We are still finding people who don't know they have HIV/AIDS!

Finding people who don't know they have HIV is the main work of our survey team working from our base at Karuna Nivas Children's Home in Narasannapeta.
Our doctor, social worker and project coordinator visit villages, meet the village officials and ask if anyone has died recently, is suffering from a cough or generally ill. They hold a 'health camp', examining people, listening to their problems and dispensing free medicines whenever possible. If they suspect that someone has HIV/AIDS they take them to be tested at the government centre in the district main town.

While the children of Karuna Nivas are at school we utilize their play area to distribute food parcels to those with HIV who have no regular income. They can earn only a few pence on days when they are not in the grip of fevers or body pains, which are a common side effect of their

HIV/AIDS infection. Many women do agricultural labouring  - such as harvesting or planting rice. Others do things like washing dishes in roadside cafes or going from house to house to wash up. They earn very little, sometimes only receiving payment in kind, a few old clothes or some left over food.

Brighter Future food parcels enable them to have something to fall back on when they cannot find employment or when they are too ill to work. Some of our women do have to support themselves,and a child, entirely on our 5kg. of rice and 3kg a month of assorted grains, oil and protein supplements.

Victor and I went to the project this month.  We met the five newly found HIV positive people, all ladies. They have been tested and put on Anti Retroviral Therapy.They are welcome to come every month for our food parcels, vitamins and general medicines. For those from more distant villages this is difficult as they cannot afford the bus fare. We give those patients something towards the fare.