Compassion, not judgement
Pastoral assistance to the famillies affected by HIV/AIDS in the rural areas of Andhra Pradesh state in India

Let us remember the words of St. Paul who said, “ If one member suffers, all suffer together with it” (1 Cor 12:26). The words of St. Paul inspired me and forced me to do this particular research on the impacts of HIV/AIDS on the family, individual and the community. I belong to the Order of St. Camillus and the charisma of St. Camillus is to serve the sick as the mother serves her only child who is sick.

Camillians in India showed a particular interest in taking care of HIV/AIDS infected and affected people. I got the opportunity to serve these infected person in our centers. I encountered the effected families with HIV/AIDS and listened to their problems and difficulties of having the presence of HIV virus infected person in the family. After the diagnosis of the family member for HIV positive, they find disunity among the family members. Some of them feel ashamed of having the presence of infected person in the family and some of them feel that it is a shame for the entire family in the society. They too become subjected to the stigma and discrimination in the society and among their own relatives and friends. I have only limited knowledge about the pandemic disease and I felt inadequate and incapable of helping these affected and infected person wit HIV/AIDS