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

March 7, 2003

This is to share some of my concerns over this Children who lives have become

miserable due to our irresponsible behaviour and negative attitude towards the

whole issue of HIV/AIDS-I am just reacting, I may be wrong but I felt like

sharing some of my thoughts around this...

We as NGO/GOVT/CBOs should take the responsibility for whatever has happened to

the children as we failed miserably to address this situation through the

knowledge we have gained by attending various conferences and participting in

various training programme to improve our quality of response in addressing such

issues.(including myself)

It is a shame that we could not integrate these children with the mainstream

community which every individuals want to be part of at the end of the da

Teaching the children at their homes is good but not at the expense of schooling

which contribute a lot to all us in building our self esteem which is very

important for individuals growth. This particular response will fuel the

situation and people also start thinking that that is the solution and try to

normalise this kind of response. Is this good for our mankind? It is sheer

violation of the Children Rights to be part of the larger society and drive them

to deprive of the sense of belongingness to the society.

We also need to know there are good practices in our own country which address

the similar situation where communities have come forward to protect the

Childrens rights such as education,property and psychosocial support etc.

This is the high time to think about beyond mere awareness level because the

awarness which we have created has not resulted in positive response in

mitigating the impact (discrimination in this case)of HIV/AIDS on people living

with HIV/AIDS and Children affected by AIDS and their families.

I strongly believe that the systems and structures(institutions/organisations)

cannot create enabling envirnment, only the Human element ,the concern and

compassion for the fellowbeings and upholding the value of Human dignity can

create an enabling envirnment for people living with HIV/AIDS.

with lots of expectations from NGOs/CBOs to respond to the epidemic

Supporting community action on HIV/AIDS in India

Anandi Yuvaraj

Programme Officer

India HIV/AIDS Alliance

E-26,Ist Floor,Greater Kailash part -1

Tel: +91 11 51633081-85 Fax: +91 11 51633085

e-mail : ayuvaraj@...

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