Health Promotion

PROMOTION OF COMMUNITY BASED HEALTH CARE

Therefore, TSSS accords top priority to health issues in general and prevention of HIV/AIDS pandemic in particular. Some of the concrete measures implemented by TSSS are given below.

HIV/AIDS – PREVENTION CUM CARE AND SUPPORT (Supported by MANOS UNIDAS, Spain)

Tamil Nadu spends Rs 100 crore every year to fight AIDS but the number of infections is still climbing. Stigma towards people infected with HIV/AIDS is widespread. Ostracism by family and community drives the epidemic underground and decreases the reach and effectiveness of prevention efforts. Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) are playing a vital role in the global fight against the devastating pandemic. 

TSSS along with its district level partner NGOs responds to the epidemic which is not only a health problem but also a crisis having a profound impact on their spiritual, social and human responsibilities. HIV/AIDS is a threat to family life, spiritual well-being, growth of the community, fighting poverty and human dignity. With the noble support of Manos Unidas, Spain, TSSS has been implementing HIV/AIDS prevention, care and support initiatives since September 2008. Significantly, TSSS has established SONTHAM, the Care and Hope Centre for women and children infected with HIV/AIDS at V.M.Chathiram in Palayamkottai. 

SONTHAM –the Care and Hope Centre

 - Capacitating the programme coordinators, health volunteers from the women associations.

 - Generating awareness about HIV/AIDS among different sections of the society 

 - Providing Home and Community based care and support services to people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. 

 - Empowering the infected and the affected people through imparting positive skills and enhancing their economic condition 

 - Providing treatment and Hospice to the positive women and children. 

Capacity Building Programme: 

Capacity building is a key strategy for the promotion and sustainability of health prevention programs. Capacity building generally refers to the skills, infrastructure, and resources of organizations and communities that are necessary to effect and maintain behavior change, thus reducing the level of risk for disease. TSSS organized capacity building programmes for the major stakeholders. More than 450 people were benefited through this programme conducted at different villages.

Advocacy programme for the women association members and its leaders  

Communications and advocacy on HIV/AIDS is essential to break the silence, contain the spread of the disease, and reduce the stigma and discrimination incidents and to influence the policies that will benefit the HIV positive people, especially women and children. Joining hands with district level NGOs coordination network and positive people’s network, TSSS advocated for the rights and entitlements of women and children infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS. 

Follow-up Meeting with Women Association Leaders: 

Follow-up meeting was organized with the purpose of involving the federation leaders and volunteers in the process of community based care and support. The meeting enabled TSSS to review the programme implementation and assess the outcome and impact of the programmes. It enabled the women federation members to make referral services and clarify some of their doubts and assumptions with regard to HIV/AIDS transmission.

Awareness programme on HIV/AIDS to adolescents:  

Aids Awareness Rallies: 

Imparting Life coping Skills for positive living:

- Expression of solidarity and confidence 

- Platform for discussions and sharing experiences

- Peer support- encouraging people to live positively

TSSS invited leaders and trainers from the district positive network to address the women. Resource persons from the Network of NGOs were also invited to the meetings. 

Blood Screening Camps: 

This is one of the significant programmes of TSSS in preventing the spread of HIV infection. It enables the high risk groups to have early access to diagnosis and treatment services. It is a costly affair and hence TSSS organized it with the support of voluntary medical personnel and government health care institutions. Due to stigma and the high level of discrimination among the rural population, we organize a general medical camp where we do blood screening. Youth are motivated to undergo blood screening. During the reporting period, 8 camps were organized. In these camps 12 persons were diagnosed as HIV positive.

Networking with NGOs, Positive Net works and related Government departments: 

Networking always helps the service providers have easy access to resources, interact with likeminded partners to get their feedback and opinion, share information and learn from their experience. They also help one another in the implementation of project line items. TSSS is a member of the District level coordination network of NGOs working for HIV/AIDS prevention and care and support. Its chief associating partners in the district are ICTC, PHCs and Anganwadies operating in the four blocks of Tirunelveli district. TSSS has established rapport with District Positive People’s Network. 

Orientation training to Peer Educators:

Peer educators are motivated by a concern for others. Peer education is based on the reality that many people make changes not only based on what they know, but on the opinions and actions of their close, trusted peers. Peers play a vital role in motivating and influencing a person for better performance / positive living. Hence the peers were identified and trained by TSSS for speedy action and effective outcome.

Economic Development through Skill Development and IGP: 

The programme aims to support those PLWHs who are capable of and interested in taking up some vocational skills and / Income Generation Programmes as to earn some money and stand on their own legs.  The young women showed interest in learning computing skills, book-binding and screen printing and basket making for which TSSS extended financial support for training initiatives. 

Revolving Credit for IGP: 

Credit ranging from Rs.8000 to 12000 was issued to PLHAs interested in and capable of doing some business / occupations. Some of the trades were done with the support of the family members and some are part time business / enterprise only.

ALTERNATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS

General health situation and health standard in Tamilnadu is still extremely low. Even though Science and Technology have done wonders in the field of medicines and medical treatments, they are accessible and available only to the affluent people. Unfortunately, poor people do not have easy access to proper and timely health care. They cannot afford to avail the modern existing health care services. Children and women in particular remain seriously underprivileged with regard to health. 

In response to the critical situation, TSSS promotes SIDDHA MEDICINE as an alternate health care system. TSSS has opened an exclusive treatment cum production centre for Siddha Medicines at Sankarankoil. Two professionally qualified and experienced full-time specialists give consultancy and services. There is also an outlet for sale of Siddha medicines at Palayamkottai. A clinic is also opened at Palayamkottai. TSSS is licensed by the government to manufacture Siddha medicines.

TSSS also facilitates operation of dispensaries at remote villages, where, nuns attend to minor and basic ailments. They do engage themselves in providing health education. There are 19 dispensaries all over the diocese. 

A special clinic for Acupuncture Treatment has been established at TSSS premise in Palayamkkottai. All India Acupuncturist Association supports it.

 - Siddha Medical Hospital and Research Center, Sankarankovil

 - Free Acupuncture Clinic – Cure without Medicines! (Supported by All India Acupuncturist Association)

SONTHAM

ALTERNATE METHODS