Lessons from responding to orphan children infected and Affected by AIDS

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Lessons from supporting Orphan Children infected and affected by AIDS in Salem

and Namakkal Districts in Tamil Nadu

Background –Project target group, target area and context - Orphan children who

are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and lost their both parents and single

parents.

- Drop out children from the school

- Care takers of the above children in the community

- Preventive programs to cover general population, teachers, Religious leaders,

health care workers,industrial workers, truck drivers

The Project area is Salem and Namakkal Districtwhere the HIV/AIDS Prevalence is

very high. We have taken a survey in 30 villages of Puduchathiram Block,

Namakkal District. We have identified 168 orphans who lost either the parents or

single parent. The First of the Project is addressing to 20 School going

children and 15 Drop our children in the 2 villages.

b. Current status & Progress :

Activities : Inauguration : Project was formally inaugurated by the Tamil

Evangelical Lutheran Church (TELC) Bishop Rev.Dr.Arul Dass, and the Blessings

from his team we launched the project in the Kalangani village. Rev.

, Director, Socio Economic Board and Dr.Sopia, St.ph’s Hospital were

given special speaks to the community.

Beneficiaries Planning meeting : We called the Village Care Committee and told

the list of beneficiaries and got the approval from the VCC.

The VCC planned where to buy the buffaloes and goats. They suggested to buy them

in the local Sandai (Market) and we tried to the local market, we could

not get good and quality buffaloes. Then we went to Kerala to buy them. The cost

was so high still we bought 20 buffaloes at an average cost of Rs.6500/-

each in a lump sum manner. We transported anddistributed to the families.

An agreement Bond was made between IRDRP and Client to maintain and manage the

Buffaloes. In the Bond they have agreed not to sell the Buffaloes for 3 years

and should maintain by themselves. They should do the proper medical care and

insurance renewal. This was drafted by the VCC.

Role of Village Care Committee (Community care system): VCC agreed to monitor

the family regularly to execute the bond and to provide social and technical

support & care to the PLWAs, At the end VCC will evaluate all the activities

geared to PLWAs

Medical camps: Medical camps were organized with the support of Ms.Dr.Sophia

who works in Christian Mission Hospital. All the children in the villages were

screened and covered in the medical camp. Regular de-worming, vitamins tablets

were given to children. There are 2 cases were identified (TB and Tonsillitis)

and referred for further treatment.

Veterinary Doctor: Dr.Mohan from Government Veterinary Doctor regularly

visited and checked all the animals. He worked with full commitment to save the

animals from Red Tongue disease and Leg foot swelling in the rainy season . If

he did n’t do that we could not save all the animals. We appreciate his efforts.

There was excess amount we spent for treatment, which is not foreseen.

Vocational Training for Drop out children: We taught candle making, soap powder,

washing powder making, cover making training to girls and boys. The

electronic and electrical training will be conducted in the Month of April to

May when the schools will be closed for holidays.

Setbacks:

As per the program we planned to buy small goats (Lamp). But, people

experienced that small ones with out parents care and milk they easily die.

Therefore they requested us to buy big ones. So we bought 3 for each family at

the rate of Rs.1500/- each. Now most of them are pregnant, likely each family

will get additional of 2 to 3 offspring.

In the initial period the local people did not buy the milk from the

beneficiaries, who rear the buffaloes, because, of AIDS (misconception) and then

we educated by milk HIV/AIDS won’t spread. They changed their attitude and

supported us in buying locally. Some beneficiaries are selling the milk in milk

co-operative. The Milk van daily comes to the village and collects the milk.

In this year we had heavy monsoon rain. Goats were not withstanding this

situation. They had new diseases like Red Tongue disease and swelling in the

foot attacked few goats and buffaloes. Government Veterinary Doctor helped to

cure the disease. But, 3 goats died. Massive treatment helped to safe guard all

other animals.

Achievements:

Quarterly review meeting held with VCC and Staff to monitor the project. The

Following success stories were recorded:

• 2 Families reconstructed the house which was damaged by the heavy rain

• All the families able to meet the daily expenses in day – to - affairs

• 6 Families came out of their debt bondage and repaid the old debts.

• All the families happily celebrated DEEPAVALI (light festival) in a very happy

mood with new dresses and good foods. Earlier they won’t do like this. Earlier

to celebrate this festive they use to get loans or borrow money from

moneylenders with high rate of interest, but now the whole scenario is changed.

• There is no drop out from school going children and increase in the quality

and the quantity of the education materials among the school going children.

• Timely supply of educational materials to the school going children • The

decrease in the number of drops outs from regular school studies.

• Motivated beneficiaries actively participating in Women Association meetings.

• Mr.Raj Kumar started own business ( cloth selling by bicycle in villages)

• Saving encouraged in all beneficiaries.

The project funded by Elton AIDS foundation.

contact:

Dr.Irudayasamy,

Director, IRDRP

No 12 First st, Maheswari Nagar,

Hasthinapuram, Chennai-600 064.

TN.India.

Ph:91-44-22233607

Mobile: 09444201262.

E-mail:<irudaya_swamy@...>