Journal Press India^®

Author Details ( * ) denotes Corresponding author

HIV positive children have higher nutritional needs, which they find difficult to meet due to poverty or inappropriate care. Often these children are unaware of their rights in terms of property and support and become invisible to the health care providers, thus perpetuating the cycle of neglect. It is important to support these children and their care takers in a holistic way.
Thus our target population remains the vulnerable dependents of communities at high risk to HIV/AIDS or HIV positive people like orphan children of HIV positive parents.
The Inchara programme has started reaching out to 250 Orphaned and Vulnerable Children (OVCS) through the foster care model. A portion of the proposed project is already being funded by Deshpande Foundation since last year. This funding is being utilized for:
• The identification of the OVCS and the foster care mothers in the communities;
• Awareness programs;
• Addressing stigma and discrimination;
• General health camps and Human Resource Costs
• Capacity building of the program personnel
The funding for the nutrition and other health services like HIV testing, CD4 count, ART, etc for the OVCS, is leveraged from the Government OVC scheme through the Woman and Child Development Department.

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