Lemon juice won’t prevent AIDS: Why transgender activists promoting condom use among India’s truck drivers?

In India, truck drivers often spend weeks or even months away from home, leading some to seek companionship from roadside transgender sex workers. Unfortunately, this puts them at risk of sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and HIV. To combat this growing health concern, several organizations, including transgender sex workers themselves, are stepping up to educate drivers about safe practices and HIV prevention at truck stops across the country.

Transgender sex workers Ruby and Bhavna are actively working to break common misconceptions about HIV and STDs. Stationed near a tea stall, they gather truck drivers and address prevalent myths. Ruby explains, “Lemon juice or intercourse with a virgin does not protect against HIV. Only condoms can safeguard you and your family.” Their informative sessions captivate the drivers, making them more receptive to adopting safer practices.

Apollo tyres foundation’s initiative

Apollo Tyres Foundation, the corporate social responsibility (CSR) arm of India’s leading tire manufacturer, has partnered with transgender sex workers to spread awareness. Studies indicate that some truck drivers prefer transgender sex workers. According to the foundation, drivers often cite affordability and accessibility as reasons for engaging with transgender sex workers, though the preference for anal intercourse is also a key factor.

Spreading awareness and prevention measures

The foundation has enlisted over 100 transgender sex workers as part of its HIV/AIDS outreach program. Some volunteers work as paid employees, providing information about risks, symptoms, prevention, and treatment. Bhavna reveals that many drivers turn to local quacks who offer unreliable remedies like baking soda or mustard oil. She advises them to seek proper medical treatment from certified doctors instead.

Knowledge exchange in the trucking community

Transgender volunteers understand the truckers’ world and strategically engage with them in busy transport hubs like Delhi’s Sanjay Gandhi Transport Nagar. These locations are bustling with activity—loading, unloading, refueling, and vehicle repairs—where drivers also interact with transgender sex workers. Both groups face extreme marginalization and economic hardship, creating a shared struggle that fosters trust. This connection makes truck drivers more likely to heed their advice, especially when delivered in local dialects.

Positive impact and progress

While India has made significant strides in combating the AIDS epidemic, continued awareness and follow-up care remain essential. Apollo Foundation refers drivers to its health centers, which provide free HIV testing, counseling, STD treatment, tuberculosis screening, and vision tests. Since its launch in 2022, the transgender outreach project has reached over 100,000 truck drivers, proving mutually beneficial. For transgender sex workers who have long faced social stigma, this initiative offers an opportunity to gain respect and a sense of purpose.

A hope for change

Mehra Mehruf, a transgender woman who now works as a salaried health educator, sees this as a life-changing opportunity. “This work has been incredible for me. Other transgender people now realize they have options beyond sex work or begging at traffic signals,” she says. Truck driver Ashok Kumar, who attended a session, reflects, “It was time well spent. I learned new things, and Ruby’s words stuck with me—one condom can protect two lives: mine and my wife’s.”