We currently support, or are actively developing plans to support this year:

Social Work Program
Previously, children and families in the pediatric ward did not have any games, diversions or structured activities, and families had no support or advocacy services. Our first priority has been to support a full-time social worker dedicated to the pediatric department at Tambaram, who can work with families and children facing the crisis of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and other illnesses. We began supporting the social worker in March, 2004. You can read more about the activities coordinated by the social worker on the News page.

Infrastructure Improvements and Renovations
The open ward for children at Tambaram was originally designed for adult tuberculosis patients. It has fallen into disrepair and requires basic renovations including paint, repairs, and some new furniture including beds and family lockers. Additional improvements include the construction of a toy cabinet, a book and video library, and a TV/VCR, administered by the social worker. We support the ongoing purchase of toys such as coloring books, crayons, as needed.

Clothing Closet
At the request of the social worker we have set up a program to provide clothing to children who arrive with little more than the clothes on their backs. It is not uncommon for poor children to only have two or three sets of clothing, total. This program, which collects lightly-used clothing from donors, as well as purchasing some new clothing locally in India, gives the social worker the option of providing additional clothes to children in need.

The current total cost of this program is approximately $7,000-10,000 per year.

Future Plans
These goals remain in the planning stage, and we hope to implement them within one to three years.

• Endow a full-time pediatrician for Tambaram for five years.
• Support ongoing efforts to introduce antiretroviral HIV medications at Tambaram, and improve access to those medications.
• In collaboration with CDC/I-TECH’s efforts to develop a center of excellence in HIV clinical training at Tambram, support the integration of pediatric modules into the training curriculum.
• Support the travel and expenses of one nurse and one doctor per quarter to attend advanced pediatric HIV training at Tambaram.
• Coordinate a conference on pediatric HIV care in southern India.
• Build capacity at a partner nonprofit in Chennai, to fundraise domestically in India for support of pediatric care programs such as this one.