Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air Hospital Indian Red Cross Society Response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Maharashtra Mrs. Homai.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Indian Red Cross Society

Response to the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Maharashtra

Mrs. Homai N. Modi

Hon. Secretary

Indian Red Cross Society

Maharashtra State Branch

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

OPD Block

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

HIV/AIDS: Present Indian Scenario

• About 2.5 to 3 million adults

infected with HIV in India

• 38% are women

• 57% are in rural areas

• Six high HIV prevalence

states in South and North

Eastern regions including

Maharashtra Figure Source: NACO Annual Report, 2003

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

HIV/AIDS Scenario in Maharashtra

• Maharashtra is one of the first and worst hit states in the country.

• Major labour force for the financial capital of India Mumbai, comes from the rural parts of the state.

• This labour force is exposed to Red light areas and also to HIV as they are living alone away from their families.

• National Highway connecting important cities like Mumbai, Pune, Mangalore, Bangalore and Chennai passes through various districts in Maharashtra with major halts in smaller towns.

• Large number of female sex workers along the highway catering to truck drivers.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

HIV Trends in Maharashtra

NACO

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

HIV Trends in Maharashtra

NACO

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

HIV Trends in Maharashtra

NACO

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

History of Bel Air

• Founded by Dr Billimoria in 1912 as a TB Sanatorium

• Handed over to Red Cross Society in 1964• 250 bedded hospital with 150 staff including 24

doctors and 60 nurses.• Well equipped Pathological Laboratory, CD4

Count Machine, Operation Theatre with Laparoscopy, X-ray-USG Machines, ECG, ICU, 24 hours Emergency, etc.

• It also has a Naturopathy and Ayurveda Centre.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

1994• Bel-Air started getting HIV patients from

1994.

• Bel-Air admitted HIV patients and did their best to treat them at a time when the country had no experience.

• There was no support from the Government.

• ART was not available.

• Free food and treatment made available.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

1994 - 2000

• The Society was resistant.

• Families abandoned their patients.

• Bodies were not claimed.

• Even cremation was difficult.

• Bel-Air staff were forced to wash the municipal crematorium after cremation of the HIV positive bodies.

• High levels of stigma and discrimination

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

2000 - 2002

• Bel-Air started sending doctors to various HIV/AIDS international workshops and trainings to places like Bangkok, Europe etc. since no expertise was available in the country.

• Nurses, counselors and other staff were also trained.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Endorsements2002

Penguin publishes Positive Lives by Kalpana Jain,

with a few stories

on the lives and experiences of HIV positive patients at

Bel-Air.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

2003

• Dr.Sr.Rosily, M.D. with eight years experience working with HIV/AIDS patients in Ghana, West Africa, joined Bel-Air.

• Completed Fellowship in HIV medicine from Christian Medical College, Vellore.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Endorsements 2003

The President of India Hon’ble Dr. A. P. J. Abdul Kalam

visits Bel-Air.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Mrs. Homai N Modi, Hon. Secretary, Indian Red Cross Society, Maharashtra State Branch, receives the President

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

President at Bel-AirPresident at Bel-Air

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Endorsements2003

UNAIDS proposes Bel-Air as a Public Private Partnership Model.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Patients admitted and treated at Bel-Air

Year H.I.V. TB

1995-96 8 417

1996-97 52 546

1997-98 57 411

1998-99 64 332

1999-2000 89 202

2000-01 260 423

2001-02 305 522

2002-03 389 577

2003-04 560 605

2004-05 653 699

2005-06 905 1494

2006-07 1125 1979

2007-08 1751 1743

Total 6227 9950

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

HIV OPD

Year No. of Patients

2002 323

2003 731

2004 1578

2005 3205

2006 6401

2007 8959

2008 till March 1841

Total 23038

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Surgeries

Bel-Air started Orthopaedic, Gynaec and General Surgeries for HIV

patients way back in 1998.

Laparoscopic surgeries started in 2008.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Ayurvedic Centre

Bel-Air has a full fledged Ayurvedic Centre which provides alternative medicines and yoga therapy to HIV patients also.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Endorsements 2006

Director of Bel-Air nominated as member of the Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) of the UN Global Fund against

AIDS, TB and Malaria(GFATM).

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Endorsements2007

The Director of Bel-Air nominated as the Chairperson of the Technical Resource Group (TRG) on Community Care Centres (CCCs) of National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Endorsements2007

A special Report on Bel-Air by

(National Public Radio) USA.• Website link: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11704607b • www.belairpanchgani.org

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Bel-Air College of Nursing 2006

• The first nursing program in India with a focus on HIV/AIDS.

• The first Nursing College in India with a collaboration with an American University.

• Identified by Indian Nursing Council & NACO to train nurses in HIV.

• 118 students currently in three batches.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Bel-Air College of Nursing 2006

University of Illinois Collaboration for - Faculty exchange - Student Exchange - Curriculum - Joint research activities - Participation in seminars and academic

meetings - Exchange of academic materials and other

information. - Special short term academic programs. - Professional development programs.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

2006

Support from

• Minu K. and Mehroo M. Patel Endowment Fund for Advancement of Nursing in India

• Bel-Air Benefit Foundation, Chicago.

• Ribbon Foundation, Chicago.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

2006

Bel-Air National Training Institute

Center for Disease Control (CDC), Atlanta and International Training and Education Center on HIV (I-TECH) Seattle, Washington, commits to provide technical support to Bel-Air.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

2007

Bel-Air National Training Institute

Global Fund Round VIBel-Air selected to train Community Care Center (CCC) nurses in the states of Maharashtra, Chatisgarh, West Bengal, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Orissa, Gujarat, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

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2008 Bel-Air National Training Institute

Indian Nursing Council identifies College of Nursing for training of

nurses from all over India in HIV/AIDS.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

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2008 Bel-Air National Training

Institute

Indian Red Cross Society National Head Quarters selects Bel-Air for a Care and Support Program in Pune, Nashik and

Kolhapur Districts with the help of German Red Cross.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Bel-Air a National Training Institute

2003 - 2008

Bel-Air has trained 804 doctors, 220 nurses, 41 health workers

57 counselors and 81 faith leaders in HIV/AIDS

management.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

• Successful in creating an environment free of stigma and discrimination in the hospital

• Larger society accepting HIV without discrimination.

• International schools in Panchgani send their students for treatment to Bel-Air.

• Acceptance of positive patients by their family members.

• Most patients recovering and going back to lead normal productive lives.

Bel-Air - A Success Story

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Bel-Air - A Success Story

• Levels of stigma and discrimination have reduced drastically in the community.

• Awareness on HIV prevention in the community has increased specially among the youth.

• Students from Panchgani schools mingle with patients regularly.

• Positive patients regain their confidence and dignity.

• 25 HIV positive co-opted as staff. • Unprecedented unique model in the country.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Future scope

Bel-Air is a potential training center for doctors, nurses and other health care providers from South and South East Asia in HIV/AIDS.

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

Contact DetailsMrs. Homai N. Modi Prof. Minu K Patel & Dr. Mehroo PatelHon. Secretary Bel-Air Benefit Foundation,Indian Red Cross Society (312) 996-7930  Fax:(312) 996-4979 Maharashtra State Branch E-mail: [email protected]: + 91 22 22 64 46 41Fax: + 91 22 22 693956E-mail: homaimodi @ yahoo . co . in

Father Tomy K. MCBS Dr. Manohar Jethani,Director Ribbon Foundation, Chicago,Bel-Air Hospital 1977, Quincy Ct, Glendale HTS, IL –

60179.Mobile Tel: +91 9422606672Tel: + 91 2168 – 241109 / 240639 Fax: 241897E-mail : belair @ vsnl . com

Website: www.belairpanchgani.org

Indian Red Cross Society - Rustomji Billimoria Bel – Air

Hospital

THANK YOU