Villagers in remote Salo, India, learn what AIDS is and how it is spread during a community fair organized by MCC-supported Milan Project. Read more about the project in the September/October 2004 issue of "a Common Place" magazine. (photo by Matthew Lester) AIDS. Care Now. Donate NowIndia
About IndiaIndia is second only to South Africa in the number of people living with HIV/AIDS. Labor migration of men to the cities contributes to the infection rate.
MCC Supports:Emmanuel Hospital Association (EHA) — MILAN ProjectWhile many HIV/AIDS projects come about as a result of experiencing the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS in a community, the Emmanuel Hospital Association is taking a proactive approach at its Nav Jivan Hospital in Jharkhand state, eastern India. Because this state has been recently formed, it lacks government services present elsewhere in the country, including important health and health information services. Because India's HIV infection rates have not yet exploded (national rates in the general population are less than 1 percent), the aim of the MILAN project is to keep infection rates at a minimum. The project, which is based at the hospital and includes a medial care component, is also reaching out to the nearly 1.5 million people in the state with a comprehensive prevention and education campaign that is undertaken with other development organizations already active in the state. $25 Cdn./$12 U.S. covers the cost of painting one HIV/AIDS wall mural. $90 Cdn./$71 U.S. provides training for 30 rural medical practitioners. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.
The Salvation ArmyThe Bihar state in northern India is one of the most economically poor states in the country. HIV/AIDS education in the state also lags behind efforts in other parts of the county, even though many men in the state are involved in migrant labor, putting them at an increased risk of HIV infection. The Salvation Army is carrying out HIV/AIDS education in 12 villages near the town of Simultala through a series of community workshops and home visits. The project will also offer counseling to those who suspect they may be HIV positive and accompany community members to hospitals and testing centers to ensure they are able to access quality care. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.
Voluntary Health Action for Jharkhand (VHAJ)Based in the Jharkhand state, Voluntary Health Action for Jharkhand (VHAJ) is a network of 90 partner organizations working on issues of health and development. HIV/AIDS awareness is low in the state capital of Ranchi and the surrounding villages, where only 15% of people have heard of HIV/AIDS. Migrant labor and pre-marital sexual relations are common in the area. Through this project, 10 villages are targeted with AIDS education through workshops, puppetry, music, and signboards. Migrant laborers receive special wallets with AIDS messages printed on them, reminding the men to protect themselves and their families from AIDS when they are working away from home. Community leaders are trained and community members are assisted as they access HIV testing. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects.
West Bengal Voluntary Health Association (WBVHA)Siliguri and Darjeeling are border towns that serve as access points to Nepal and Bangladesh. Poverty levels in the area are high and sex trafficking and drug use are common problems. As a organization that resources community groups, West Bengal Voluntary Health Association (WBVHA) is training 30 local organizations to better address the HIV/AIDS problem among their target beneficiaries. If contributions to a project exceed the amount needed, MCC will use the donations to support similar projects. |
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