The West Bengal State AIDS Prevention and Control Society (WBSACS) is now
gearing up to educate the apparently increasing male sex worker population
about AIDS prevention. A
senior WBSACS official told The Statesman: "The number of male sex workers is
increasing in Kolkata and our experience has been that they are largely unaware
of AIDS prevention programmes. As a first step, we have to persuade them to use
condoms and ask them to inists that their cleants do so as well. The
behavioural pattern of this group makes them highly susceptible to contracting
the HIV virus."
Officials said the emergence of male sex workers was noticed in the city over
the past two to three years and the number is now increasing rapidly. Officials
were at pains to point out that they would "not act as moral police" but would
use "persuasion" to make this group aware of their high-risk status and urge
them to use condoms.
An official when asked for the exact number of male sex workers in the city
conceded that this was yet to be ascertained, but insisted that during the
latest survey conducted by the WBSACS, it was revealed the numbers are rising.
Experts said the emergence of male sex workers occurs when homosexuality
increases in society and/or when women start hiring men for sexual pleasure.
When contacted, Dr N Deb, deputy director (surveillance), WBSACS, said: "We
have decided to bring male sex workers under the ambit of the AIDS prevention
programme. A detailed study will soon be carried out to prepare the action
plan."
