About WORD
Women's Organisation in Rural Development (WORD) is a registered NGO working for the upliftment of rural women and children primarily in Namakkal District. Part of our activities are also in Erode and Salem Districts in Tamilnadu. Currently we engage various projects on health, education, environment and development. You can get to know about WORD and its activities through its web, http://www.wordorg.net
About HIV/AIDS
HIV epidemic has emerged as a major public health problem in India, within a span of last five years, threatening the gains of development made during the post independence period. The prevalence of the infection in all parts of the country highlights the need for multi-focused action to contain the epidemic. Surveillance trends indicate that the epidemic is spreading from high-risk groups to general population and from high prevalence areas to low prevalence areas. It is estimated that a present there are 3.97 million people infected in this country by the HIV virus. At present the epidemic is more concentrated in certain states like Maharastra, Andhra Pradesh, Tamilnadu, Karnataka and in North Eastern states of Manipur and Nagaland. However, all Indian states have reported HIV cases and its is expected as the surveillance system expands the number of HIV/AIDS cases may increase dramatically.
Migration of labour, low literacy levels leading to low awareness, poverty, gender disparities, prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive tract infections are some of the factors responsible for the rapid spread of the epidemic. Unless widespread prevention efforts are made the epidemic may expand to other regions and to low risk populations.
Migration of labour, low literacy levels leading to low awareness, poverty, gender disparities, prevalence of sexually transmitted diseases and reproductive tract infections are some of the factors responsible for the rapid spread of the epidemic. Unless widespread prevention efforts are made the epidemic may expand to other regions and to low risk populations.
Namakkal and HIV/AIDS
Namakkal district in Tamilnadu is amongst the worst hit of HIV/AIDS epidemic in the country both in terms of prevalence and impact. The HIV prevalence rate of 4.4 % (2003) and 2.8% (2004) among the antenatal clinic attendees is among the highest in the state. This is in contrast to the mean of 1% for Tamilnadu. The high prevalence rate among antenatal clinic attendees highlights the extent of vulnerability among women of child-bearing age and general community at large. Namakkal has the highest number of people living with HIV/AIDS. In the entire country of India, the Government started the free Anti Retro Viral Therapy (ART) roll out program in Namakkal District Headquarters Hospital for the first time at the district level due to the high number of HIV incidence in Namakkal District.
