EMPOWER


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VISION
Empowered gender just communities leading sustainable and quality livelihood.

MISSION
Facilitating the community to gain control over their lives by nurturing their innate capacities to make their own choices.

	Case Studies

STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention among Slum Population of Tuticorin Woman Headed Condom Outlet

I am Fatima Beevi. I run a petty shop call Subbana Store at Madavanair Colony, Therespuram. My husband and sons are fisher men. They help to run the shop when are in shore. I sell a lot of things needed for the families in that area. One day Mrs. Jeyanthy asked me to sell condoms which I immediately refused along with my family members saying that it is against our religious belief and my community members would ridicule me and my family.

Then after that she invited me for a training programme exclusively for woman retail shop owners. Mrs. Meera Shankar Programme coordinator from EMPOWER conducted the training and spoke about the spread of HIV and need for condom availability with in the target area for easy accessibility for those in need. She also clarified all the doubts, hesitations and questions from the participants. Her talk was thought provoking and I realized that just by selling condoms we can contribute to prevent HIV/AIDS. So, I was convinced of my role to market condoms to prevent HIV and save many lives in my neighborhood.

I convinced my family that our petty shop would sell condoms. Whatever information I learnt in the training I transferred to him. Then we discussed that there is nothing against are religious faith in marketing condoms. We are only saving lives which are a virtue.

Firstly I tried selling the deluxe nirodh condoms by displaying prominently in dangler pouches in front of my shop. To my surprise many woman come and bought condoms boldly. My husband and son have also changed their attitude. Now we sell around 200 to 25o pieces per month. We are happy to contribute our part for HIV prevention.

STD/HIV/AIDS Prevention among Slum Population of Tuticorin CARE AND SUPPORT

     My name is Kani aged 31. I live in T.M.B. colony. I have two children my husband is a construction labour and is irregularly employed. When I was pregnant EMPOWER Mrs. S. Plywin talk about HIV and told the importance of taking HIV test during pregnancy.   Next day itself I went G.H. and took the HIV test and was found positive. Immediately EMPOWER Counselor motivate my husband to take HIV test and he was also found Positive. Both of us very upset. We were worried about the child in the womb. But soon this counselors clarified that child in the womb can be saved from HIV.   Soon through the counselors I learnt to take care of myself and my husband.   My husband and myself attended the monthly support meeting at EMPOWER for PLHAs We learnt   a lot of things each month such as nutrition for PLHA and preparation of nutritious food, health and hygiene, safe drinking water, safe sex, clean environment, home based care and many other useful information for healthy living.

    We both of us follow the new information learnt.   My husband has prepared food time table the balanced food which includes a lot proteins, vitamins and minerals. We regularly include a fruit and greens in our daily diet. Within few weeks we were able to sense a lot difference in our health. Both of us had less health problems.

     In the after nine months I was admitted for delivery in the TMCH. I took neverapine   and underwent C sections and delivered a boy child. Meanwhile, my parents were counseled about     HIV and methods to take care of me. My family support event from my in laws side was also good because of the family counseling given by the EMPOWER Counselors.

We periodically meet the counselors if we face moments of despair. They help us to take the right decision and clarify our doubts and queries from time to time. We are managing HIV and are attempting to live a life of hope for the sake of our children.