Manish's Story
Skin and bones, HIV positive and with a TB lump on his neck, 15 years old Manish (name changed), was found by IMCARES staff on the steps of a well known holy shrine in South Mumbai. Manish and his elder brother were orphaned when their parents succumbed to AIDS.
IMCARES instantly got Manish enrolled in their Sanjeevani Drop-in-Center project. Further investigations revealed that Manish was terribly underweight and his hemoglobin count was extremely low. Fortunately he was already enrolled in the Government free Anti Retroiviral Treatment (ART) medication scheme. But unfortunately Manish was not adhering to his medication due to his weakness, lack of nutrition and monitoring. For the IMCARES staff, it was indeed a race against time.
In consultation with the IMCARES in-house physician, Manish was admitted in a Govt. TB hospital and was operated upon and the lump from his neck was removed. During his long stay at the hospital IMCARES visited him regularly, just as in any normal family. They provided Manish the necessary nutrition and also monitored his TB medicine in-take. This had a positive result. In a few months Manish was free from Tuberculosis. IMCARES staff helped Manish restart his ART medication and soon his overall health began to improve. He began to regain his lost weight and vigor for life. IMCARES encouraged Manish to go to school and re-start his education. Soon, Manish began staying with a family living on the steps of the same holy shrine. In the morning he would do a job as a newspaper delivery boy and pay for his food and stay and the rest of the day attend school. He would regularly 2 come to IMCARES Sanjeevani Drop-In-Centre, where he would get a nutritious meal and friends to chat with.
This holistic approach by IMCARES towards Manish, helped him slowly move towards his goal. Manish was given the best handwriting award by his school and he also completed his 10th Standard(Secondary Schooling). IMCARES then encouraged him to study further. Manish now is in his final HSC (Higher Secondary) 12th Standard. He now stays with his elder brother in a dignified accommodation, does a part-time job to meet his needs, while IMCARES continues to be a family to him and aid his education.
With a considerable improvement in his health, a sparkle of dream in his eyes, and a family that he found in IMCARES, Manish now 18 years of age has found a reason to live. “I always wanted to continue my schooling would dream of becoming an Architect someday. These tall raising structures in the city have always fascinated me and I hope someday I will also build one,” says Manish.
Skin and bones, HIV positive and with a TB lump on his neck, 15 years old Manish (name changed), was found by IMCARES staff on the steps of a well known holy shrine in South Mumbai. Manish and his elder brother were orphaned when their parents succumbed to AIDS.
IMCARES instantly got Manish enrolled in their Sanjeevani Drop-in-Center project. Further investigations revealed that Manish was terribly underweight and his hemoglobin count was extremely low. Fortunately he was already enrolled in the Government free Anti Retroiviral Treatment (ART) medication scheme. But unfortunately Manish was not adhering to his medication due to his weakness, lack of nutrition and monitoring. For the IMCARES staff, it was indeed a race against time.
In consultation with the IMCARES in-house physician, Manish was admitted in a Govt. TB hospital and was operated upon and the lump from his neck was removed. During his long stay at the hospital IMCARES visited him regularly, just as in any normal family. They provided Manish the necessary nutrition and also monitored his TB medicine in-take. This had a positive result. In a few months Manish was free from Tuberculosis. IMCARES staff helped Manish restart his ART medication and soon his overall health began to improve. He began to regain his lost weight and vigor for life. IMCARES encouraged Manish to go to school and re-start his education. Soon, Manish began staying with a family living on the steps of the same holy shrine. In the morning he would do a job as a newspaper delivery boy and pay for his food and stay and the rest of the day attend school. He would regularly 2 come to IMCARES Sanjeevani Drop-In-Centre, where he would get a nutritious meal and friends to chat with.
This holistic approach by IMCARES towards Manish, helped him slowly move towards his goal. Manish was given the best handwriting award by his school and he also completed his 10th Standard(Secondary Schooling). IMCARES then encouraged him to study further. Manish now is in his final HSC (Higher Secondary) 12th Standard. He now stays with his elder brother in a dignified accommodation, does a part-time job to meet his needs, while IMCARES continues to be a family to him and aid his education.
With a considerable improvement in his health, a sparkle of dream in his eyes, and a family that he found in IMCARES, Manish now 18 years of age has found a reason to live. “I always wanted to continue my schooling would dream of becoming an Architect someday. These tall raising structures in the city have always fascinated me and I hope someday I will also build one,” says Manish.
Many precious lives, living on the streets of Mumbai are battling HIV and TB, with no one to help them. Once they die on the streets, their bodies are cremated by the authorities as ‘unclaimed and homeless’. But through the hard work of committed IMCARES staff, precious lives like Manish have now become a model for many. This change has taken many hours and years and deep involvement of IMCARES staff. IMCARES brings hope for many like Manish, who otherwise would have no hope for survival and a dignified existence. IMCARES focuses its work on the poorest of the marginalized poor suffering on the streets of Mumbai. We go beyond just charitable help. We choose to look for the needy and find them, proclaim health and wellbeing, and act by helping the sufferers to find a voice and access to available resources. Thus bringing about a sustainable change.
