The Health Pillar supports LGBTIAQ+ persons (gender and sexual minorities), female sex workers, and people living with HIV (PLHIV) to take charge of their own well-being through a preventive and promotive healthcare approach. It does so by building their capacities, improving access to non-discriminatory and queer-affirmative healthcare professionals and services, and generating evidence on health inequities experienced by these communities. The pillar emphasises mental health support, primary healthcare awareness, peer leadership development, and strengthening pathways to essential services. Through community-centred workshops, counselling, sensitisation programmes, resource development, and alliances with healthcare stakeholders, the Health Pillar works towards reducing systemic exclusion and supporting community resilience. The overall goal is to ensure that marginalized groups have the knowledge, agency, and networks to access comprehensive, stigma-free, and equitable healthcare.
Key Focus Areas / Sub-Themes
- Mental Health: Focuses on promoting emotional well-being, building resilience, and ensuring access to affirming mental health services within the communities we work with. This is achieved through workshops and training sessions that raise awareness, normalise conversations around mental health, and equip participants with tools to manage stress, anxiety, and emotional distress. The programme also covers advanced topics such as intimate partner violence, substance use, and includes Training of Trainers (ToT) through a cascading model to develop Mental Health First Responders at the grassroots level. Safe and confidential counselling support is provided by trained professionals in local languages, accessible both online and offline, either in-house or through trusted external referral partners
- Primary Health: Adopts a preventive and promotive approach to physical health, with the aim of increasing access to equitable and non-discriminatory healthcare services for the communities we work with. It includes the development of accessible materials such as audio/videos resources and training manuals to strengthen community-centred health understanding and bring in positive health-seeking behaviour. Training programmes and workshops are conducted to build peer leadership and empower community members to take an active role in managing their own health. Community-led research is undertaken to explore healthcare needs, practices, and service experiences. These inquiries document lived realities, highlight service gaps for programme development. In addition, partnerships and networks are built with stakeholders, civil society organisations, and service providers to support community-led mobilisation and drive systemic change towards inclusive healthcare practices.
- Sexual and Reproductive Health (SRHR): Focus on empowering communities with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR) while ensuring access to inclusive, comprehensive services. Participatory research is conducted to identify barriers and gaps in SRHR access, ensuring that interventions are responsive to the needs of the community. Collaborations with healthcare providers and community based organisations to ensure services are stigma-free and accessible to all.
Focuses on empowering individuals with the knowledge and resources to make informed decisions about their sexual and reproductive health and rights (SRHR), while ensuring access to inclusive and comprehensive services. Participatory research is conducted to identify barriers and gaps in SRHR access, ensuring that interventions reflect the realities and needs of diverse groups. Collaborations are built with healthcare providers, public health institutions, and supportive networks to ensure that SRHR services are stigma-free, gender-affirming, and accessible to all.
Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) -
- 3 - Good Health & Well-Being
- 5 - Gender Equality
- 10 - Reduced Inequalities
