The striking off of Section 377 will not only give a fresh lease of life to the homosexuals, but it will also help in protecting them from AIDS. Till now due to legal hassles, men having sex with men (MSMs) avoided to come in limelight. Hence, they were away from the reach of health workers.

India is home to 2.35 million MSMs out of which 100,000 are at high risk of contracting HIV. Presently 15% of this community is infected, due to limited access to information and condoms. 

According to estimates of NACO, the prevalence of infection within this community is 7.41%, because of multi-partner and commercial sexual practices.

Dr Charles Gilks from UNAIDS said: "It will take a long time for the public attitude towards MSMs to change. But Thursday's judgment will make it easier for us to reach out to the MSM community and include them in targeted interventions that will protect them against HIV by making sex between males safer."

A NACO official said that the agency's package on MSM involves behavior change and prevention. Under this, the health workers provide them condoms, get them tested for HIV/AIDS and help them with access to medical aid. Peer educators among the MSM community also help in generating awareness. The agency hopes to expand its programmes to 200 soon.

Former Health Minister, A Ramadoss, has welcomed the judgment. He said that now health workers can fearlessly reach out to the MSM community to protect them against HIV.