India's urban centers are critical sites for HIV/AIDS intervention. Cities are where prevalence rates are highest, epidemics get started, and worst of all, where HIV is spread to rural districts. India's capital of Delhi, adjacent to the heavily populated states of Uttar Pradesh and Haryana, experiences an influx of over 1 million permanent and seasonal migrants each year. Many are exposed to HIV and return to rural areas or other cities, thereby spreading the disease.

Poor government health campaigns have resulted in populations inadequately aware about HIV and unmotivated to change their risky behaviour. The problem of prevention education is compounded by the many languages of people groups now resident in India's capital.

Showing Compassion in the Face of AIDS

SIM assists its Partner, the Emmanual Hospital Association (EHA), to enable them to serve People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in Delhi and its vicinity through SHALOM. Home-based care, pastor education, mobilizing church volunteers, building community awareness, and training/capacity building for community-based partner organizations are all part of SHALOM's holistic strategy.

For those already infected, SHALOM staff and volunteers visit homes providing social, spiritual and emotional support as well as medical support. Together with another Partner organization, NSM, material support (such as school fees, food and other basic necessities) is provided on a needs basis. SHALOM staff members also hold trainings for families on how to properly care for their own, while neighbors can learn how to care for each other.

In addition to its other activities, SHALOM targets Delhi's satellite city of Faridabad for Prevention/Awareness interventions, especially within schools and, on occasion, with churches and other community-based groups. In the schools, students engage in 1 to 3-month holistic health classes which cover HIV/AIDS issues as well as basic hygiene and healthcare.

Vital Partnerships

SHALOM also partners with NGO's like Home of Hope, an outreach to Faridabad teenagers, some of whom have been involved in commercial sex trade; Intermission, an orphanage for HIV-infected children; and NSM, a NGO which assists children of SHALOM's home-based care clients through subsidizing their school and other costs.

SHALOM India, together with churches, government and community groups is bringing hope to Delhi. Because of the project, kids have options, women have healthcare and those infected experience a fuller life. Due to its previous history and experience, and through its capacity-building/training programs, SHALOM has proven to be a key model and resource for other AIDS-related ministries across North India.

Give

You can be involved in this ministry of hope through your prayers and contributions. To learn more, please contact your nearest SIM Office or visit www.shalomdelhi.org. To learn more, visit www.hopeforaids.org.