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The Paediatric Ward at GHTM, Tambaram
The Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine, Tambaram (south of Chennai), has over 1000 in-patients on all days. A good number of them are HIV/AIDS patients. 40 % of AIDS patients fall prey to Tuberculosis (TB).
Patients, who are young fathers and mothers, bring along their children. The parents' long stay in the Hospital leaves the children unattended at their homes. Children of these patients are kept in the Paediatric Ward along with the other children there. Many of these children themselves are infected with TB or even HIV/AIDS
The Need
There was a time when the occupants of the paediatric ward here were a group of children, all looking depressed and lifeless, without a sense of security or dreams about their future. Their diseased state, diseased parent(s) all contributed to this state. As for the parents, these diseases render patients physically shattered and with a wounded self esteem. They transfer their anxiety to their children.
The Program
In April 2003, HOPE Foundation, in assocation with I-Tech staff and Sahaya International, started a Care Program in the Pediatric ward. Mini, the social worker, has in a way adopted the Ward for showering her love on the children. Every morning the children eagerly await her arrival. A wonderful worker, she is very caring and loving - giving herself to the children.
Everday, after lunch, the children engage themselves with Throw Ball, Cricket, Tennis, and Ring Games - all outdoor games and other recreation. All the activity and the noise they create make the children forget their sickness. They end up as a bunch of active yougsters.
This great work wouldn't be possible with out the support of Sahaya International. Mr. Tom Furtwangler has been a great inspiration and support for the program.
