Physical Health India Project #28889

Support one of India's first HIV/AIDS hospital

by Snehalaya 'Home of Love'

Project Report | Jan 9, 2026
Mercury Mission

By Dr Girish Kulkarni | Founder

On a mission

Thank you for your support of one of our most marginalized communities. HIV/AIDS is still hugely stigmatised which prevents many from coming forward for testing and treatment. By standing with us you are giving hope to so many and empowering us to deliver campaigns and outreach work that will help end the discrimination.

One such initiative is our World AIDS Week awareness programs and this December we came together to raise awareness, break stigma, and stand in solidarity with all those affected by HIV. This year's awareness rally reflected our commitment to building a society that is informed, compassionate, and stigma-free.

We are excited to announce our collaboration with the Mercury Phoenix Trust to conduct 15 health camps and awareness programs across colleges in our district over the next year. Mobile health camps aim to provide essential check-ups and treatments in underserved areas, ensuring access to healthcare for communities that need it the most.

In 1992, Brian May, Roger Taylor and Jim Beach set up The Mercury Phoenix Trust (MPT) in memory of the iconic Freddie Mercury who died from HIV/AIDS in 1991. The Trust is a core part of rock band Queen and Freddie’s legacy, with the passion and power behind the music forming the bedrock of the MPT. They have also been a significant and consistent partner in helping us tackle HIV/AIDS in our communities over the past decade.

Our target population includes children under 18, college students, sex workers, and other at-risk groups not covered under targeted intervention programs, such as truck drivers, supported by the Maharashtra State AIDS Control Society (MSACS). To encourage participation without fear or discrimination, we are integrating HIV testing within a broader range of health tests to help reduce stigma and normalize early detection.

To strengthen awareness and community engagement, we will be conducting poster and slogan competitions, essay contests, street plays, panel discussions, and spreading information through our own Radio Nagar.

Working with a network of stakeholders, we aim to expand access to essential resources, including Rapid HIV Diagnostic Test Kits, and extend our collective reach.

Today, we walk with purpose and hope — united with leading HIV/AIDS organisations to move closer to a future where HIV is understood, stigma-free, and no longer a threat. Your support is vital in ensuring we continue to deliver such initiatives to save lives in rural India, thank you.

Reaching out to at risk groups

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Aug 30, 2025
Emergency response

By Dr Girish Kulkarni | Founder

You are helping Shobha rebuild her life

Thank you for all your support and entrusting us to help to our survivors. As an example, we were shocked when 16-year-old Shobha (name changed) was rescued from a hospital in Ahiliyanagar (formerly Ahmednagar) District.

She was able to tell us how her father had killed her mother in front of her when she was in 2nd standard leaving her and her siblings orphans. Her younger sister was taken in by her step-grandmother while Shobha and her brother went to live with her maternal uncle. However his intentions were not good and from the age of 13, Shobha was abused over four years.

When Shobha started experiencing stomach pains and bloating, her aunt took her to hospital where the doctors discovered that she had contracted HIV. Learning of her diagnosis, Shobha’s aunt quickly abandoned the girl, leaving her at the hospital. The medical team alerted the police who quickly arranged for her to be admitted to Snehalaya.

Following her admission to our childcare institution, we conducted a medical examination at our Caring Friends Hospital. A sonography showed that her small intestine was damaged requiring emergency surgery, and she was admitted to a local hospital for further treatment. The cost of the treatment is approximately one and a half lakh rupees (approx $1,700) and we were able to cover these costs thanks to your support. We are also wokring to ensure the criminals who abused the child, directly leading to her HIV status and intestinal damage, are severely punished under the full weight of the law.

Our hospital has been directly affected by the cuts made to international funding from the USA. Previously we were receiving mentoring made possible through USAID. Now this has ended, the vital lifeline our hospital provides to children like Shobha and those living with HIV has been severely reduced. This September, GlobalGiving is offering vital match funding for projects such as ours to help plug the gap left by the US cuts. Donate between 8 and 12 September to inject some much needed funds to our hospital and medical support.

Rest assured, the support you already offer is directly helping Shobha and many others like her to rebuild their lives and we are incredibly grateful that you have chosen to stand with us for justice and futures full of hope.

Save the date to give more this September

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Jul 21, 2025
Role models

By Dr Girish Kulkarni | Founder

You are keeping our kids healthy

Thank you so much for your continued support of our hospital, you are directly supporting people living with HIV/AIDS and those from the lowest socio-economic areas of rural India. We are sad to report that our hospital was one of the causes affected by the recent cuts to US funding to developing countries. The withdrawal of funds was immediate, bringing an end to the mentoring support we were receiving from US AID via FH 360. This means your support has become even more vital in our mission to end HIV/AIDS and provide healthcare to those already living with it.

FH 360 has been mentoring our hospital team and helping us to ensure our hospital and its services remain sustainable. The good news is a lot of the ground work had been completed and our project has been reaping the benefits and we are determined to continue to build on what we have learned through the process. We have a new full-time doctor overseeing our project which means we can continue to those we serve albeit with limited funds and without their guidance.

We are helping young adults like Anil whose story we shared with you recently. Anil who grew up in our childcare institution (CCI) returned in a very poor condition and we feared the worst for him. He has now fully recovered and continues to act as a role model to other children encouraging them to adhere to their medication to stay healthy. He has recently opened his own small shop amd is doing really well in his new found independence and is strong and fit and remains in regular contact with many of our other HIV+ children to encourage them to do the same.

You may not realize but as a supporter of our hospital you are also a role model to our beneficiries, your continued belief in them grows their confidence and belief in themselves. Your support means much more than a donation, it gives them renewed hope. Thank you.

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