Society for Poor People Development (SPPD)

Promising wholesome health for the women-headed family and their Children living with HIV in physical and mental trauma in Trichy district of Tamil Nadu.

Post Covid distress of persons living with HIV

The Covid pandemic has dealt a severe blow to many other communities that were leading lives full of risk to their lives due to the endemic health risks and economic distress.

In particular, persons living with HIV who have been receiving care and support from various agencies especially the NGOs during the pre-pandemic times have come to a drastic end. This was due to the priority that had to be given to the raging Covid transmission and its colossal impacts.

The vital care and support for this community used to be in the form of the distribution of regular nutritional supplements and support for psychological well-being. Monthly peer group meetings and other such events have not been taking place since the outbreak of the Covid pandemic.

Current Scenario – Women and Children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS- The Most Vulnerable

There are as many as 5000 (approx.) persons living with HIV belonging to the region in the district of Tiruchirappalli district of Tamil Nadu state in South India. Major of this population are women-headed families. SPPD was helping a good number of them during the pre-Covid pandemic days.

And for the nearly three years since the pandemic, such nutritional support and psychological support through counseling, etc could not be conducted. Families with persons living with HIV have been suffering a lot. 800 children living with HIV also form part of these families.

The major support from the government in the form of ART medicine has helped most of them survive. But their health conditions have been deteriorating due to a lack of nutritional food to cope with the ART regimen.

As even those with normal physical conditions are finding it hard to maintain their families because of a sharp decline in livelihood opportunities, the life of the persons living with HIV has become extremely pathetic.

On the one hand, the stigma attached to the condition of HIV worsens things further. This apart, their dwindling health conditions add to their woes. In most cases, once their HIV condition becomes known to the employer and the coworkers of the establishment or individuals, they work they would either be sacked on flimsy grounds or would have to quit on their own being unable to bear the stigmatization. Being bereft of income they are unable to meet even basic expenses like travel to hospital etc.

Need

Under these circumstances, it would go a long way if they are able to strengthen their physical health as they have to be in ART (Anti Retroviral Therapy) throughout their lives. That nutritional support and a small cash dole every month would provide relief to the Persons Living with HIV and their families.

The support shall be provided in the form of a Nutritional Food Kit consisting of vital dry provisions such as protein and mineral-rich pulses like lentils, dry iron-rich items, and a nutritional mix, etc every month.

Providing nutritional kits worth Rs.930 and Rs.500 cash assistance per women-headed family and their children living with HIV can go a long way in maintaining their health. Hence, SPPD appeals for your helping hand for these families in great need.

The list of components of the Dry Nutritional food kit that is proposed to be given to is given hereunder.

Estimated Cost for one year

Monthly Nutritional Supplement Kit Cost per family

Short- and Long-term Impacts and Indicators

A higher CD count in people living with HIV can improve their ability to cope with opportunistic diseases, allowing them to remain attentive in the classroom and increasing life expectancies. Moreover, parents of children living with HIV, also being infected, can then focus on their own health too, being relieved of the anxiety about their children. Reduction of external signs of the health of 1000 children with HIV will also reduce the social stigma attached to the condition in school and outside.