Activities
Our ministry with the purpose to reach out to HIV positive people with compassion by meeting their felt needs through a holistic approach. We then aim to reconcile them to their spouse, family members, friends and relatives. Most important of all, we aim to bring them to a relationship with Jesus Christ and involvement in a local church.
We have been working with HIV/AIDS victims since 1997.
We have ministered to thousands of HIV positive people. Though many have passed away, many have given their lives to Jesus before they died.
Activities
We have three types of work: Visiting HIV/AIDS patients at hospitals, home based care, and a hospice for HIV/AIDS women.
HOSPITAL VISITS
*Visiting regularly, the patients in the hospital and building friendships with them by meeting their physical needs in ways such as providing nutritious food.
*The team maintains the hospital campus by cutting the bushes and keeping it clean.
HOME CARE
*Giving care and counsel at the home of the AIDS victim.
*Giving medical help.
*Giving help for their children's studies
AIDS HOSPICE
The AIDS hospice has been running since May 2000, and now has ten destitute women residents. The hospice meets the needs of the women, providing counseling, food and medical supplies. They also have morning prayer and Bible study at night.
COUNSELLING CENTRE
*Pre and post test counselling.
*Counseling to the spouse and family members.
*Linking HIV positive person with other organisations.
*Conducting seminars for church volunteers.
*Networking with local organisations who are working among the HIV/AIDS victims.
*Networking with local churches for the volunteers for home care projects.
*Meetings with home care patients.
Our staff have been working along with the TB Sanatorium, a government hospital, which is the largest hospital treating HIV/AIDS victims in India. Patients come from different parts of India, though most are residents of the states of Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh.
There are over 400 patients there getting treatment on a daily basis. PACT staff visit the patients at the hospital on a daily basis, building friendships and providing pastoral care and counseling. Everyone in these AIDS hospital wards is in need of acceptance, love, spiritual help and finances. The staff approach those who seem to be the most in need and who are without family to care for them.
Once the patients are discharged, and if they live locally in the Chennai region, staff members will visit them once or twice a month. Support extends to the education of their children and a monthly supply of rice. We help with counseling and some of their family responsibilities. We provide overall support not only for the AIDS?HIV patients but also their families.
future plans
Two more counselling centres in north Madras.
10 local churches partnering with a home care programme.
100 volunteers involved with home care patients.
Hospice for men established
For more information
Wilson, director
PACT staff: (from left to right) Jesudas, Shaji Mathai, Thangaraj, Saigairaj, Wilson
Workers at the AIDS Hospice near Tambaram.
Links
Next ministry - Asha Kendra School
Director of AIDS Ministry - J.D. Wilson