INTERVENTION among Female Sex Workers) Project in Ramanathapuram district. The inaugural function was held on the 9th Sep 2022 at Ramnad. Voice Trust Project Manager Mr. A. Jaya Kumar welcomed Mr.T.Murugesan Voice Trust Project Director and other guests. Mr.A.Jeyakumar PM hosted the program. DDTBMr.N.Jeevanatham delivered the welcome address. AIDS Control Organization was launched in 1977. He congratulated the people working in FSW Project saying that they are like God. After that AIRD Director PD, Mr. Thomas Peter Sir congratulated all VOICE TRUSTStaff.Then S.Santhi DSWO praised the Voice Trust Staffs saying “We have faced a lot of difficulties in following TG people, but you all follow FSW people and work for their welfare, especially women are doing this well, I am proud of being a woman.” After that Mr.Murugesan Sir started his congratulatory speech by saying “Makal Paniye MahesanPani”. We believe that our work is God-like work for people living with HIV and sexually transmitted diseases (STI/Syphilis). The program was concluded with a vote of thanks from Mr.Poovendan Assistant Director congratulating all the Voice Trust TI Staff for a good job and thanked the guests for their presence.

AIDS is a life threatening disease caused by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV. HIV makes it difficult for the body to fight infections. There is no cure for AIDS till now.

AIDS stands for Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome. An HIV- infected person receives a diagnosis of AIDS after developing one of the CDC-defined AIDS indicator illnesses. An HIV positive person who has not had any serious illnesses also can receive an AIDS diagnosis on the basis of certain blood tests (CD4+ counts). A positive HIV test result does not mean that a person has AIDS. A diagnosis of AIDS is made by a physician using certain clinical criteria (e.g. AIDS indicator illnesses). Infection with HIV can weaken the immune system to the point that it has difficulty fighting off certain infections. These types of infections are known as “opportunistic” infections because they take the opportunity a weakened immune system gives to cause illness. Many of the infections that cause problems or may be life-threatening for people with AIDS are usually controlled by a healthy immune system. The immune system of a person with AIDS is weakened to the point that medical intervention may be necessary to prevent or treat serious illness.

In 1992, the Government of India demonstrated its commitment to combat the disease with the launch of the first National AIDS Control Programme (NACP-I). The programme, implemented during 1992-1999 with an IDA Credit of $84 million, had the objective to slow down the spread of HIV infections so as to reduce morbidity, mortality and impact of AIDS in the country. To strengthen the management capacity, a National AIDS Control Board (NACB) was constituted and National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) was set up for project implementation.

The Phase II of the National AIDS Control Programme was launched in 1999. It was a 100% centrally sponsored scheme implemented in 32 States/UTs and 3 Municipal Corporations namely Ahmedabad, Chennai and Mumbai through AIDS Control Societies.

The government designed and implemented NACP III (2007-2012) with an objective to “halt and reverse the HIV epidemic in India”. All these efforts helped in a steady decline in overall prevalence and decrease in new infections over last ten years.

Programme conducted in association with TANSACS in Karuppayurani Village, Madurai Sivagangai Highways, Madurai District. Dr Subramanian MD Pathologist & Mr Murugesan Director Voice Trust participated in this activity,

Dr Kannappan MD DV Sexologist, Mr Rajamohammed Meenakshi Mission Hospital, Mr Murugan Gym Advisor and Mr Murugesan in association with TANSACS conducted the World AIDS programme. Working women’s AIDS counseling meeting at Veerapandia Nagar, Madurai District in association with TANSACS

Medical camp &AIDS Awareness Programme at Chekkanurani Village Madurai, Theni Highways Road Madurai District in association with TANSACS Chithra Festival Exhibition is celebrated for 50 days in Madurai. AIDS Awareness Stall was put up by Voice Trust during this exhibition. An average of 300 people visited the stall per day. Overall a total of 6000 people benefitted from this programme.

Our Trust distributed AIDS Awareness printed book to the General public Medical camp and AIDS Awareness programme at Thirupuvanam Village Madurai Ramesweram Highways Road Sivagangai District. Police Office and Meenakshi Mission Hospital Medical team participated in association with TANSACS. Central Market and Lorry stand- Our Trust organized AIDS programme and Condom and Awareness pamphlets distribution was carried out.

Voice Trust and TANSACS organised AIDS Awareness rally at Ellamanur village slum area at Madurai District with active participation from School students, Cine Actors Fans Associations. To the affected positive children, we conducted cultural programmes and Nutrition awareness was given at Madurai city.

Voice Trust organised AIDS Awareness and Hand Bills was distributed during Alagar Festival in 2005.Counselling was carried out by Voice Trust in association with TANSACS on a Door to Door basis with the help of Health Counselors specialized in AIDS.

Voice trust organised AIDS Awareness programmes to College Students. Medical Camp organised by Voice Trust and TANSACS in association with Lions Club at Madurai Sivagangai Road Sivagangai District. AIDS Awareness Stall at Chithra Festival. HIV/AIDS Positive and Link Workers Counseling Meeting organised by Voice Trust in Madurai City. HIV positive and Link Workers Counseling Meeting organised by Voice Trust in Madurai Rural areas. AIDS Awareness programmes to School students in Madurai District

– Voice Trust organised HIV/AIDS awareness programme on Dec 1st at Adidravidar Higher Secondary School at Illamanur Village.

– HIV/AIDS Awareness stall staged at Govt Exhibition in April 1998. At the stall, our employees interacted with the public by means of flash cards/innovative methods like the Sex snakes and ladder games and question and answer games. The usage of Condoms were demonstrated and distributed which were obtained from local PHC’s. During the exhibition, about 250 people consulted our Doctor for counseling. This stall was put up mainly for the purpose of creating awareness among the public.

– In the year 2010, Voice Trust organised 15 street plays for illiterate people in villages. It gave the caution of HIV/AIDS and prevention of HIV/AIDS through street plays, documentary films etc.

Introduction: The number of people living with HIV/AIDS in India is an alarming 2.47million.According to recent UN and AIDS-Backed government estimates, 0.36 percent of the country’s more than 1.1billion population.

Voice Trust, Aid Awareness Programme involve a multi-pronged sequence of events and interventions including educational,social and Medical efforts to contain the spread of giving proper care and treatment to infected people,and above all, ensuring a healthy atmosphere in the society to end social stigma and ensuring social marginalization. This project benefits from the Foundation’s already-established rural infrastructure of the Action for Rural Rejuvenation program and its fleet of mobile health clinics and healthcare professionals.
Indeed, over the years, Voice Trust has demonstrated considerable ability to address the issue of human suffering and give individuals the necessary inspiration, means, and methods to face various hardships. The Foundation has also been very successful in galvanizing support from all sections of the society towards causes of deep human concern and creating an all inclusive model of human well-being.

Objectives of the Programme
– To give a basic knowledge of HIV/AIDS
– To know the prevention strategies for STD/AIDS
– To bring an awareness of the disease to all participants
– Ensuring the great word of “ Prevention” among the people.
– Emphasizing and enabling the creative thinking among the people.

Description of the Programme:
It mainly focus to all youth people in Veerapandi Nagar,Karuppayurani Village.We display the HIV/AIDS Videos & CD’s of Prevention from the HIV/AIDS virus. It was focus to all youth. This programme was inaugurated by Dr.Kannappan, Sexologist. And he also gave more information about HIV/AIDS disease. Finally youth were clarified of their questions. There were around 75 members benefited.
Case I : I am Prabhu. First time I attended this Programme. I have no interest to participated initially. But after attended this programme it was very useful programme. I learned more information related this topic. It should be reach every one, because the HIV Virus disease starts from those who are ignorant people. Voice Trust Programme will reach all the village of Youth team.

Awareness Programme in 2012

The message about HIV/AIDS is usually conveyed to the audience in the form of dance dramas and after each session participants took the pledge to eradicate AIDS from the society. AIDS awareness programmes were conducted by the trust on December 12 and 26, 2012 with over 50 participants in each session.