Link Workers Scheme

From October 2008-November 2009, WORD has implemented the Link Workers Scheme with the funding support of AIDS Prevention and Control Project (APAC), Chennai.

This project identified high risk and highly vulnerable households in selected 40 villages in Namakkal and Paramathy Taluks of Namakkal District and to provide them intensive prevention education to protect them from getting the infection. Alongside, the staff and volunteers under this project would also be expected to actively work with the community and based on the mapping of civil society resources available, mainstream HIV prevention messages with the Panchayati Raj bodies, self-help groups, youth clubs, school children etc. The objective is to ensure that the operative and peripheral areas of Namakkal district to be protected from HIV/AIDS. Under WORD, there were 16 Link Workers and 4 Supervisors have been appointed. They were engaged in the process of making the risk reduction strategies with the high risk population at the village level. They also co-ordinated the village health committees which has served as an apex body comprising the local representatives to solve the issues especially related to the health. As per the policy of NACO, the project has come to an end by November 2009. The transition of the trained staff is being taken place at the moment.