Only 39% sex workers know about HIV prevention: Study
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: After the demolition of the Baina red light area in 2004, only one in five female sex workers in the state have had access to the free
condoms provided by the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO). This number should have been close to 80% as envisaged under the national AIDS control programme. Further, with sex workers in Goa now widely dispersed, only 38.7 % have had exposure to HIV prevention methods while 30.7 % have no knowledge of the disease.
Moreover, only 21% female sex workers (FSWs) have been able to avail of free condoms from the government or NGO. While 15.8% don't use condoms, another 29.7% were forced to indulge in sexual activity sans any protection. In a majority of cases, however, customers tend to bring condoms to the FSW, reveals a study titled, "The burden and determinants of HIV and sexually transmitted infections in a population based sample of female sex workers in Goa".
Conducted by two NGOs, namely Sangath and Positive People, it is published in the journal, Sexually Transmitted Infections' in 2009.
NACO classifies FSWs in the high risk group and, to ensure an overall reduction in the epidemic, their targeted interventions are aimed to effect a behavioural change through awareness. "Youth and illiteracy, indebtedness and support of dependents, migrant status and exposure to violence, limited access to HIV prevention and sexually transmitted infections (STI) treatment services, contribute to the vulnerability of sex workers," said Maryam Shahmanesh, who is part of the study.
The Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) project director Pradeep Padwal said that the mapping of areas where the "needy" are placed is in progress. "We have to identify where the needy are or, conversely, they will have to approach places where we are based. We are trying our best to reach the needy," he said.
However, this is easier said than done. "Sex workers have spread across the state. NGOs don't have access to them and they don't want to avail of government facilities for the fear of being identified or stigmatized," said Arun Pandey of Arz, an NGO which was used to work with trafficked victims at Baina.
The study comprises a sample of 326 female sex workers in the state. It reveals that infections were common with a 25.7% prevalence of HIV and 22.5% prevalence of bacterial STIs in sex workers. A majority of the FSWs studied are in the age group of 21 and 25. While most were from Karnataka, there were about 54 from Goa and 37 from Andhra Pradesh selected for the study.
Sex workers are widely dispersed; practising in 557 different lodges, establishments and other areas. While 57.8 % resort to bar, lodge or brothel-based sex work, there are about 28% home-based sex workers and 22.7% street-based sex workers in Goa after the demolition of the Baina red light area. About 20.6 %, FSWs started young, at the age of 16, the study added.
8 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Saturday, May 09, 2009
Rare breed of vulture spotted in Goa after eight years
Rare breed of vulture spotted in Goa after eight years
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: An Indian white-rumped vulture was spotted in Goa after a gap of almost eight years.
According to bird lovers and forest officials, this particular breed of vulture was last spotted in Goa sometime in 2001.
Wildlife photographer Prasanna Parab spotted a "big white rumped vulture" on March 15, 2009 near the highway at Panzorconi, near Cuncolim and captured it on camera. The vulture, which has not been spotted since is bald, with broad wings and a short tail and has now become a subject of discussion among bird watchers.
"Nearly 99% of vultures are now extinct. Of six species of vultures, three the Indian white-rumped vulture, long-billed vulture and slender-billed vultureare facing extinction. The Indian white-rumped vulture was last spotted in 2001. About 12 long-billed vultures were documented in the state five years back, but today there is only one remaining in the borders of Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. Four nests of long-billed vultures were spotted five years back, but now there are none," said Parag Rangnekar of Vivekananda Environment Awareness Brigade.
Carl D'Silva, state coordinator for Bombay Natural History Society said, "This is a rare occasion. The vultures use thermals (warm air currents) to fly. As the temperature has touched 40?C in western India, maybe there is a movement to some other place as vultures prefer ambient temperatures".
The Indian white-rumped vulture is listed in the IUCN Red Data List as a critically endangered species which faces a threat of extinction in the near future. "The Goa meat factory, near Merck factory at Tisk (Usgao) was a well known site for hundreds of white rumped vultures between 1995 and 2000. But after the closure of the factory, there have been no reported sightings ever since", said a range forest officer in the state.
Also known as nature cleaner, the Indian white-rumped vulture is a scavenger preying mainly on dead animals and forest officials believe that the main factor for the decline of the species was poisoning due to Diclofenae, a veterinary drug which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), that causes kidney failure in birds eating the carcass of cattle treated by this drug.
Environmentalists admit that there has been a catastrophic decline in the vulture population all over the country. The minimum decline in white-backed vulture numbers in India during 1992-2003 was 99.7% and that for Long-billed/Slender-billed was 97.4%. This corresponds with a minimum estimated rate of decline of 34% per year for white-rumped vultures and 27% per year for the long-billed/slender-billed group.
9 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Preetu Nair, TNN
PANAJI: An Indian white-rumped vulture was spotted in Goa after a gap of almost eight years.
According to bird lovers and forest officials, this particular breed of vulture was last spotted in Goa sometime in 2001.
Wildlife photographer Prasanna Parab spotted a "big white rumped vulture" on March 15, 2009 near the highway at Panzorconi, near Cuncolim and captured it on camera. The vulture, which has not been spotted since is bald, with broad wings and a short tail and has now become a subject of discussion among bird watchers.
"Nearly 99% of vultures are now extinct. Of six species of vultures, three the Indian white-rumped vulture, long-billed vulture and slender-billed vultureare facing extinction. The Indian white-rumped vulture was last spotted in 2001. About 12 long-billed vultures were documented in the state five years back, but today there is only one remaining in the borders of Mhadei wildlife sanctuary. Four nests of long-billed vultures were spotted five years back, but now there are none," said Parag Rangnekar of Vivekananda Environment Awareness Brigade.
Carl D'Silva, state coordinator for Bombay Natural History Society said, "This is a rare occasion. The vultures use thermals (warm air currents) to fly. As the temperature has touched 40?C in western India, maybe there is a movement to some other place as vultures prefer ambient temperatures".
The Indian white-rumped vulture is listed in the IUCN Red Data List as a critically endangered species which faces a threat of extinction in the near future. "The Goa meat factory, near Merck factory at Tisk (Usgao) was a well known site for hundreds of white rumped vultures between 1995 and 2000. But after the closure of the factory, there have been no reported sightings ever since", said a range forest officer in the state.
Also known as nature cleaner, the Indian white-rumped vulture is a scavenger preying mainly on dead animals and forest officials believe that the main factor for the decline of the species was poisoning due to Diclofenae, a veterinary drug which is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID), that causes kidney failure in birds eating the carcass of cattle treated by this drug.
Environmentalists admit that there has been a catastrophic decline in the vulture population all over the country. The minimum decline in white-backed vulture numbers in India during 1992-2003 was 99.7% and that for Long-billed/Slender-billed was 97.4%. This corresponds with a minimum estimated rate of decline of 34% per year for white-rumped vultures and 27% per year for the long-billed/slender-billed group.
9 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
Goa police are probing death of Russian girl
Goa police are probing death of Russian girl
PANAJI: Goa police are investigating into the death of 24-year-old Russian girl whose mutilated body was found on Railway tracks near Mapusa town
on Friday morning.
Police stated that Elena Sukhnovas scattered body organs were found on the track at Revora village, 15 kms away from here.
The Russian girl was apparently holidaying in Goa and had checked in at a lodge at Baga, a beach village in North Goa.
"We inquired with the lodge owner who confirmed that the girl checked in on May 6 and later went out with hotel keys on May 7 at 10.30 pm," Mapusa town police, who are investigating into the case, said.
The dead body was traced on the tracks at 8 am next day.
Although police initially felt that the girl may have died after falling off from the train, they are also investigating the case from different angles.
The dead body is sent for post-mortem, which will give directions to the police investigation.
Meanwhile, Russian consulate has taken cognizance of the death. "We are awaiting few details from the police. Also the post-mortem report would be crucial," Vikram Varma, legal advisory for Russian consulate said.
9 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
PANAJI: Goa police are investigating into the death of 24-year-old Russian girl whose mutilated body was found on Railway tracks near Mapusa town
on Friday morning.
Police stated that Elena Sukhnovas scattered body organs were found on the track at Revora village, 15 kms away from here.
The Russian girl was apparently holidaying in Goa and had checked in at a lodge at Baga, a beach village in North Goa.
"We inquired with the lodge owner who confirmed that the girl checked in on May 6 and later went out with hotel keys on May 7 at 10.30 pm," Mapusa town police, who are investigating into the case, said.
The dead body was traced on the tracks at 8 am next day.
Although police initially felt that the girl may have died after falling off from the train, they are also investigating the case from different angles.
The dead body is sent for post-mortem, which will give directions to the police investigation.
Meanwhile, Russian consulate has taken cognizance of the death. "We are awaiting few details from the police. Also the post-mortem report would be crucial," Vikram Varma, legal advisory for Russian consulate said.
9 May 2009, The Times of India, Goa edition
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