Preamble
Rural villagers were being infected with HIV/AIDS without understanding its cause or how it spreads. Recognizing the urgency, READ’s founder and Sahaya International launched “Blossoming Flower” in Vilandai-Andimadam (2006) for HIV/AIDS-affected people of all ages, focused on Home-Based Care (HBC) and Income Generating Programs (IGP), alongside regular awareness and counseling sessions. Over time it became clear children and youth weren’t engaging well in mixed-age sessions, leading to a dedicated program, “Little Stars,” in 2018 — offering focused care and attention for HIV-affected children and adolescents.
Aims
Support HIV/AIDS clients — adults (Malarummottukal) and children/adolescents (Little Stars) — through sponsorship; run awareness programs to improve health, self-care, and prevention; and train clients for self-employment to help them live with dignity.
Objectives
- Provide continuous medical, psychological, and economic support through health teams.
- Hold monthly meetings and distribute nutritional supplements.
- Give HIV-affected children peer spaces to share feelings, health status, and treatment concerns.
- Strengthen Home-Based Care through hygiene, healthy lifestyle, and disease prevention practices.
- Offer ongoing counseling for early symptom detection, nutrition, and drug therapy adherence.
- Train adult clients in income-generating skills matched to their abilities.
- Run repeated awareness campaigns with Sahaya International, nationally and internationally.
- Hold a district-level HIV/AIDS awareness rally annually.
Abbreviations: HBC – Home Based Care; IGP – Income Generation Program.
Educational Materials
Awareness in the community
District awareness rally
Health awareness sessionStand with people living with HIV
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