Way back in 2005, a group of volunteers from varied professions, came together with a common goal in mind. To do something to curb the growing menace of HIV/AIDS in our country. Lot of work was being done by government and non-governmental sector, but the awareness about those programs was poor. There was a need of a channel for taking this information to the person in need. And that need gave rise to HIV helpline. 15 years down the lane, the same helpline is working, consistently, pan India, on voluntary funds. Started for Maharashtra, helpline activity was extended to Bihar for catering to Hindi speaking belt of India. Till date we have catered to over three lac fifty thousand calls form all over India and abroad.

Have things changed in last 15 years? Yes. Like everything else, the content and format of calls at helpline has changed with time. In 2005, we were striving to get female callers, uneducated callers, rural callers. Today, with our SAMPARK project, almost 30% of our callers are female callers, 20% of ours callers are illiterate callers. And 50 % of our callers are from rural area where health related messages are difficult to reach. Earlier calls were laden with fear, panic, stigma and discrimination. Today callers discuss about life after HIV, job, marriage, and children. The free availability of anti-HIV medicines all across India has changed the face of HIV epidemic.

People have learned to live with the disease. And we were waiting for this day to come, when we would no longer be needed to educate them, to calm them, to encourage them. We are now free to move on, to work for some other cause, some other issue.

And here comes COVID19……..

Will share you in next annual report our COVID related work. Till then, stay home, stay safe……. We are greatful to Nalanda Charitable Foundation, Suma Soft Pvt Ltd., Persistent foundation and all donors for their continuous support and encouragement.