Bel-Air Hospital

HIV/AIDS Services

Bel-Air Hospital is recognized as an effective care provider for people affected by HIV/AIDS. Out of 30 or so hospitals in Satara district, only four provide care for people with HIV/AIDS, one of which is Bel-Air Hospital. Other health professionals in the region reported that Bel-Air staff members provide effective, compassionate care to people with HIV/AIDS. The government of India has recognized Bel-Air Hospital as a model HIV/AIDS treatment facility(IRCSa). The number of patients treated per year at Bel-Air Hospital has steadily increased from 8 in 1995, to 376 in 2002 (IRCSb). The majority of patients are from Satara district (BelAir Hospital, 2003). Most of the patients at the time of our visit were admitted for HIVAIDS and/or TB. Of the 8 children in pediatrics, 1 had TB, the others HIV/AIDS. Several HIV/AIDS -related services are available at Bel-Air Hospital. Patients are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and opportunistic infections are treated. If possible, people start anti- retroviral therapy (ART). ART is supposed to be provided free to people in high-risk states including Maharashtra. Yet in reality, patients must pay for ART. Though Fr. Tomy has been able to negotiate the cost of ART to 800R/mo, still some patients are not able to afford it and commit to life-long treatment. One nurse leader at Bel-Air Hospital commented that “counseling” is the most important intervention for HIV/AIDS. Bel-Air staff members visit villages of discharged patients to facilitate their re-entry into the community. Patients are followed after discharge to prevent relapse. Currently, approximately 10 to 12 patients die each month at the hospital. Reducing the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS and providing non- discriminatory care are very important at Bel-Air Hospital. Several strategies are in place to support these principles. Patients are rarely turned away from Bel-Air Hospital. Bel-Air Hospital personnel insist that families remain involved with the family member admitted to Bel-Air Hospital; people with HIV/AIDS cannot be left there without support. Staff, ambulatory patients and volunteers eat together in one mess hall. A barber visits Bel-Air Hospital to offer shaves and haircuts to people with HIV/AIDS. A Bel-Air Hospital physician described a decrease in stigma among physicians in the region as a result of HIV/AIDS training offered by Bel-Air Hospital.