Harsha gives psychological support to her mother and she does not fear about HIV/AIDS, she feels that everybody should die at sometime or the other. She says to her mother if she takes ART medicine regularly she can live longer. Now she is 100 per cent adherent to ART. She thinks that smile gives more strength so she always smiles. REEDS staff helped the family to get the widow pension to her mother. Every month Harsha’s mother gets INR 200 pension, which she is using, for buying milk for Harsha.
Harsha is bold and aware of AIDS. She is educating the people and children on HIV/AIDS. She distributes the pamphlets and broachers in the community. She has enough knowledge in HIV/AIDS. In the sensitization meeting at the school she identified a CLHA at her school which has the same problem like her. She gives psychological support to that child. She also approached the NGO and requested them to provide support services to her friend also who is living with HIV/AIDS. She became an ambassador for treatment for CLHA and became a role model to all. If everybody contributes like Harsha, we can reverse the epidemic in India.
Home/Community based HIV/AIDS Care and Support Programme
VMM is lead organization to International HIV/AIDS Alliance for Home/Community based HIV/AIDS Care and Support program funded by Abbott Fund (2001-2007) and European Union (2001-2004)to mobiles communities and reduce social stigma and discrimination for improving the quality of life of the people living with HIV/AIDS, families, and children affected by HIV/AIDS. Since 2008 this programme is being funded by Abbott Fund directly to VMM working with 12 partners. The focus of the programme is to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS with child focus in Andhra Pradesh.
Education through support groups
Bhagyavathi, 20, resides at Gajuluru village of Chunduru Mandal of Guntur district, A.P and is the youngest daughter to her parents between two siblings. The family does farming work for livelihood. The only asset family owns is house. At the age of 18 Bhagya got married with Sarath who is an Auto driver aged 21. Within a year of marriage, she became pregnant. During the second trimester, she went to primary health center for regular antenatal check up. She was referred to ICTC for HIV testing and resulted HIV positive. She was shocked and went into depression. ICTC counselor suggested bringing her husband for HIV testing. Sarath went for testing and resulted positive, he too was upset. The couple thought of not to disclose their HIV status to their family and keep it secret. The couple had myths and misconceptions about continuing her pregnancy as she is HIV positive. AIRTDS, VMM’s partner NGO reached Bhagya during their community outreach programme and initially there is reluctance in talking to the staff about her HIV status or even health issues owing to fear of stigma and discrimination from neighbourhood. As rapport was developed, gradually she was convinced about the work of NGO and trusted to share her concerns to outreach workers. But she pleaded them to keep the matter confidential even among her family members. Bhagya welcomed the house visits of outreach workers and they provided to Bhagya psychosocial support and health information. The outreach workers referred to ART centre and the couple visited and got tested for CD4 and Medical Doctors suggested that both the couple do not require initiation of treatment as their CD4 count is more than 300. When Bhagya was in third trimester she became a member of the adult support group and gained knowledge on basics of HIV and even vertical transmission from other to baby during delivery. She became very regular in attending to the fortnightly support group meeting and gained knowledge on low cost locally available nutrition food through demonstrations, safe sex practices with the consistent usage of condom, taking regular medication as prescribed by the doctors in the hospital, promotion of institutional delivery and preventive steps for HIV positive mother and exposed child . Now the couple had improved confidence and reduced myths on HIV positive women having motherhood. With knowledge gained in the support group meetings, Bhagya has insisted her husband for institutional delivery and has followed all the preventive measures suggested by the hospital authorities. Bhagya’s mother has supported her care giving during delivery time as she is the only one knows about her HIV status. As per the suggestions provided by Outreach workers she opted to have exclusive breast feeding to the baby. She is planning to take the baby for HIV PCR testing for infants. Both the parents were enjoying their days with their baby.
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