Center for Health Market Innovations (CHMI)

Programs

Bandhu Social Welfare Society (BSWS)

last updated Jan 20, 2012

Overview

Implementing organization: 
Bandhu Social Welfare Society
Implementation Partner(s): 
National AIDS STD Program(NASP), MOH&FW
Legal Status: 
Year Launched: 
1996
Stage: 
Existing/expansion stage
Income Level of Target Population: 
All income levels

Funding

Primary Source of Funding: 
Donor
Additional Source(s) of Funding: 
Government

Technology

Technology Used: 
Phones › Internet
Technology Partner(s): 
Grameen Phone

Scale

Personnel Employed: 
100<
Number of Facilities Operated/Networked: 
21 districts
Other Measures of Scale: 
Bandhu help line and Bandhu web counseling
Upscaling: 
Scaling up programme at Cox’bazar and Narayangonj supported by Amfar Foundation, USA in 2009
Scope: 
Help line by using phone and web counseling, VCT for HIV/AIDS
Summary: 

Bandhu Social Welfare Society works toward the well-being of stigmatized and socially-excluded males and their partners, by providing sexual health services and supporting human rights and alternative livelihoods

Program goals/rationale: 

Goal-1 :Prevention of the further spread of STIs, including HIV & hijra / transgender (TG)

Goal-2: Protection of human rights of MSM, Hijra and transgender (TG) Goal-3: Develop this organization as technical resource for MSM, Hijra and TG Goal-4 : Strengthening organizational capacity

Key program components: 

Goal-1: Prevention of further spread of STIs including HIV

BSWS continues the provision of its core sexual health services. There are an increase in the level of VCT services in all BSWS field offices ensuring that there is universal access to comprehensive HIV prevention services not only for MSM & Hijra but their partners and other sexual minority population as well. Following on from this it is planned to conduct an assessment of the level of Care & Support required to make some provision for this service.

Goal-2: Protection of the human rights of MSM, Hijra/TG and other sexual minority population

Formation of the National task-force of MSM & Hijra does the advocacy activities of BSWS in partnership with like-minded organizations, stakeholders and volunteers. They are the main actors in every International day’s celebrations, workshops & advocacy campaigns that has ultimately impact to having their voices heard. It is also intended to create scope for livelihood programme for the target beneficiaries, boosting their self- esteem thus reducing stigmatization and discrimination.

Goal-3: Developing BSWS as a MSM& Hijra/TG technical services organization

BSWS believes that MSM & Hijra have a lot of potential to improve themselves when given the chance. With that, Right-based approach (RBA) is been provided to target beneficiaries using participatory and experiential training methodologies that allows them to learn from one another. This eventually leads to the organization developing a fully resourced Technical Services Division for the provision of services to other organizations. Goal-4: Strengthening organizational capacity

BSWS continues to consolidate its external and internal capacity through; obtaining long term and diversified financial support, expanding organizational income generating activities, developing capacities of its employees, improving management systems including monitoring and evaluation, communications and modernizing human resources.

Program history: 

Bandhu Social Welfare Society (BSWS) was formed in 1996 to address concerns of human rights abuse and denial of sexual health rights, and provide a rights-based approach to health and social services for the most stigmatized and vulnerable populations in Bangladesh, MSM in particular kothis/hijras and their partners. The organization was born in response to surveillance studies and a needs assessment which identified MSM as a population in need of different services in Bangladesh. BSWS have been officially registered since 1997 started with a staff of two and a small programme in Central Dhaka was supported by the Royal Norwegian Embassy. Over the years it has emerged as a national ‘MSM’ non-government organization currently providing social and health services to a broad range of ‘MSM’ in 21 districts hosting over 550 employees.

A core objective of BSWS work with MSM and Hijras/TG is to advocate and provide for an environment where the respect and dignity of all MSM, Hijras/TG, irrespective of their specific gender and/or sexual identity, or the lack thereof, is assured, along with the creation of a supportive social, policy and legal environment to enable MSM to more effectively respond to sexual health rights and basic human rights in our country, along with increasing their health seeking behaviors

Need help?

Using the CHMI Programs Database

  • Browse: Browse the database by applying one or more filters to narrow your search by characteristics. Click the "x" to remove any of the filters you've selected. Click "reset search" to remove all filters and start over.
  • Search: Search the database for a specific program by typing a name or keyword into the search box.
  • Add: If the program you're looking for is not in the CHMI database, submit the program to the CHMI pipeline by clicking here to add a program profile.
  • Update: If you notice incorrect or outdated information, or would like to help complete a profile for a CHMI pipeline program, request a change by clicking here, or at the top of the program profile.

Have a question? Check the FAQs first. Don’t see your question? Contact us.