Today we went to Wat Pra Bhat Nam Put Aids Hospice. This is
a hospice located far into the mountains and services AIDS patients in their
final stages, homeless second stage patients, Families were all members have
AIDS, HIV+ children, children with full blown AIDS, and elderly people who are
left with no support due to all their children dying of other diseases.
Currently 144 patients are residing at this location. Patients are placed in a
separate building if they are co-infected with TB.
This project began in 1992 to help the rapidly growing HIV+/AIDS
Thai population. Most victims of AIDS had been shunned from their villages and
left to die due to the ill-informed society. This temple was a safe place that
was meant to care for these people. The most deaths per year due to AIDS occurred
between 1990 and 1995 with about 10 people dying a day. Currently, only about 3
people fall to their death a month due to AIDS. Although this is still a lot,
the numbers have greatly declined.
After the patients pass away they generally donate their
body to the temple. The bodies of AIDS victims can be used to help teach and
inform society about this horrible disease. Once a patient comes here they are
most likely going to spend their entire life here, and even if their body is cremated
the ashes are generally kept here. Most families decide not to take the ashes
home because they believe the ashes are infected.
Most of us found it very surprising that the patients here
in hospice were still being treated for their disease. At home, once a patient
enters hospice, or end of life care, they no longer receive life extending
medications, they are only placed on medications that will decrease pain and
make them feel more comfortable. Patients staying at this hospice center receive
free shuttle rides to the hospital for treatment.
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| Above is some art on display at the hospice |
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| 109 steps to get to the temple on the mountain above the hospice! |
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| From left: Allison, Dan, Jen Climbing the mountains around the temple! |
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