AIDS Awareness Initiative
From the People Who Move India
Apollo Health Care Clinic
Apollo Tyres Ltd.
ICAAP7, Kobe, Japan
2 July, 2005
Who Are We …
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Leader in the Indian tyre industry
The fastest growing in India
Leader in the commercial vehicle tyre segment
Core principal: Create shareholder value through
reliability in products and dependability in our
relationship with stakeholders
• Corporate Objective: Customer Delight
• Revenue flow: 75% from commercial vehicle tyres
• Owners & drivers of H&LCVs are and will be our
biggest stakeholders
Beyond Customer Delight …
• Scope of work: Awareness, prevention & cure of
sexually transmitted infections & diseases
• Target: Truck drivers, helpers, mechanics & allied
• Catering to: The entire community serving the
needs of the trucking population
• Method: Promote health, behaviour change and
tools to safe sex methods
• Means: Treatment facility, information, education &
condom promotion
• Four Clinics to eight and to twelve
Why & Where …
• Estimated 4.5 to 5 million long-distance truck drivers
• Age group of 25 to 50 years of age
• Nomadic lifestyle: away from family, high job
pressures, fatalistic attitude
• Indulgence in alcohol, unprotected paid sex & drugs
• High rates of sexually transmitted diseases: Clinic
population 25% have STI/STD
• Clinics located in transshipment hubs: Their homes
away from home
In India nearly 70% of goods are transported by road
Transport Nagar
How Is It Done …
• Decision to restrict goal to awareness, prevention &
cure of STI/STD
• Clinic set up with local NGOs
• NGOs must have capacity building & implementation
experience
• Complimentary skill and intent
• Stakeholders involved: voluntary peer educators,
dealers, fleet owners & transport unions, local area
administration, politician, commercial sex workers
Police
Means of Communication…
Behaviour Change & Condom Promotion
Myth Busting
• One-to-one/One-to-group • Free distribution network
at the Clinic, public
• Large infotainment
toilets and other strategic
programme
locations
• Puppet shows
• Peer educators, fleet
• Magic show
owner offices and sex
workers
• Popular film show
• Social marketing
Peer Educator
Clinical Activities ...
• Membership & registration for three months
• Medical check-up, counseling, examination and
medicines
• An area for rest and entertainment
• Driving traffic
• Location & visibility
• Referrals from staff, peer educators & stakeholders
• Holding in-clinic and outdoor infotainment
programmes
Clinic Timings
Clinical Infrastructure ...
• Personnel
Project coordinator, doctor, counselor, pharmacist,
outreach workers
• Clinical facilities
Doctor’s room
Privacy for check-up and counseling
• Toilets
• Area for relaxation
Blood tests VDRL versus VCT
Clinic
Challenges ...
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Drawing in the target audience
Communicating without victimising
Capturing the right data & strategising
Finding the right partners
Growing fast enough to meet needs
Creating ownership
Spiraling cost of medicines
Keeping the team motivated / challenged
All this is but just a drop in the ocean …
Path Forward
• The International Finance Corporation is an active
partner in Phase II of AIDS awareness programme
• Train factory medical officers and HR (create a core
working committee)
• Training through experiential model
• Awareness programme for all employees
• Bring in an effective workplace awareness policy
• Greater networking to involve partners
• Create a model where in three years Clinic will be
handed to the community
Union President
Thank You for your attention