Support Groups: Support groups are initiated to reduce stigma and discrimination in the communities. A kind of enabling environment has been created thorough support groups. They share their experiences with each other with mutual learning. Increased confidence levels among the members. Mutual understanding is developed; information sharing is done among the support groups. Increased active participation of the general community members for supporting the support group members.

PLHIV Identification:

The priority was given for early detection of PLHIVs to control the disease in the initial stage. Information on services, providing care and support helped the project staff to motivate the general community members and the targeted groups to lead a quality of life. Increased knowledge levels among the communities on HIV/AIDS. Promoted behavioral and attitudinal change among the risky groups. Regular counseling sessions helped the PLHIV to overcome the stress and psychological disorders.

Medical support to PLHIV:

With the objective of reducing the opportunistic infection among PLHAs weekly clinics are conducted on every Thursday. The health status of the PLHIV is being regularly followed up. The OI treatment is provided for Skin infections, Urinary tract infections, PID, Dysentery, Oral Candidiasis, TB symptoms, Asthenia, fever, Upper respiratory tract infections, Joint Pains etc. Reduced OI s and increased weight, which can be shown among PLHIVs through regular medical check ups at weekly clinics.

Counseling PLHIV:
Counseling plays a key role in the care of PLHIV; regular counseling sessions (both individual and group sessions) are organized to help PLHIVs cope effectively with their illness. The goal of counseling is to facilitate the client to live positively and improve his/her quality of life. Awareness meetings with families of PLHIV clients are conducted, which helps them to understand care to be taken for the patient and increase their knowledge on opportunistic infections, DOTS, ART and nutrition.
Nutrition Support:
Project is providing nutrition supplements for PLHIVs as it is very important for them to sustain good health. The nutrition supplements are very useful for PLHIVs who are taking ARV medicines and it will help them to reduce OIs. Through support group meetings they are getting educated on the usage of low cost nutrition and about the nutrition supplements which project has been providing on free of cost.
Education Support:
Majority of the identified PLHIVs belonged to low socio economic background. Sometimes they are not able to provide all the requirements to their family as their health condition also not permitted them to earn. Most of them find it difficult to earn a livelihood, apart from taking care of their families and educating their children, who eventually have to drop out of schools. Sreyassu identified such families and provides educational support to school drop-outs as well as children who want to continue their higher education. Every year 100 children would receive education support from the project including infected and affected children.
Formation of CBO:
Initially Sreyassu started with the aim of forming it as community based organization. Soon it was formed as CBO in the year 2007, Oct to address their needs on their own with the support of remaining CBO members. Project supports CBO members by providing trainings in CBO management and exposure visit to other community based organizations.  CBO is formed to reinforce the recognition of human rights for PLHIVs in Jaggaiahpeta mandal. It supports PLHIV to form self help groups from the bottom up and foster bonding with inter community groups to gain strength and support.
The CBO was formed to improve the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS and provide a sense of belongingness among PLHIV and their families for full and active participation in the society and to reduce further HIV transmission.

CBO works towards:

• Networking of PLHIVs
• Promotes elimination of stigma and discrimination and protect rights of PLHIV
• Ensures access to information and services for all PLHIVs.
• Respond to the emerging needs of PLHIVs including livelihood and social security.
• To assist PLHIVs to adopt safe sexual practices this helps not only for further transmission of infections to other people but also to protect their own health.

Gradually CBO has been strengthening it activities, the long term motto is that the project will be handed over to CBO once it is fully strengthen with capacities to implement the project activities through CBO. As on June, 2010, 120 PLHVs enrolled in CBO.

• Local community leaders donated 2 cents of land to Sreyassu for permanent building.
• Sri Lagadapati Rajgopal Member of Parliament, Vijayawada sponsored 1 lakh form His NGO LIGHT for conducting Jute handicraft training.
• Smt Indira Dutt, JMD KCP Cements has donated Rs.6, 00000/- for Sreyassu activities.
• Sri. Kakateeya seva samithi and local philanthropists provide lunch expenses to 60 persons for 45 days worth of Rs.50000/-
• Mr.Chandra mouli, VRS Transport donated 5 sewing machines and education support for 30 children worth of Rs.27,000/-.
• Madras Cement factory has donated Rs.1, 00000/- and 10 sewing machines worth of Rs.50, 000/- to Sreyassu on the memory of founder’s birth day event.
• Part support to Sreyassu is provided by IADHO

The support restored the Childhood

Kumari Jyotsna sethi, 14 years old, daughter of Banamali sethi belongs from Rajanpali village of Boudh district. She is the only child of her parents and that is why she gets all the affection from her parents. She grows up with much love in the family. She studies in class 8th at Butupalli, High school of Boudh district.

Her father is a small farmer with one acre of agriculture land. The annual income is not sufficient to manage the family economy. However, with the income from his own agriculture land as well as labour work sometimes, her father manages the family and the education of Jyotshna.
Time passes and one day her mother observes that Jotshna is not able to tracing the things and domestic appliances properly and father also observes the same. School teachers complains that Jyotshna is not keeping any interest on study. Her father also observes the same. The school teacher says that she is not able to look at the black board and reading properly. Subsequently, friends and neighbours starts to address her as the blind Girl in the community. Gradually Jyotshna becomes depressed and stops going to play with her friends and avoids the gathering in the community. She also expresses her unwillingness for study. One of the neighbors observes a white spot on the right eye pupils. Her father contacts the local traditional healer for treatment who fails to recover the same through his treatment. The parents make lots of expenses for the treatment of Jyotshna. Then they takes Jyotshna to Boudh District Head Quarter Hospital for treatment. The doctor diagnoses her with immature cataract and asked them for contacting the Mahanadi Netra Chikitsalaya of Birmaharajpur of Sonepur district.
She comes to MNC 5th August 2009 and was admitted for cataract surgery. Her Uncle and Parents are counseled by the Ophthalmic Assistant for the surgery. The cataract surgery is conducted on her right eye on the same day through phaco with the intra ocular lens (IOL) in free of cost. Free spectacles and medicines are provided to her as per the prescription of the Ophthalmologist of the Mahanadi Netra Chikitsalaya of LEPRA Society. After the successful surgery, her parents express their happiness and gratitude to LEPRA Society as well as the person or institution who provides support for this noble work. Jyotshna is now very happy she becomes able to see. Now she has got back her earlier life stile i.e. in relation to continuing her study, playing with friends and joining the community gathering.

The support could provide relief in old age by restoring the vision

However, she gets the oldage pension which is Rs. 200/- (Rupees Two Hundred only) per month. Suddenly, she feels vision problem which increases gradually. She becomes unable to see and work properly. Cooking for herself and earning for herself becomes difficult. As her daughter are in their in-laws’ house, there is no scope of getting support from them. In the course of time, Basanti loses his complete vision. She could know about the community eye screening camp of Mahanadi Netra Chikitsalaya of LEPRA Society at Tarava. She requests her elder son-in-law to guide her to the screening camp. Basanti attends the screening camp and diagnosed with matured cataracts. She is brought to the Mahanadi Netra Chikitsalay by the project outreach bus on 13th August 2009 and was registered for cataract surgery. On 14th August 2009, her right eye is operated through the use of phaco and operating microscope and IOL is implanted. The surgery becomes successful and Basanti gets back her vision in the right eye. After seven days of her surgery, her vision is tested and found with very good vision. She also expresses her happiness as she is able to see the things and do her daily activities independently. She is waiting eagerly for the surgery in her left eye.

Restoration of Childhood

Sumanta Beriha,7/M of C/O Bhagban Beriha, hails from Jatasingh village of Boudh District. He is the youngest son of his parents with three brothers and only one sister. Being the youngest son of his parents Sumanta is being loved by everybody in the family. His elder brother was having eye diseases which led him to incurable blindness. Sumanta was all of sudden lost his vision at the age only 4 years. His father is a farmer and also works as a labourer. The mother is a house wife and sometimes works as labourer. When Sumanta is admitted into the school, the irony that he is found to have very low vision in both of his eyes for which he faces lot of problems in reading and writing. Gradually Sumanta was pushed into more and more darkness. Sumant is not able to carry out independently the daily activities, reading and playing. Gradually he stopped school going, playing with friends. He loses his childhood. The parents have no money for the treatment of their beloved son and because of the same reason and ignorance their elder son becomes blind. They have to only cry and blame their lucks. The parents go to the District Head Quarter Hospital, Sonepur but, the treatment could not be possible as the hospital is not having facilities for children surgery.

In course of time, his uncle who is staying nearby MNC informs his parents to come to MNC for treatment. The parents come with the son on 7th February 2009 and Sumanta is registered bearing the MR No 47526/09. He is detected with congenital cataract in both his eyes. Parents and the uncle are counselled for the surgery. Sumanta is admitted on the same day. His right eye is being operated with Small Incision Cataract Surgery (SICS) with IOL on 8th February 2009. His vision is improved to 6/18 in his right eye.

Now, he is able to play, read and write and he is happier that his vision has again restored. His parents are too happy as the childhood of their beloved son is getting restored and have expressed their gratitude to MNC for great support to their child and family. After few days, his left eye will be operated.

Resources

Infrastructure: The hospital is housed in its own two storied building having a covered area of 5000 sq. ft.. MNC has accommodation for 30 beds, suitable surgical and therapeutic equipment are available for providing eye care. The hospital has a minibus for outreach activities and transportation of patients identified with cataract to the base hospital for surgical intervention.
Physicians/Staff: There are 30 full time/part time workers at the MNC hospital. These include one full time doctor, nurses, paramedical staff and non-clinical personnel. The physicians are well supported by a multitude of staff members such as nurses, refractionists and technicians who actively participate in the health care team
Work Times: The hospital works six days (Mon-Sat). Patients usually come at 9 a.m. and the work day ends at 5 p.m.
Food: Breakfast, lunch and dinner are also provided free of cost to the patients and their attendants. On an average food is provided to 30 numbers of people per day at MNC.