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1.1.2 Poor or vulnerable populations
Describe how these populations have been identified, and how they will
be involved in planning and implementing the proposal (2–3 paragraphs).
The populations that will be targeted in this project are sex workers
(SW), men who have sex with men (MSM), rural to urban migrants and people
living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). They were identified after consultations and
discussions with national and international experts (including Chinese government,
UN agencies, and NGOs) and after discussions in both CCM sub-group and full
CCM meetings. Available data suggest that the AIDS epidemic in China is currently
spreading from populations with higher infection rates (SW, IDU, and MSM)
into the general population. As part of a comprehensive plan to reduce the
rapid spread of HIV across China, access to information and services will
be scaled up for key “bridge” populations. In addition to SW, MSM, and migrants,
PLWHA and injecting drug users (IDU) will be recipients of prevention information
services, though they will not be the key targets of this project. Populations
were identified on the basis of a number of factors indicating their vulnerability
to HIV infection,
including: HIV and STI infection rates, high risk behavior, socio-economic
status, social stigma, and access to essential services (such as education
and medical care), as well as access to HIV prevention information and services.
For MSM, social stigma, lack of HIV knowledge, and lack of access to services
are the major barriers to effective HIV prevention. In the case of SW and
migrants, stigma, poverty, lack of access to services, and legal barriers
(especially for SW, as commercial sex is illegal, and they often lack the
power to protect their rights or safety, e.g. negotiating condom use) are
all factors in their vulnerability.
MSM and PLWHA will be most involved in the planning and implementation
of this proposal, because these groups are already established and working
in NGOs and community-based organizations. Participation in this project
will also strengthen these groups and their position within the community,
as well as creating networks between government and non-government partners.
The experiences of NGOs, and especially NGOs formed by and working
directly with SW, MSM and migrant populations, will be incorporated into
both the planning and implementation stages. Local and international NGOs
working with PLWHA and MSM are represented on the writing team, and both
MSM groups and PLWHA have been involved in the proposal preparation process.
In order to facilitate active participation from the community and from
NGOs, a “community advisor” meeting was held in Beijing for NGO and community
representatives from around China. In addition, a website was created with
basic information about the writing process, writing team, as well as updated
proposal drafts, questions for community input, and contact information
for the writing team were all posted. (http://www.china-aids.org/gf5/gf5-teams.htm)
(http://www.chinaglobalfund.com)
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