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| History of YRGCARE |
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The story of YRGCARE began in 1986, simultaneous with the onset of HIV epidemic in India. Dr Suniti Solomon (then the Professor of Microbiology in Madras Medical College) documented and confirmed the presence of HIV in blood samples drawn from Tamil Nadu-based sex workers. This confirmation exploded the myth that HIV was a disease of the West and of homosexuals, and thus would never come to India. Following the initial realization that the virus had become naturalized in India, and in Chennai in particular, Dr Solomon and her laboratory set out to determine the levels of infection in Tamil Nadu. In particular, the team sought to identify trends among the earliest known 'high risk' groups: sex workers and patients presenting at STD clinics in public hospitals.
In the mid-1980s, Dr Solomon's early studies at Madras Medical College revealed rapidly increasing HIV infection rates. Five percent of the first 100 HIV cases coming to the AIDS Research Cell alone were students. On the basis of both surveillance activities and observations of patients coming in for voluntary testing, young adults (16-24 years) consistently formed a distinctive subset of those testing positive. Widespread ignorance about sexuality in general, and the HIV in particular, was evident from the host of questions, doubts and uncertainties expressed by these individuals. These led to the realization that a laboratory-based approach - waiting for people to come for services - would not halt the spread of the infection.
Dr Solomon and her team at the AIDS Research Cell approached the then Education Minister with their data. This meeting led to further referrals to the Education Secretary and the Directorate of Colleges and Schools. The team faced difficulties in convincing these individuals that HIV infection was a burgeoning problem among the student population. They repeatedly denied that there was any risk in their educational institutions, and claimed that intervention efforts would be a waste of their time.
At this point, Dr Solomon requested the support of a friend, Fr. P.P. George (then the Principal of Sacred Heart College in Tirupattur). He arranged for her to address his college students. The students participated for hours, clarifying their doubts, misconceptions and myths about HIV. This opened the eyes of the management, and Fr. George agreed to share his experience with other college principals. With his help, and additional support from Rotary International, HIV/AIDS education was initiated in colleges.
The AIDS Research Cell expanded into the AIDS Resource Group, still under the umbrella of the Madras Medical College. A large multi-disciplinary team was assembled that consisted of a microbiologist, serologist, blood bank officer, clinician, STD specialist and psychiatrist. The sole objective of the AIDS Resource Group was to attend to the emerging epidemic at the grassroots. The group initially focused on raising HIV/AIDS awareness in schools and colleges, advocating for rights of people living with HIV, and highlighting the need for public-private agencies to work together towards planning and implementing policies for HIV control. As more employed persons tested positive and suffered workplace discrimination, the AIDS Resource Group expanded its efforts towards commercial and industrial education, as well as negotiation to remove discriminatory attitudes at the workplace.
With the launch of additional public education programs and the involvement of the Indian Medical Association for clinical care, the AIDS Resource Group was quickly outgrowing its disciplinary and organizational capacity. A dedicated center that combined medical testing, treatment, and social services was needed. Such a center would break new ground, as there was no precedent of a comprehensive HIV/AIDS facility within the country in public or private sectors.
The Y.R. Gaitonde Center for AIDS Research and Education (YRGCARE) was born with support from the Dr Solomon's maiden family (Gaitonde). YRGCARE was established as an NGO, a public charity and a unit of the YR Gaitonde Medical, Educational and Research Foundation trust. It provided the singular focus and needed autonomy to engage in full-time HIV related work. From its inception, YRGCARE's mission has been to work towards a world where people with HIV/AIDS and their families would live in dignity, and where further spread of the infection would be halted.
Resuming the work that she started with her initial team, Dr Solomon's first focus was education for young adults. Fanning out to schools and colleges, the group engaged in broad-based awareness programmes. These programmes included debates, discussions, plays and talks, gradually incorporating question-and-answer-based sex education sessions for separate groups of boy and girl students. To help lift the taboos on discussions of sex and sexuality issues, initial workshops were held with principals and parent-teacher associations of educational institutions. Although initially resistant, these opinion makers were convinced of the importance of HIV and sexual health education. From these initial success stories, YRGCARE expanded the health education program to other groups, including the general public, teachers, community based organizations, and special interest groups.
From humble beginnings, YRGCARE would expand throughout the next decade to become a recognized pioneer in HIV services, research, advocacy and training in India and worldwide.
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| Our Logo |
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| When AIDS first struck India, it was widely believed that the spread of the pandemic would largely spread among the homosexuals. However, Dr. Suniti Solomon, Founder Director of YRGCARE, firmly believed that the spread in fact would be more through the heterosexual route. Thus, the need to address all cross-sections of society was identified as paramount, and Men and Women, together Symbolized the focus of YRGCARE. The centre of the Sunflower reflects this early understanding |
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