Each Cluster Link Worker, like Sarojini, is a trained local community member, who screens high-risk groups (such as, migrant workers, truckers, female sex workers, men who have sex with men, and persons who inject drugs) for HIV, syphilis and TB in approximately 5 villages. Cluster link workers are supported by their zonal supervisors (one person for every 10 cluster link workers) and overseen by a programme manager.
Those who are screened positive for presumptive TB by Cluster Link Workers, are linked to public TB services for further medical management. Those who test positive for TB disease are also helped to avail of government-run social welfare benefits.
Teams of Humana People to People India go door-to-door to raise health awareness and offer screening for HIV, sexually transmitted infections like Syphilis, and TB. Health education and dispelling myths and misconceptions also help fight stigma and discrimination. They are at times accompanied by Indian government's National TB Elimination Programme team which performs street plays for public education and sensitisation. Humana team has also leveraged other opportunities for health awareness and screening, such as village council (Gram Panchayat) meetings.
Disease prevention is also a mainstay of key messaging
For example, promoting consistent and correct condom use to protect oneself from HIV, STIs and unplanned pregnancies, is a role donned by frontline workers like Sarojini.
Key and other vulnerable populations face a range of barriers when they try to access healthcare services. This is where frontline community health workers become so essential to link them with public health and social welfare services and support as and when needed.
Rethink, rebuild and rise
Ahead of world's largest HIV/AIDS conference in 2026 (the 26th International AIDS Conference or AIDS 2026 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), we need to rethink where gaps in HIV responses are, rebuild so that we can put people first at every level of HIV response, and rise to bring the world on track to end AIDS by 2030.
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