Health Minister's positive gesture

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

The photograph of Hon' Health Minister Smt. Sushma Swaraj hugging Benson and

Bency, in The Hindu, is a heart warming one. Actions definitely speak louder

than words. Through her hug she has demonstrated that children are to be loved,

cared for, and protected irrespective of their HIV sero-status. She has also in

a practical way affirmed that HIV is not contagious. In the immediate future,

Bency and Benson will benefit much from the Anti Retroviral drugs that Hindustan

Latex is gifting them.

The children have been in the limelight for the sole reason that parents of

their schoolmates refused to allow their children to study alongside HIV

positive kids. The 2 children even today continue to receive education alone in

the school library, isolated from the fun and laughter of being with children

their own age. The school management may be willing to admit the children into

the classrooms, but society, in the form of the parents, are not willing to

relent from their stand. This is very disturbing. If this is the scenario in a

State that boasts of 100% literacy and high levels of social consciousness, it

is frightening to even imagine the situation of HIV positive people elsewhere in

the country.

The case of Benson and Bency is not an unique one. It is barely the tip of an

iceberg. Discrimination in various forms, from denial of education to the denial

of life saving medical attention, is common experience to millions of HIV

positive individuals in India. The medical needs of 2 HIV positive children has

been assured for the next 5 years. What happens after 5 years? What about the

medical needs of the thousands of other HIV positive children in the country?

Small favors do make a difference in the lives HIV positive people. But we also

need to develop resources and systems to encompass and help all 4.6 million HIV

positive people in India. The government, positive networks, society and other

stakeholders should work together on developing strategies that will effective

in the long run. The issue of social discrimination has to be dealt with from

the roots, cosmetic cover-ups will only aid in sweeping issues right back under

the carpet from where they emerged.

The need of the hour is LONG TERM COMMITMENT, commitment from political leaders,

society and the people who influence the way society thinks and behaves.

Religious leaders, film / sports personalities, writers and socialites can

easily sway the negative attitude of the general public toward HIV positive

people into a supportive and positive one. When society stops discriminating

people living with HIV, children like Benson and Bency can stop studying alone

in the Library and join their friends in the classroom again.

INP+ Secretariat Desk

Chennai

E-mail: <inpplus@...>