Care and Support 50 HIV+ Orphan Children in India

Care and support programme for children living with HIV includes home visits, one to one counseling, monthly support groups which are done regularly to ensure that children live a healthy and productive life. In in the month of December 2022, Buds of Christ created a sensitization campaign to break the stigma surrounding the infection. In our years of work with children living with HIV, we realized the fear of being discriminated by friends or people in the society often affects the confidence of young people who have been born with HIV. Some even have faced neglect of care in the hospitals and home. To break this stigma, Buds of Christ developed a campaign that included people from the various sectors, like health, education and community (family, care takers, and friends). More than 20 people openly shared their support in the form of short videos, which was posted on Face book, YouTube and Instagram. The responses and comments encouraged the children realize that there is a community that supports and accepts them as they are.

In addition an awareness session was organized for medical students of KSR dental college and Mr. Jeyapaul, Director of Buds of Christ share about the social perspective of HIV and AIDS and experience by the youth positive speakers. This sensitization encouraged the young medical students to clarify the myths around HIV infection and further expressed their support towards children, young and adults living with HIV. The positive response is that the children and mothers referred through Buds of Christ are offered free treatment services without discrimination.