Introduction

This Care and Support Project is assisted by PWDS – Alliance. BLOSSOM Trust offers care and support to HIV/AIDS affected individuals and their family members, Children support groups, PLHA Support Groups, Education Committee, Pressure Groups, SHG’s, Wise Tea, Children Club are some of the community structures formed for sustainability.

Project Goal

Objectives

	Preventing Transmission Of HIV From Mothers To Their Infants.
	Identifying and Enrolling HIV +ve Children Into Care & Treatment Programmes
	Expanding Access To Care & Treatment For HIV Children.

Areas covered

Blossom provides the community based care and support for HIV / AIDS infected in Virudhunagar, Sivakasi, Sathure, Watrep, and Kariyapatti blocks.

Blossom conducts a Community based Care and Support programme aimed at providing basic medical and nutritional treatment for infected people, by counselling and educating the Community to support them. The project has four major components:

1. Capacity Building of 'Compassion' (Volunteers) group
2. Care & Support
3. Referral services
4. Mobilizing and sensitizing the community

HIV/AIDS >> Services provided by Care and Support team

	Identify Pregnant mothers, Sensitizing, Motivating for testing and referring for PPTCT.
	Sensitizing and motivation CBOs, FBOs , private sector to participate the program.
	Promoting, strengthening, and sustaining community support structures.
	Identifying and training volunteers and home care guides from within communities.
	Capacity building of implementing NGOs, staff team and community on emerging issues.
	Training HIV +ve women on safe motherhood, and life skills training for children.
	Availing government welfare schemes
	Linking with CBOs, FBOs, and philanthropists for resource mobilization and support.
	Developing links and referrals with health care providers
	Providing direct services to children living with HIV/AIDS, Siblings and their family

Programmes Conducted

IDENTIFICATION

HIV/AIDS >> Achievements

The HIV/AIDS programme still has a long way to go, but positive results have already been achieved

	Most people are now aware of ways to identify STI symptoms and the need for regular and complete treatment.
	Understand clearly that STI can be completely eradicated when both partners are ready for and comply with testing and treatment.
	By distributing condom to the high risk and suspected women in pregnancy their life can be spared
	On distributing pamphlets on STI /HIV to women SHGs, Youth and the public they understand and learn about STI /HIV, when before they would not have heard about it
	When the infected person is shown to be positive for HIV they are counselled about how to live their life.
	Parents and Children with HIV when they taking ART they become free of oppurtunistic infections and are healthy and can live a normal life.
	Ensuring regular counselling to family members through continuous home visits.

Community Structures formed for sustainability

Children Support Group

The Children Support Groups (CSGs) are valuable for the emotional wellbeing of HIV/AIDS affected children. It assists in building a stronger sense of self esteem. It helps the children to help themselves. A CSG consists of 5 to 12 members. The CSG’s are functioning in the following five villages.

1. Thirutangal
2. Pavali
3. Chatrareddiapatti
4. Muthal Nagar
5. Chinna pearli
6. Kariyapatti

The activities of CSG

1. The members meet once every 3 months
2. They discuss their problems and issues regarding the health status of family members.
3. They also share the information regarding treatment improvements and follow-up measures.
4. They discuss and share their emotions and feelings, consequently improving and strengthening the moral support.

PANEER POO HIV POSITIVE Women’s NETWORK

Originally when the women PLHA’s were identified by a team of social activists, they were feeling incredibly low and some were on the brink of suicide. So, they were formed into a support group called PLHA Support Group which was popularly known as PSG. Through the PSG’s the PLHA’s join together and share their feelings. These groups give much psychological support. The PLHA’s wanted PSG’s to support them economically too so they formed a self help group. The group was named as Paneer Poo Mahalir Mandram. Now they are able to save money through the SHG. The PLHA’s also wanted to become involved in social activities. To do this formed a network named “Paneer Poo HIV Positive Women’s Network Trust.

The following problems persist

	There are many other support options for the PLHA families but many members are not accepting of this.
	PLHA Family require money to meet the expenses of transport, clothing, education and nutritional food by themselves
	Their children do not take ART because the family members are unable to provide nutritious food.

This shows that our awareness programme is essential and for this, Blossom desperately needs funds to finance more "Edu-Clowns" performances.

HIV/AIDS >> Way to Help

You too can help our venture by

	Providing Nutrition support.
	Education support for higher study.
	Addressing young widow’s problems.
	Providing Medicine & travel Support.
	District wish Information Centers.
	Ambulance Facility service ( To use in remote areas people )
	Implementing Economical development programme Support
	Centralized Care Centers
	Village level awareness meetings
	Rendering financial support.

It will help us advance the future challenges and enhance our AIDS Care and Support by encouraging the continuing 'Prevention and Education' strategies.

HIV/AIDS >> Case Study

Sivapratheep story . . .

Sivapratheep is a 9-year-old boy who first both of her parents to AIDS. HIV-positive herself, He now lives with her Father & mother and one sisters. Sivapratheep Father had not been able to work regularly and struggled to provide food for her daughters and herself. But then, the BLOSSOM TRUST, a partner agency in the Palmyran workers development society (PWDS), came to the family’s aid. small-scale business. With funding from ABBOTT fund, she was able to start a Vegetable Store business, earning an income that covers the family’s entire monthly food costs. in the children through its support of education, nutrition, economic strengthening, health care, protection, and psychosocial care.
Thanks to the Blossom Director & PWDS Director and All staff, Sivapratheep is well nourished and more able to face the challenges of everyday life.