HIV/ AIDS is a cruel reality in our society. Our society has witnessed a lot of economic growth, advancement in technology and immense progress in the modern medicine. Despite this improvement, a stark reality continues to play havoc in the society – the pandemic of HIV/ AIDS. The northern most part of Karnataka is highly vulnerable to this life threatening disease. The area is high risk due to very many reasons.
Realizing the need ORBIT started – SNEHA, Building Community resilience to HIV/AIDS in 2004. The program focuses on prevention of the spread of HIV/AIDS through various awareness campaigns.
There was lack of knowledge about dreadful disease. The intervention of ORBIT made a lot of people aware of the situation and convinced them to take preventive measurements. During these years the SNEHA program identified over hundreds people with HIV. Thereby giving them the opportunities for Anti Retrovirus Therapy (ART). In addition through the program many people came to know about the disease and ways to curtail its spread. They are sensitized against the myths concerning the same.
The children with HIV are highly vulnerable due to loss of parents, malnutrition, lack of education opportunities, psychological and emotional difficulties, trauma, and lack of guardian support.
Realizing such traumatic condition and vulnerability, ORBIT started SPARSHA care home to cater to the needs of such children with HIV with the goal of integrating them to the society. Today it caters to 40 such children infilling joy of life and hope of better future.
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GoalBuilding community resilience to HIV/ AIDS and mainstreaming people HIV/ AIDS.
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Objectives
- Health Care: Regular physical and medical checkup, lab investigation, immunization etc. The children with Anti Retroviral Treatment (ART) are closely monitored for adherence and drug reaction.
- Nutritional Support: The affected persons need nutritious food to develop resilience to illness and build strong immune system. The nutritional needs of the persons especially children are taken care through a balanced diet.
- Educational Support: Every child has Right to Education. The children affected with HIV/ AIDS are admitted to local schools through a process of counseling parents, teacher and students and thus are helped to pursue the education and vocational trainings.
- Counseling: Regular counseling is given to affected persons and children, parents, guardians and caretakers to strengthen them
- Livelihood Trainings and Support: The persons with HIV/ AIDS as given various income generation, vocational and skill development training to lead a dignified and sustainable life. ORBIT also promotes self employment among the affected persons and for caretakers like petty shops, cattle/goat rearing, grocery shops, bangle shops etc. This helps them to earn their living, educate children, look after family affairs and have a better standard of life.
Program Nos Participants / Beneficiaries Awareness Programs 650 25000 HIV Walkathon/ Jatha 4 1600 HIV Treatment/ Care/ ART PLHIV – 3000 & CLHIV – 180 Sparsha Care Home CLHIV 40
