A newly formed sailors' group will fight Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome among workers in 12 Indian ports.
Most of these ports have brothels located nearby, which are frequented by dock workers and navigators.
Along with truckers and port workers, sailors are said to be among those in the high-risk HIV/AIDS group.
"This is why we decided to form a separate health group with the help of port workers' unions which will help fight AIDS among workers in 12 ports across India and in brothels situated near them," said Sadhan Kanjilal, one of the founders of the new outfit.
The sailors' group will work with the help of non-governmental organisations working in the areas of HIV/AIDS.
Forward Seaman's Union, one of the leading sailors' platforms, considered setting up the anti-AIDS group to tackle the rise in the number of port workers suffering from the disease.
The new outfit is backed by the leftist Centre for Indian Trade Unions, which has said it will help build such awareness health groups in other industrial sectors.
"We don't have much experience in implementing such projects. So we will take the help of NGOs," West Bengal CITU president Shyamal Cakraborti said.
The sailors' group has started working among prostitutes in Munshiganj red light district, close to the Kolkata Port.
Kanjilal said his organisation would hold awareness campaigns and workshops in the Chennai, Vizag, Kochi, Mangalore, Paradip, Tuticorin, Goa, Mumbai and Kandla ports.
