Aastha Hospice On AIDS Opened

The Christian Hospital , Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh built in 1911 was temporarily non-functional due to financial crunches. To revive the same, the Central Regional Board of Health Services (CRBHS) under The Synodical Board of Health Services (SBHS), New Delhi approached the Madhya Pradesh State AIDS Control Society (MPSACS) and acquired a project on Targeted Interventions for Truckers and Commercial Sex Workers. The project work in a portion of the hospital started in March 2007. In the meantime work was going on through the already running ‘Nirmal’ project to get people who needed hospitalization due to HIV infection.

The name of the Hospice is AASTHA meaning TRUST (placing your trust in the Hospital). It also stands for AIDS AWARENESS Support and Treatment Hospice on AIDS.   

Thus with the dedicated efforts of Dr. Samuel Kishan, Chief Functionary and Secretary, The Synodical Board of Health Services, Church of North India, Mrs. Karuna Roy, Coordinator, HIV and AIDS Programme, The Synodical Board of Health Services, Church of North India, Dr. Mrs. S. R. Dutta, Secretary, Central Regional Board of Health Services (CRBHS) and the entire Project Team of HIV and AIDS Programme, CRBHS that ‘AASTHA’ – Hospice on AIDS started functioning from May 26, 2007 at Christian Hospital, Neemuch in Madhya Pradesh. Mr. D. K. Nag has been appointed as the Project Coordinator..

Around 16 People Living With HIV and AIDS (PLWHAs) reached Christian Hospital , Neemuch in the afternoon of May 25, 2007 . These PLWHAs belong to the poor and marginalized communities.  These PLWHAs were individually counseled by Mrs. Karuna Roy and Dr. Mrs. Sr. R. Dutta on various social aspects revolving around them and their HIV status and CD4 count. After screening, 6 PLWHAs (2 females and 3 males and an 11 year old child)   were identified for admission.

At present the Hospice has ten beds. There are separate male and female wards in the hospice. A diet chart has also been prepared by Mrs. Karuna Roy and Dr. Mrs. S. R. Dutta.

excerpts from CNI SBHS NEWS