Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust
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Mission Statement
Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust seeks to improve the quality of life of drug users and their families.
About This Cause
Founded in 1995, Sankalp Rehabilitation Trust provides care and support to street-based drug users and seeks to prevent the spread of HIV/AIDS in Mumbai, India. These drug users, 70% of whom are migrants, mostly inject 'brown sugar', a crude form of heroin. Blood-borne infections constitute a major health issue for Injection Drug Users (IDUs), with major implications for the rest of society as well. From among Sankalp's own patients, approximately 9.5% of IDUs were HIV-positive and another 34% were infected with Hepatitis C. Since most of the street-based drug using population uses brown sugar, and since it is often administered by injection, steps need to be taken to keep these users free from infection, healthy, and alive until they can find help and make the decision to quit drugs. That's where Sankalp's philosophy of Harm Reduction comes in, providing users with healthcare services to reduce rates of transmission and prevalence of HIV and Hepatitis C, Monitoring other infections (especially TB), and lowering levels of crime. Finally, this work helps many drug users connect to a network of support and programs like detoxification and rehabilitation which are available when each person is ready. Since its inception in 1995, Sankalp has been providing much needed and otherwise non-existent services. In early 1997, Sankalp began family therapy in New Bombay since there were many affected families unable to access help. Sankalp also assisted with setting up a half-way home and skill building units for stand-alone rehabilitation centres which were not previously offering any follow up. After a 5-city Rapid Situation Assessment in 1999, Sankalp began its harm reduction activities in Mumbai and has till date engaged more than 80% of the IDU population in the city with its activities. During early years of discrimination, Sankalp both successfully fought legal battles with government-run institutions for the right to healthcare, and has been instrumental in getting the ART program started in the country. The activism through legal battles with big pharma companies like Roche and Gilead helped make drugs accessible and affordable for those suffering from Hepatitis C. Sankalp was also committed to supporting the non-injecting population and therefore provided treatment through models of abstinence, like detoxification, and rehabilitation centres. With the strong need to reintegrate into society, livelihood programs also took shape. Sankalp can boast of many of its support group members having benefited from these interventions and becoming productive citizens of the country. Since its beginnings, Sankalp has reached more than 23,500 drug users directly, and has impacted many more family members. From helping clients return to and support their families, to become productive members of society, or even to die with dignity, Sankalp has contributed to improvement in the quality of its clients' lives and the lives of their family members in numerous ways. Legal decisions achieved through Sankalp's activism and litigation have impacted millions, not only in India but around the world. 1997-99 - Three Drop-In Centre’s opened throughout the Mumbai district 2002 - Wins litigation against Govt. of India on a ‘Right to Health’ issue. 2002 - Also reinstated ‘Right to Marry’ for HIV positive people. 2004 - Crisis Care Shelter for IDU’s opens 2005 - Prison Rehabilitation program begins 2007 - Sustainable Livelihood Pr. launched 2007 - Founder and Director Eldred Tellis named an Ashoka Fellow 2008 - Received the Red Ribbon Award from UNDP/UNAIDS 2010 - Began Rehabilitation Centre at Mulshi, Pune 2011 - New Detoxification centre opened (ALF) 2011 - Received Global Fund grant to train NGOs in Gujarat, Maharashtra & Goa & become a ‘Learning Site’ 2012 - Sankalp wins litigation against ROCHE to break their patent for Pegylated Interferon 2014 - Director, Eldred Tellis felicitated by the church, ‘I am a Catholic, I am Alive!’ on the occasion of the Golden Jubilee of the Eucharistic Congress in India 2015 - Pre- grant oppositions against new Hep C drugs Sofisbuvir against Gilead 2017 - Half-way home street based clients 2020 - Opened Centre for Adolescent Drug Users on the streets of Mumbai