Home-Based Care HIV/AIDS Program was initiated by the Assumption Sisters of Nairobi in 2001 in the Catholic Diocese of Mandeville, Jamaica. It serves persons living with HIV/AIDS(PLWHAs) and vulnerable families in the community which covers the civil parishes of St Elizabeth, Manchester and Clarendon. The need to establish an HIV/AIDS program was in response to the situation that people with HIV/AIDS and their families face due to high levels of stigma and discrimination.in society. The problem was also accelerated by a high level of ignorance in matters pertaining to HIV/AIDS transmission. The project realized the need to address the issue of behavior change in order to combat the spread of the virus. There was a need for the PLWHAS to identify with a group that could offer them encouragement, moral and spiritual support, reassurance, and hope in the face of rejection. We have 150 clients both children and adults.
The services that the program offers are as follows;
*Provides spiritual matters through talks.
*Counselling individuals and families.
*Home and hospital visitations to Clients.
*Prepare them to have a happy death.
*Giving workshops and seminars on HIV/AIDS to the clients, churches, and schools.
*Teaches skills and management of personal projects.
*Provide food to the clients.
*Building houses for the poor clients.
*Help them start an income-generating project.
