Anandaghar - Paediatric Palliative Care & Support Programme for Children Living with HIV/AIDS

Human Immunodeficiency Virus or HIV has not only been a healthcare issue, but also a major social topic with extensive ramifications. The group that has been dealt worst by this epidemic are the children living with HIV. The society, due to lack of awareness, had ostracized these children forcing them to the worst form of child labor. Myths and misconceptions in society led to stigmatization and refused these children vital medical support. Even the basic rights of food, shelter, and education were denied to them by orphanages and formal schools. Thus, a medical issue robbed childhood from these children.

Organisation For Friends, Energies & Resources (OFFER), started the “Anandaghar” initiative, in 2006 to provide care and protection exclusively to the Children Living with HIV/AIDS (CLHA.) It is a unique programme that specializes in supporting orphan CLHA.

The residential campus not only ensures the required medical support to these marginalized children but also, take care of their social and developmental needs.

Anandaghar considers HIV infection as a social issue and undertakes activities that address the medical, social and policy aspect of this infection among the minors in West Bengal. Through our efforts, we have established a framework which enables these children to grow up like any other minor and become a responsible member of the larger community.

Anandaghar programme offers these children an alternate way of life. Anandaghar not only addresses the medical needs, but has adopted a holistic approach to prepare these children and youth for a meaningful future and create awareness in public about people living with HIV, to ensure social, and legal justice.

Children under our umbrella are having a normal and independent life and taking an active part in society and illustrate that HIV is just a disease and not a taboo.

The civil organizations are also taking active steps for the integration of these children into society.