About Snehatheeram
A testament to compassionate service, loving kindness, and the preservation of human dignity in Aluva, Kerala.
The Story of Snehatheeram
Snehatheeram – A Shore of Love – was founded in 2004 at West Kadungalloor, Aluva, by the Sneha Charitable Trust, a healthcare initiative of the Camillians (Order of the Ministers of the Infirm) in India.
Initially, Snehatheeram was established as a care and support centre for People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). At a time when HIV/AIDS was associated with considerable social stigma, many infected and affected individuals faced rejection and abandonment by their families and communities. Snehatheeram provided a safe and supportive environment, offering shelter, nutritious food, medical care, professional counselling, and comprehensive palliative care.
With the free availability of antiretroviral therapy (ART), the expansion of community-based care, and the gradual reduction of stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS, Snehatheeram expanded its services to meet the needs of other vulnerable groups. Today, it is a comprehensive care facility providing residential care, healthcare, and dignified living for elderly persons without support, abandoned individuals, and those living with terminal illnesses.
Serving the Sick
The Camillians are members of an international Roman Catholic religious order founded in the 16th century by St. Camillus de Lellis. St. Camillus dedicated his life to reforming hospital care and tending to the sick, establishing a charism of serving the infirm with unconditional love.
The symbol of the Order is a large Red Cross, worn on their cassocks, which was granted by Pope Sixtus V to represent their devotion to serving those in physical suffering.
"Serve the sick with the same tenderness that a loving mother shows to her only child when he is suffering."
— St. Camillus de Lellis
Our Core Values
Compassion
Providing comforting, motherly care that extends beyond physical medicine to heal the spirit and mind.
Dignity
Affirming the worth and sacredness of every resident, regardless of their age, disease, or background.
Inclusivity
Opening our doors to the most marginalized, forgotten, and stigmatized members of our society.
Integrity
Running all our care homes, programs, and donation allocations with the highest ethical and transparent standards.
Quality Care
Delivering round-the-clock professional medical support, patient-centered therapies and healthy nutrition tailored to each resident.
Leadership & Community Fathers
Snehatheeram is guided by the Camillian Fathers, who coordinate clinical, spiritual, and physical care networks.
Fr. Teji Thomas Anickattuvayalil MI
Director, Snehatheeram
Fr. Vince Koyikkal MI
Administrator, Snehatheeram
Dr. (Fr.) Jobin Anchupankil MI
Consultant Doctor — Community Health Medicine,Jubilee Mission Hospital, Thrissur
Fr. Justin Kalarpara MI
Asst. Vicar,St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda