HIV Care India became a Professionals International project partner in 2016 to bring more awareness and raise funds. It started before we adopted quarterly metric reporting in 2019. HIV Care India made a difference in their region and local communities. The project finished with Professionals International in July 2024 as it finished up its agreement and closed its project.

Significant Challenge (s)

India is the most populous country in the world with 1.425 billion people. This makes certain concerns like adequate health care systems, access to health care in all regions, and general health care education a big challenge.

HIV/AIDS was one concern that had received lots of focus over the previous 20+ years. HIV is a virus that attacks the immune system and without treatment it turns into AIDS, which leads to death. It became an increasing world focus in the 1980-90s as over 1 million were dying every year from the disease. Even though there were some significant decreases in India (46% decrease of infections from 2010-2020), they were far from being free from it.

Just before COVID-19 in 2020, there were an estimated 2.3 million with HIV/AIDS in India. Testing and treatments in remote areas, stigma against those with HIV, and prevention education about HIV transmission still remained challenges for India.

Satisfying Solution

HIV Care was a project which provided holistic care and support to men, women, and children impacted by HIV/AIDS in India as well as medical care assistance such as lab tests and vaccines to those in need. Medical camps at orphan homes provided basic medical check-ups and needed immunizations.

Financial support also was given to these children for their education. In-home patient visits provided nutritional guidance and accountability to their HIV and TB treatment plans.

Business activities geared towards Ensuring healthy lives, promoting well-being Education, and Decent Work:

Target: End the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases

Target: Work towards ensuring that individuals have access to quality education leading to relevant and effective learning outcomes. (Created for PRINT)

Target: Promote full and productive employment and decent work for all women and men (adapted from 8.5)

Stories of Substantial Benefits

In the beginning stages, their work targeted orphans that were created through HIV parents dying of the disease. They were supporting homes that were taking care of the children. The HIV families were typically very poor and not able to get adequate nutrition, and many of them had Tuberculosis (TB) as well. Many patients could also not afford the medical care that was needed. So they started to provide food from grocery stores for the patients, buying the food and distributing it. They also assisted in supporting education for the orphans and children from HIV families along with contributing to medical and pharmaceutical expenses.

From 2020 to 2023, they worked tirelessly to support individuals during the COVID-19 pandemic, with a particular focus on vulnerable HIV patients. Each week, they contacted over 200 people to monitor COVID-19 symptoms and provide health education. In the early years, home treatment was administered to 41 individuals, and 4 required hospitalization. Throughout, the team maintained regular contact, checking vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, and oxygen saturation three times daily. Patients received COVID kits with necessary medicines and supplies.

They managed a wide range of patients, from children to the elderly, including those with preexisting conditions like diabetes. The isolation period, lasting 17 days, was challenging for many, but the team supported them with regular check-ins and encouragement. In one instance, after a successful recovery in a slum community, staff celebrated with the residents by bringing desserts, an act that was met with tears of gratitude.

Throughout the pandemic, over 100 patient care sheets were reviewed, ensuring proper medication management, isolation, and contact tracing. Multiple online medical camps and COVID awareness meetings were held for HIV patients, using platforms like Zoom, WhatsApp, and conference calls. Despite the challenges, the team helped maintain community engagement and continuity in care.

Additionally, they provided assistance to families in need of food during the peak of COVID-19. One long-standing HIV patient, Ramesh, was diagnosed with stage 4 gastric cancer, and support was given for surgery to alleviate his condition. The team also supported the education of an HIV-positive girl, in 3rd grade at the time, who was doing well and aspired to pursue higher education.

The pandemic's impact on children's education was significant, with many struggling to resume learning after two years of disrupted schooling. Teachers and parents are working to help children recover lost knowledge.

The team's personal experiences with mental health challenges enabled them to provide much-needed support to others facing similar issues, offering advice and sharing their journey to better health, which helped many more patients than they anticipated.

As awareness and care increased along with government sponsored treatments, they were able to see families become less devastated by the disease. They saw children grow up, get married, and have HIV free children of their own. It’s estimated that they impacted around 1000 people over the 10 year span who might have been otherwise underserved due to their remoteness and resource-deprived communities. 

HIV Care India became a Professionals International project partner in 2016 to bring more awareness and raise funds. It started before we adopted quarterly metric reporting in 2019. HIV Care India made a difference in their region and local communities. The project finished with Professionals International in July 2024 as it finished up its agreement and closed its project.