St. Ann’s Home care centre Madurai, is situated at Tirunagar on the side of the National Highway, in the outskirts of Madurai City. It was started in 1993 with 25 bed strength Hospital. According the need of the time it was converted to a centre for children infected and affected with HIV/AIDS in the year 2006.
The reason for the implementation of this project from the point of Madurai district to give “quality centre based care and support for the Orphan/ semi orphan children living with and affected with HIV/AIDS and to relieve the already sick family members from their unfolded pathetic situation. The purpose is to equip the family members to take care of the people living infected with HIV/AIDS. Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) continues to pose a catastrophic public health threat reaching crisis proportions among young people. HIV is a global threat of significance to child and adolescent emerging as a biological, psychological and social problem. The organization also established a community based Home based care and support centre Madurai for the girl children, where the organization is taking care their Health, Education, physical, Psych and emotional need. All the inmates are send for their education and higher education for ensuring their future should be bright and help the to lead dignified life. Children with chronic illness, in general, are found to be at greater risk for psychiatric problems, including depression, anxiety, and feelings of isolation.

Children with HIV/AIDS have additional factors in complexity of their illness and treatment as well as in the adverse psychological circumstances and poverty in which many live. Prevalence rates for psychiatric disorders in perinatal-infected children vary from 55% to 61%. The most common disorders found are anxiety disorders, followed by attention-deficit hyperactivity disorders, conduct disorders, oppositional defiant disorders, and mood disorderA major factor that distinguishes HIV/AIDS from another chronic or terminal illness is the stigma. Too often many HIV infected children, and their families live in a “conspiracy of silence” and shame associated with AIDS. Illness is often kept as a secret. One of the disturbing consequences of “conspiracy silence” is that the families may be withdrawn, become socially isolated and become emotionally cut off from traditional support systems. Parents delay disclosing the children as well as their own HIV/AIDS illness status due to stigma and possible social consequences. Disclosures forces parents to confront their personal responsibility and to acknowledge the negatively sanctioned behaviours related to sexual activity or substance abuse. Unable to tolerate their own guilt, remorse, and psychological pain parents withdrawn and deny an illness that is evident to their children and loved ones. Maternal concerns include fear, anger, blame and stigmatization from family and friends, as well as from their children further complicate the issue. In the presence of social disapprobation, many parents prefer to keep their as well as their children diagnosis secret from family, friends, and society as a whole. Self-imposed secrecy and reactions to social stigma may preclude families from procuring necessary treatment seeking assistance with permanency planning for infected as well as affected children, and obtaining needed forms of social support. Therefore the organization under the specific guidance and leadership of Sr. Superior Sr. Anitha is providing professional counselling and individual development plan for each child based on their psych social situation that which ensures a comprehensive development of each under the care of the organization.

Specific mission:

• Care and protection entrusted to the HIV infected/ affected children and orphan /semi orphan children entrusted top our care. Support and care to their all-round development.
• After Care program for the young adult (after 18yrs) for the continuation of their education.
• Provide nutritious support and health and general awareness to about 35 children and their guardians on every month
• Participate in the pastoral ministry.
• Home mission
• Extension of village activities
• Supporting and contributing in the village activities of CHAT organized by diocese.
• Strengthening legal ministry by practice to court and taking up issues,