Re: On creating an enabling environment for People/ Children Living with HIV

[Guest guest]

Dear Ms Yuvraj and other forum members,

It is important to understand that some of the concerns voiced are the same as

issues of children living with HIV/AIDS experienced in other developing and

developed countries. It is important to address these with a short and long term

strategy, rather than sensationalize the issue whether it is the media or

otherwise.

We all need to realize that these will be short lived and soon forgotten in the

context of the very many concerns on the primary issue of HIV/AIDS

I am not sure if Dr. Ashok Rau (The Freedom Foundation- India) is a member of

this forum, but his input will enable us to learn and develop the necessary

strategies.

I remember reading about similar issues with the children at The Freedom

Foundation about 4 to 5 years back. When I had recently visited the Foundation I

saw that all the children go to regular school along whit other children. What

is even more encouraging is that there is no discrimination at these school even

though the Principal and main class teacher know about the children being HIV +

ve (I am told that this information is provided for ethical reasons)

It is important to highlight experiences of people who have confronted these

issues and succeeded, rather than in a sense reinvent the wheel

Regards

Beckerman

Public Health Policy Consultant

E-mail: david_beckerman@...