Staff Reporter
As the percentage of people with HIV/AIDS increases steadily, the Freedom Foundation, one of Bangalore's largest HIV/AIDS counselling and housing facilities, has been thrown a new curve. They have noticed that more and more HIV positive patients take to the centre for shelter toward the final stages of their illness. Figures reveal that only 20 per cent of their inmates are locals. The remaining 70 per cent come from Bihar, Nepal and Sri Lanka. The reason is that each of these people are looking for a place to die with dignity.
Says Ashok Rau, director of the Foundation, "There has been a steady influx of people who are in the last stages of the illness. They admit themselves into the facility and survive for just two to three weeks. Most of them come from places outside Bangalore since they
feel the necessity to die in peace."
He says that at present the Foundation houses three inmates from Sri Lanka, a few from Nepal and several from northeast India, all in the terminal stages of the illness. Due to this growing influx of inmates, the Foundation has been forced to expand its premises. "We have now created a separate facility for the terminally ill," says Rau.
"When the Foundation was inaugurated, its focus was to help people who were HIV positive and living with AIDS. But of late, we have been noticing that hospitals from the city as well as outside refer people in the final stages of the illness to us. They come to get tested and in the process remain with us.''
The Foundation has been able to provide the people with the place that they need. "Monetary and spatial restraints can be overcome. We want to be able to allow every human being his natural right - the right to die with dignity."
Top
Site Map | FAQ | Contact Us | Spread The Word
