With 5000 sex workers at risk, Delhi in danger of an STD outbreak

The Capital's 'red light area' at Swami Shradhanand Marg, popularly known as GB Road, is facing a grave dip in the supply of condoms, thereby increasing the vulnerability of sex workers to HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases.

According to media reports, the last time condoms were delivered to the Delhi State AIDS Control Society (DSACS), for sex workers, was on 24 May, this year.

The policy

This is surprising as under phase-IV of the National AIDS Control Programme, the DSACS was supposed to receive 12 lakh free condoms every month from the National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO).

5,000 women at risk

This is obviously a scary situation for the 5,000 women and hundreds of men working in the area as they have no other preventive measures against HIV.

Meanwhile, Swati Maliwal from the Delhi Commission for Women, while taking charge of the issue, has sought a detailed report from NACO on the current status of the supply of condoms.

In a letter to NACO, Maliwal has reportedly emphasised on the gravity of the situation.

"Please provide the Commission a detailed status report on the issue along with the reasons for the gap in the supply of condoms. Also, please submit a detailed action plan of NACO on the resumption of supply of condoms and methods that are being adopted to ensure that this crisis does not occur in future," the letter says.

The DSACS has reportedly informed the DCW that NACO is expected to resume the supply in the first week of October 2015, and the commission has therefore asked NACO to speed-up the process.