Santosh was a clerk in a private company. He had suffered from fever and backache for six months. He sought regular treatment from a private practitioner but his condition did not improve. His doctor suggested that he get a HIV test.

When Santosh arrived at the Family Health Center, (FHC) staff counseled him before administering the HIV test. His blood test showed he was HIV-positive. Two days later, he brought his wife, Rashmi, for testing. She, too, tested positive for the disease.

Santosh and Rashmi were shocked to learn that they are HIV-positive. Faced at once with dire illness and tremendous emotional stress, the couple needed both the medical, and the psycho-social, supports that PRASAD’s comprehensive HIV/AIDS Program delivers. The FHC staff provided the couple with extensive counseling which helped to relieve much of their emotional tension.

Santosh, whose illness was at a more advanced stage than his wife’s, was fast tracked onto a regimen of anti-retroviral therapy, (ART) which he follows consistently. Under the ART regimen, the HIV virus is usually suppressed so that the person's immune system can become strong again, and better able to fight off opportunistic infections which may be life threatening.

With treatment, and Rashmi’s caring support, Santosh is feeling much improved. Rashmi’s health is good and she does not currently need any medication.

When people are faced with a life threatening disease, adding counseling to medical treatment plays a major role in empowering them to face life with courage and strength. With your help, PRASAD supports those struggling with illness to maintain their physical and emotional health.

Jaya moved from Calcutta to a nearby town about 10 years ago in search of work. Not finding work, she turned to the commercial sex trade to earn a living for herself and her two children.

Sometime later she tested positive for HIV. This was a shock to Jaya, but she knew that the nature of her work made her vulnerable to this disease.

When Jaya came to the Anukaampa Family Health Center, her weight had dropped to 34 kg (about 75 pounds) and she was suffering from loss of appetite, high fever, weakness, fungus in the mouth, skin rash, cough and STI (sexually transmitted infection). She could not walk without assistance.

After following up regularly at the FHC for three months, her opportunistic infections were successfully treated and she now walks unaided.
When Jaya told her teenaged daughters about her HIV status, and how she caught the disease, they became angry and avoided her. However, after several counseling sessions at the Center, Jaya’s daughters are again living with her and caring for her.

Jaya has promised that she will not return to the commercial sex trade, and instead, will earn a living doing tailoring work. She is grateful to PRASAD’s HIV/AIDS Program team for helping her to live a more positive and healthy life.

Ram was carried into PRASAD Chikitsa’s Family Health Center by his relatives. He was very emaciated, weak and suffering from several opportunistic infections related to HIV. The relatives believed he would die within two to three days. Neighbors and relatives had stopped entering his house for fear that they would catch his disease. Ram’s economic condition also had deteriorated, as he had to sell his buffalos and assets to pay for the medicines given to him by a private doctor.

The Family Health Center referred Ram to the hospital where his condition was stabilized. Upon discharge, he began to follow up regularly at the center. All his opportunistic infections were treated and he was placed on antiretroviral therapy. His condition has improved so dramatically that he is now back at work supporting his family. Ram is in excellent spirits, and his neighbors and relatives are starting to enter his house again. When Ram visits the Family Health Center, he always shows his gratitude and respect to the staff for their loving care and support.

Shriniwas is a 36-year-old laborer. He, his wife and his daughter all are HIV positive. Because he was suffering from seizures, he was unable to work regularly.

After coming to PRASAD’s Family Health Center, Shriniwas was referred to the Epilepsy Clinic at KEM Hospital in Mumbai. He was very fearful of going to the clinic as he had previously been admitted to a private hospital where he had to pay a large amount of money, with no improvement in his health. A PRASAD social worker took Shrinjwas to KEM Hospital, where he was diagnosed as epileptic and was asked to get a MRI of his brain. Due to his poor financial condition, he was unable to pay for the cost of the MRI, but PRASAD was able to negotiate an affordable rate.

After the MRI report, Shriniwas was started on epileptic medicine. He has been free of seizures for many months now and is able to hold a regular job. Shriniwas and his family follow up at the Family Health Center regularly and are very grateful for the continual care and support they receive.