Arogya Agam

The Arogya Agam projects helps children living with HIV, among other issues. 

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In the old days, when there was no antiviral treatment, babies born HIV-positive died. However, nowadays children and young people can lead healthy lives, and positive women can give birth to healthy babies.

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Jill visits John and Arogya Agam regularly and reports back on these children's progress and the difficulties encountered in making sure that these young people regularly take their treatment.

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The programme for young people helps them to cope with discrimination and also counsels their carers.  

 

Once teenagers, many young boys drop their treatment which is dangerous, many families live in isolated areas or move around in order to find work. 

 

The project has formed health workers in all the villages in the area who report on problems encountered.

 

John regularly sends case histories of some of these young people which demonstrate the many difficulties that families endure in this poor rural part of India.

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12 year old Chelladurai is taking tablets for HIV. He was 5 when his parents died and he now lives with his widowed grandmother.

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Six months ago, he was also diagnosed with tuberculosis and his granny just couldn’t cope.

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Our volunteer told Alagammal, the President of the District Positive Women’s Network, and she took charge: "I shall take care of his treatment".

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With her support and excellent treatment at the government hospital, Chelladurai now looks really well and is back at school.