Every year in Thailand, 24,000 children are born to HIV positive mothers. While only one third of these babies will contract the disease, all will eventually be orphaned as their parents succumb to AIDS related symptoms. Some of these children are abandoned at hospitals shortly after birth as their HIV positive parents fear they are financially, emotionally or physically unable to care for their child.
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Tarn Nam Jai Babies'
Home was established in 1994 in response to the
increasing number of children abandoned by their HIV
positive parents. As recently as four years ago, many
other homes refused to accept children from HIV positive
parents due to fear of the disease. Located in Bangkok,
Tarn Nam Jai provides care for children from birth until
two years old. The Home relies on donations from all
sectors of society to fund operational costs such as
shelter, food, clothing, and medical care. |
| The Home is staffed by a Nurse and several Nannies. Many volunteers also visit the children of Tarn Nam Jai to play with them, cuddle them and give them love. While PDA can provide all the material comforts the children need to survive, the love and attention they receive from visitors and volunteers is necessary for their development. Other similar government institutions caring for orphans often have a staff to child ratio of over 15:1. The children are well cared for but lack the personal attention needed to thrive. |  |
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The Home also acts as a
model of non-discriminatory community based care. Despite
the fact an estimated one million Thais are HIV positive,
there is still immense stigma attached to virus. Tarn Nam
Jai Babies' Home accepts both HIV positive and negative
children at Tarn Nam Jai (as long as their mother was HIV
positive) as an example to the community that there is
nothing to fear from living, playing and working with HIV
positive people. |
| Due to Thailand's current economic woes, Tarn Nam Jai Babies' Home will be forced to close its doors in Bangkok in May 1998. A sharp decrease in donations coupled with high overheads has made the operation of the Home impossible. However, the Population and Community Development Association strongly believes that community based AIDS care is an essential component in dealing with the problem of HIV/AIDS in Thailand. As a result, Tarn Nam Jai Babies Home will be relocated and its objectives re-focused to reflect the changing needs of people living with HIV/AIDS in Thailand. |  |
A new Home will be established at Nong Bot Village, Nang Rong District, Buri Ram Province in Thailand's Northeast. The new Home will provide counselling for HIV positive expectant mothers, encouraging them to keep their child. The Home will offer accommodation and a support network for the mother and child if they have no alternative. The new Tarn Nam Jai will also seek foster care and adoptions for any children who are orphaned or abandoned.
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The Population and Community Development
Association anticipates the new Home opening in Nong Bot
Village mid 1998. PDA is relying on the generosity and
good will of the public to help fund the new Home. Cheque and money order donations can be sent directly to PDA at 8 Sukhumvit 12, Bangkok 10110, Thailand or at the Thai Farmers Bank into the Ban Tarn Nam Jai account, number 003-2-45803-3. |
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