SAATHII provides technical and financial assistance to government, UN agencies and civil society members - non-government, community-based, faith-based, private sector agencies and positive networks – as part of its capacity building efforts. SAATHII provides assistance in the areas of prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT), ARV therapy, and community building among sexual minorities as well as in broader areas through volunteer placement.

Prevention of Mother To Child Transmission (PMTCT)

The Problem: Peri-natal transmission accounts for 2.72% of the total HIV epidemic in India. Around 27 million pregnant women deliver every year in India, and of this total close to 100,000 are HIV infected annually. This means that 30,000 infants will be born with HIV infections per year in absence of PMTCT interventions.

The Project: Initiated in September 2002, this PMTCT project is now the largest private-public partnership and the second largest PMTCT project in India. Through six active projects, 66 healthcare delivery sites are scaling-up PMTCT interventions in the private sector. The six active projects are carried out in four high prevalence states and are conducted by the following large organizations - Prayas, ASHA Kirana Trust, Freedom Foundation, ASHA Foundation and MGR Medical University.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as National Coordinator and provides technical and administrative assistance upon request to NGO and private sector programs interested in expanding PMTCT services.

Project Impact: SAATHII has helped participating NGOs to obtain $1.2 million in funding for expanding PMTCT services scale-up at 66 select private and public health facilities. In two years, 81,666 women accessed antenatal care, 74,622 women received HIV counseling and 68,225 women were tested. Ninety-two percent of women counseled were tested and 1% was found to be HIV positive through the program. Of the identified HIV-positive women, 75% of them received AZT or nevirapine prophylaxis and 61% of the infants received treatment as well.

Project Funder: Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, USA.

Antiretroviral (ARV) Therapy

The Problem: 300,000 to 500,000 orphan children will be identified in the next ten years through PMTCT scale up in the absence of ARV therapy. It could be millions if India's prevalence rates are not kept below 1%.

The Project: Initiated in September 2004, the Tamilnadu ARV Project will strive to reduce the number of orphan children by lessening HIV- related morbidity and mortality and improving quality of life through provision of ARV therapy for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and their families in the State of Tamilnadu. The project will pilot up to three family-centered, continuum of care and ARV treatment programs through existing government services in equal partnership with NGOs and CBOs to provide a comprehensive range of HIV/AIDS care, support and treatment services.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as the technical coordinator of the Tamilnadu ARV Project by specifically providing the technical and administrative assistance to pilot this initiative.

Project Impact: The project proposes to prevent more than 1000 children from being orphaned, reduce HIV related mortality and morbidity among adults and children from 500 families , improve quality of life among 500 families, increase productivity among adults of 500 families, achieve more than 70% adherence among ARV therapy recipients, provide culturally sensitive adherence models and tools to be used state-wide, improve care and support services and sectoral linkages in 15 districts of Tamilnadu and decrease stigma and discrimination.

Project Funder: Children Investment Fund Foundation, UK.

Community Building Among Sexual Minorities

The Problem: Sexual minori ties, especially males who have sex with males (MSM), constitute one of the most vulnerable sections of Indian society in terms of HIV/AIDS. Eastern India presents a particularly worrying scenario. Recent data for MSM reveals 29.20% HIV prevalence in Imphal, Manipur and 10% STD prevalence in West Bengal. Rights violations faced by MSM are on the rise, despite a growing sexual rights movement in the region. Several MSM NGOs have arisen in response, but many have not succeeded in setting up sustainable programmes. Major contributing factors have been inadequate and irregular financial and technical support.

The Project: Initiated in March 2004, SAATHII is working towards creating an enabling environment in Eastern India to support agencies working with sexual minorities. SAATHII has implemented a support centre that provides information, networking and exposure opportunities, as well as training and other technical assistance.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as project coordinator.

Program Impact: The support center has provided assistance in various capacities to MANAS Bangla (a network of voluntary agencies working with MSM in West Bengal) and other organizations in West Bengal, Orissa and Manipur. The support center has also developed a supplemental library service that attracts students and researchers daily and a helpline service that has already catered to hundreds of clients. Additionally, several networking and interface events have been organized, which were attended by more than 1,000 people.

Project Funder: Elton John AIDS Foundation, UK

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as program coordinator.

Volunteer Placement Program

The Problem: Organizations in India are struggling to fight the HIV/AIDS epidemic because they lack the personnel, financial capital, management and technical capabilities. A survey conducted with over 1200 organizations in India indicated that human resources was amongst the top five priority needs.

The Project: The project strengthens existing HIV/AIDS services by facilitating placement of young professionals from across the globe for at least two months. Volunteers undergo orientation and training and work with selected mentors in project design an d fund raising for their placement.

SAATHII's Role: SAATHII serves as program coordinator.

Project Impact: SAATHII has already placed several volunteers throughout India who have collectively worked with close to hundreds of healthcare providers and people living with or at-risk for HIV/AIDS.