DESIRE Society

We are very glad to introduce our organisation "DESIRE Society" established by a group of young and educated people in the year 2004 and it was registered in 2005. Ours is a non-governmental organization (NGO), functioning with an objective of health development of People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) by running a care and support centre under the project title of sahaya, in Medak district, Andhra Pradesh, India.
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HIV/AIDS

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is into its third decade. Over 5 million people in India are currently infected with HIV. This accounts for nearly 10% of the global HIV burden and the highest in the World after South Africa. According to UNAIDS, every 7 out of 1000 adults in India are HIV positive. According to Health Ministry of India, they are about 70,000 children under 15 years age are infected with HIV in India nearly 21000 new infections occurring every year.
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About Us

PROFILE

DESIRE Society is non-profit voluntary organization established in the year of 2003 and registered in year 2005 under Andhra Pradesh Societies Registration Act, 2001 (Act no 35 or, 2001). Now the Organization is functioning with a Care & Support Centre at IDA Bollaram Medak District, Andhra Pradesh, India, keeping an objective of health development and supporting for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA).

This is the first kind of Care & Support Centre in Medak district, where the literacy rate is low and majority of people are below poverty line. Most have no access to life saving drugs, and testing facilities or even basic preventative health care to their HIV/AIDS infections in these areas.

Currently the organization has taken up a program called 'SAHAYA' to the people of HIV affected and infected. SAHAYA (means helping others) the new title of the program works under the activities organized by Desire Society.

MISSION

We value health as a basic human right and every individual should have the opportunity to achieve it. We keep promise to uphold the dignity of every person living with HIV in our Country by love, affection and Social support.

VISION

Our Vision is to make the World in which people do not die of AIDS, means a world which we could brought HIV/AIDS under control by preventing the transmission of HIV, accessing and providing care and support, and alleviating the impact of the epidemic.

AIM

Our Aim is to reduce the spread of HIV and meet the challenges of AIDS. We are committed to preventing HIV infection, facilitating access to treatment, care and support and lessening the impact of AIDS.

OBJECTIVES

• To reduce the morbidity and mortality of the CLHAs is the main objective of this project.
• To offer stigma free voluntary counseling and testing for HIV patients and their families.
• To help CLHAs in antiretroviral (ARV) drugs from Govt & monitor them in drug adherence.
• To support orphans and vulnerable children infected and affected with HIV by all means.
• To offer quality treatment for Opportunistic Infections (OIs), it helps CD4 cell growth in HIV+ lives.

Organizational structure

As mentioned previously, the DESIRE Society is registered as a Non-Governmental Organization (Registration No 1918/2005). Organisation is having the Tax exemption under 80G exemptions of Income Tax Act 196, India for its donors.

The management body of the organization is a Board of 7 members, consisting of President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer and two Executive Members. This Board is the ultimate decision maker such as staff recruitment, procurement of drugs and fundraising activities. Board conducts the monthly meeting regularly to verify the implementation, discus the issues and take initiates towards organizational growth, during these meetings general secretary plays the Chairman role, also he takes concern of writing minutes regularly. Some times general secretary also would call the members to meet on any emergency issues.

Achievements

• About 8000 people supported through General Health Camps
• More than 20000 people educated on HIV/AIDS at 14 Workplaces in Medak Dt. i.e. GTN Industries, Hyderabad Chemicals, Cheminova Remedies, Hy- Grow Pharma etc.
• As on May 2007, personal and group counseling given for about 4500 patients
• As on June, 2007 about 148 patients (Children & Adults) were given treatment and complete support as in-patients.
• Children facilities extended up to 30 beds.
• Established 4 Prime Contact Centres (PCC) in Medak district
• Identified Children 130, supporting through PCC is 74
• Referred 18 adults and 6 children to Govt C & S C, Erragadda due to their AIDS condition.
• Given employment to 30 PLHAs (18 female, 12 m) at our various projects
• Offered STD treatment for 1400 patients.
• Developed network with many NGOs, PLHAs groups and Govt agencies.

Board Members

Name - G RAVI BABU
Sex - MALE
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY) - 10-06-1977
Country of Birth - INDIA
Occupation - BUSINESS
Position in the Board - PRESIDENT
Relation to other Board members - UN- RELATED
Education: M.A

Name - EM SUBHASH
Sex - MALE
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY) - 18-05-1974
Country of Birth - INDIA
Occupation - Working in Private Sector
Position in the Board - VICE PRESIDENT
Relation to other Board members - UN- RELATED
Education - MBA

Name - E KISHAN
Sex - MALE
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY) - 11-12-1977
Country of Birth - INDIA
Occupation - SOCIAL WORKER
Position in the Board - GENERAL SECRETARY
Relation to other Board members - UN- RELATED
Education - B.Com (CA)

Name - K. SRINIVASULU REDDY
Sex - MALE
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY) - 13-11-1965
Country of Birth - INDIA
Occupation - BUSINESS
Position in the Board - JOINT SECRETARY
Relation to other Board members - UN- RELATED
Education - B.E

Name - T. VIJAYALAKSHMI
Sex - FEMALE
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY) - 21-01-1949
Country of Birth - INDIA
Occupation - SOCIAL WORKER
Position in the Board - TREASURER
Relation to other Board members - UN-RELATED
Education - BA

Name - Y. MADHU BABU
Sex - MALE
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY) - 01-05-1977
Country of Birth - INDIA
Occupation - SOFTWARE ENGINEER
Position in the Board - EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Relation to other Board members - UN-RELATED
Education - MCA

Name - P. RAJITHA
Sex - FEMALE
Date of Birth (DD/MM/YYYY) - 06-10-1978
Country of Birth - INDIA
Occupation - SOCIAL WORKER
Position in the Board - EXECUTIVE MEMBER
Relation to other Board members - UN-RELATED
Education - B Sc

Projects

Care & Support Centre for Children: SAHAYA

‘Sahaya’(word means helping others) is the new title of the project. This project aims to work for the health development and well-being of Children Living with HIV/AIDS (CLHAs) in Medak district. This is the first kind of care and support centre in Medak district. In India many places with a high prevalence of HIV, efforts to provide care and support for AIDS orphans have been underway for many years. Although existing initiatives are encouraging, many of these are small scale and are struggling with the increasing number of children that require care. In order to develop a comprehensive and sustainable response to children, DESIRE Society has been initiated a project which is committed to provide services of treatment, nutrition, shelter and education to Children Living with HIV/AIDS (CLHA) at no cost. Now the organization is able to provide facilities for 20 children as inmates. Besides, project is also supporting more CLHAs as out-patients in Medak district.

Activities of the Project:

• Treating the HIV Infected Children
• Caring AIDS Orphans
• Providing secured Shelter and Food
• Building their future with Education.

Project Sustainability: By offering these services will enable the more children will come forward for treatment and support. This will reduce the stigma associated with the HIV disease in our society. Here, also it is hoped that if we can extend the children’s life for at least 5 more years, we can assure the absolute life to children, where we expect a complete cure for HIV can be available by 2011. While treating their opportunistic infections and offering them quality nutrition will also enable them to attend the school regularly and psycho-support (counseling) can impact on children to adopt good behaviour. Also this support will strengthen the positive thinking to lead happy life among CLHAs.

Need of the Project: These days in India HIV/AIDS has emerged as a socio-economic crisis rather than health concern. Recent data shows, now India has the more HIV cases than any other country in the world. Similarly Andhra Pradesh is having majority cases of HIV in India. I strongly feel that this project is very important for neglected areas like Medak district, where literacy rate is low and poverty is in high. Though the HIV prevalence rate is below 2% in this district there are increased HIV cases in children. Majority of them are infected through their mothers. As of now there are about 150 HIV infected children listed out at VCTC in Medak, of them at least 70-80 children immediately required life saving drugs (ART) (Source: APSACS). After going through the above information it will again remind us to put efforts to save these underprivileged children. Generally in our society women and children are more vulnerable and neglected, it is very pathetic when it comes to Medak district towards HIV infected children.

Monitoring & Evolution: Once a child is admitted at centre he will be under medical observation by health care team. Drug adherence has more priority in this program, because unless a patient takes ART regularly he can not find result of it. Each child will be maintained a separate file with precise code. Orphans and neglected children also will be given preference to bring them on track. A five member review committee will evaluate the program chronologically and advise the team to work more effectively. Dr L. Raj Kumar MBBS is in charge medical officer and he is responsible for the entire project. The medical staff will work under his guidelines and control.

PCC: Prime Contact Centres Project

PCC stands for Prime Contact Centre. We have been developed four PCCs in Medak districts, they are at Siddipet, Medak town, Sangareddy and Zahirabad. Each centre has two out reach workers, preferably one male and one female candidate.

Role of ORWs: Out Reach Workers are key facilitators and they have the vital role in identifying, mobilizing and follow up the Children, who are enrolled under the project. Each centre has allocated 11 Mandals where the ORWs have to reach up the entire geographical area. ANMs, Anganwadi Teachers, Village Presidents, Self Help Groups and Youth Groups are the resource persons to help out ORWs in identifying and encouraging the children who are suffering with HIV/AIDS. Facilitating the children getting done the tests of HIV at nearest VCTC and ensuring the psycho support through counseling is the job of ORWs. Mobilizing the children for Health Camps held once in a month at PCCs, enabling them to receive Nutrition kits, treatment for their opportunistic infections are the other responsibilities of ORWs at every PCC. If the child is needed CD4 Test and ART (Antiretroviral Treatment), then they can be facilitated from nearest Govt ART centre, through Out Reach Workers. Finally follow up of every child enrolled under project, observation in drug adherence will be taken care by the ORWs.

Need of the Project: As we are aware that still we talk about HIV/AIDS awareness after diagnosed the first HIV case 25 years ago. Our recent reports alarm us that we have to put pilot efforts on HIV/AIDS to reach up to grass root level populations. We have been experienced from our services that the Medak district needs to be implemented the actions associated with HIV/AIDS, immediately. On the other, according to NACO (National AIDS Control Organisation) Medak district falls under 2% HIV prevalence areas. There are less facilities available to children suffering with HIV/AIDS, this is for beyond to awareness on the disease.

Monitoring & Evaluation: Project Coordinator is the entire responsible for Monitoring & Evaluation of the activities under taken by PCCs. He leaves the guidelines to Out Reach Workers to implement, follow and reach the project objectives. Activities that organizing monthly health camps, attaching all needy children to the project and expansion of the services will be monitored by project coordinator. Executive body of the organization evaluates the project chronologically as per the advices given by project coordinator.

Workplace Intervention Program (WIP):

In addition to existing projects the organization has also launched a new program called Workplace intervention program started its activities in industries located around Madek district. This project aims to educate the industrial workers on HIV/AIDS and delivering the proper information about the disease to enable a positive and stigma free environment at workplace DESIRE Society prevention workshops have addressed workers across many workplaces in Medak district that includes Ltd, Hyderabad Chemical Products Ltd, Cheminova, AISHU Castings Ltd and Cheminova Remedies Pvt Ltd.

HIV/AIDS

About HIV/AIDS

The HIV/AIDS pandemic is into its third decade. Over 5 million people in India are currently infected with HIV. This accounts for nearly 10% of the global HIV burden and the highest in the World after South Africa. According to UNAIDS, every 7 out of 1000 adults in India are HIV positive. While most of the infected persons are unaware of their positive status, a good number of them tend to ignore the reality till the last moment due to lack of knowledge or fear or stigma. National, state and grassroots level NGOs played an active role in creating awareness and educating the communities. However all these efforts could not stop a faster growth of the epidemic in many parts of the country, resulting into grim future for the affected persons and their families.

What is HIV

HIV is Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Aperson infected with HIV is medically known as HIV positive person. Only a blood test can establish one's HIV status. HIV virus lives on human cells and is found only in human beings. However, this does not mean that the person is suffering from AIDS.

What is AIDS?

AIDS stands for Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome. This syndrome results from the breakdown of immune system in human body, which results in the body falling prey to host of infections and diseases. AIDS is not a single disease but a syndrome - a set of signs and symptoms, which results from the destruction of the body's defences by the Human Immunodeficiency Virus - HIV.

There is no cure for AIDS, but medical treatments can slow down the rate at which HIV weakens the immune system. As with other diseases, early detection offers more options for treatment and preventing complications.

The term AIDS refers to an advanced stage of HIV infection , when the immune system has sustained substantial damage. Not everyone who has HIV infection develops AIDS.

How can HIV/AIDS spread?

• Through unprotected sexual relation.

• Through tranfusion of HIV infected blood.

• Through using un-sterilized needles & syringes.

• From HIV infected mother to new born child.

How HIV/AIDS doesn't spread?

• Hugging

• Embracing

• Shaking hands

• Toilet sharing

• Coughing

• Sharing utensils

• Sleeping in the same bed

• Mosquito bite

How can we prevent getting HIV/AIDS?

• Everybody be informed and inform others

• Safe sex practices - avoid unprotected sex, avoid multiple partner sex,

• Avoid blood transfusion in case of one unit, take blood from a licensed blood bank make sure that the blood has the stamp of "HIV Free" on it.

• By using disposable or sterilized needles and syringes

• Contact the nearest PPTCT centre for preventing parent to child transmission of HIV

What is the present treatment available for HIV/AIDS?

• Prophylactic treatment

• There is treatment for the opportunistic infections

• Anti Retroviral Therapy (ART)

• Positive Living

• In spite of the HIV infection a person can lead a normal life like any other person in the Society. To do so simply follow as below:

• Get up early in the morning before sun rises

• Take bath every day, if possible twice

• Drink only boiled & cooled water

• Take food on time

• Take hot & freshly cooked food only

• Avoid outside food

• Take sprouted pulses

• Take fresh, seasonal fruits and vegetables (lots of green vegetables)

• Take a glass of milk every day (if possible)

• Take one egg every day (if possible)

• Think positive always

• Keep your house and surroundings clean

• Maintain personal hygiene

• Take precaution to prevent STI and opportunistic infections

• In case of any opportunistic infections or STI, get treated immediately

• If you have loose motion, cough and fever immediately consult your doctor

• Do simple exercise, if possible meditation for 20 minutes in the morning

• Make use of the counseling facility

• Be part of support groups

Facilities

Organization is having a Laboratory facility working 6 days in a week from Monday to Saturday 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM with a regular lab technician.

The below tests are done here:

• HIV testing.
• Diagnosis of Opportunistic Infections (OIs) and Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STD).
• Diagnosis of HBV and HCV.
• Other HIV allied tests.

Support Us

WAYS TO DONATE US

There are many ways that you can support the needs of children infected with HIV/AIDS in India.

• Donate by cheque or DD – in favour of DESIRE society payable at Hyderabad.

• Share your material or stock

• A arranges a recurring donation – pledge to contribute a donation in every month or year.

• Own a child or project – we encourage you to adopt a child or project to support permanently.

• Offer – in kind support

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Donations within India

All donations sent to DESIRE Society are exempted under section 80(G) of the IT Act of 1961.
Direct Transfer: Bank Account No: 007505005332

By Cheque/DD drawn in favour of "DESIRE Society", " and mail it to the following address below:

Overseas Donors

Banking Details:
Official Name for the Account: DESIRE Society

Bank Account Number: 007505005332

ABA Number (Routing Number or Swift Code) :

Name of the Bank : ICICI BANK
S.R. Nagar Branch
Hyderabad

Contact Us
DESIRE Society

HYDERABAD
H No: 5-76/28/4
Balaji Nagar
IDA Bollaram Village
Jinnaram Mandal, Medak Dt
Andhra Pradesh, India-502325
Telephone: +91-8458-279797

BANGALORE

Plot No.35
Jambusavari Denne
Coconut Avenue; 8th Phase
J P Nagar, Bangalore,
Karnataka, India - 76
Telephone: +91-80-32414638