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Vashi2panvel.com: Navi Mumbai: February 15: The biggest scourge of mankind in the days of yore was leprosy and slavery. But today the man is under the grip of a much more severe and perhaps alarmingly excruciating agony that is AIDS or the Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. AIDS seems to be annihilating mankind at a much greater pace and intensity than any other disease. AIDS patients require special care and treatment so that they can lead the remaining days of their life in peace and love. Vashi2Panvel.com finds out about such a place where the patients are meted out with the treatment they rightly deserve.


Jyoti’s Terminal Care Centre (JTCC) situated at both Kalamboli and Taloja is home for several terminally ill. Besides providing a homely and congenial environment to those who were thumped by the providence, it also provides free of charge service irrespective of caste, creed or religion. Each centre, run by the congregation of the Sisters of the Destitute, accommodates around 50 patients.

Sister Lekha, Head of Jyoti’s Terminal Care Centre says, “We are making efforts o remove the social stigma that is generally attached to the disease.” The loving and compassionate sisters are a source of inspiration to the patients’ relatives and friends who either abandon them or change their behaviour towards them.

All the facilities like food, equipments, beds etc come through donations. “Besides, many doctors from Navi Mumbai Municipal Hospital, MGM nurses visit us regularly. Also, Social workers and volunteers from different regions are a great help to these patients. In total we have 50 people including women and children and we take good care of them. Ask them and you would know how happy and satisfied they’re with us,” says Sister Lekha.

At the Taloja JTCC the trust provides them with small jobs like gardening and making gajras. Sisters who run this centre also organise workshops in all the slum areas and villages like Kopra gaon and Bonkode to give the knowledge about this disease.

By Uma Waghamare