Early Activities

Beside weekly family and village visitations the Center had a yearly distribution of help to children of HIV families with school fees, school uniforms and supplies to 60 children. In the early years there was only the one HIV group which belonged to Mother of Perpetual Help Center. Because of the limited space at the small rented building such distributions were held at a large meeting room made available at the local government hospital. Later such distributions and larger group meetings were held at a temporary bush material building on the rented property of one of the staff members.


Development According to the Needs—HIV Groups

During the next two years as members became more stabilized and as members of the HIV group continued to grow the Center encouraged more groups to be formed. As the Center staff became well known for their knowledge and background with the aids disease the Health Department began to invite them as resource persons to give training and education about aids to village groups in outlying areas. With frequent contact also with local District hospital nurses and doctors HIV groups were formed in the District hospitals of Sibunruang and Non Sang, later in the Districts of Naklang and Nawang and lastly in the farthest District of Suwan Khu Ha. These groups met regularly each month and staff from the Center tried to attend their group meetings as frequently as possible. As the years went by and groups became confident within themselves they were able to write small projects to government agencies to procure funds which helped them with their monthly meetings for food, travel and visitations to members of the group who were not able to attend due to ill health.

The Center continues to have regular contact with these groups and it is through these groups and the group leaders that the Center gathers information and knowledge as to the most needy cases who need assistance. When possible leaders from each of the groups are invited to attend training sessions at the Center in health care, the use of the new medications which are being provided by the government hospitals, child care, nutrition and hygiene.

The Center is fortunate in the sense to be working in the Province of Nong Bua Lamphu as it is a fairly small Province with only six Districts, so it is possible to have contact with HIV infected persons throughout the Province. It is estimated that the Center is in contact with about 500 families of which there are 60 infected children that are known to us. With so many persons infected the groups and their leaders are invaluable as helpers since it is impossible for our staff to have regular contact individually with so many people and to keep up with all the activities of the Center.

A monthly supply of powdered milk, eggs and other food supplement are distributed to the most needy children in each of the District groups. We have been fortunate to receive help for this purpose through Missio Austria and other agencies in Europe.