HIV boy banned from Indian School

[Guest guest]

Subject: HIV boy banned from Indian School

We, The Australian AIDS Fund, deplore the latest news from India concerning the

report of a 4 year old boy being kicked out of his school in the State of Assam

and having to move on with his family to the city of Guwahati.

This report comes on the heels of earlier news concerning the murder of an HIV

infected widow, at which we also expressed our grief to the international media.

Has India lost its soul, we ask?

According to The Assam Network of Positive people (ANPP) it has appealed to the

Assam Human Rights Commission to intervene on the boy's behalf.

We add our voice to that of The Assam Network of Positive People in this matter

and in this Open letter also call upon the Assam Human Rights Commission to make

a meaningful intervention.

We also ask others to also convey our concerns to the Indian media.

It's understood that the boy's parents had tested HIV positive some five years

ago, and that with their son, they are now receiving treatment at a city

hospital.

We in Australia are on the other side of the world, and in the area of HIV

infection, very fortunate that our figures are microscopic compared with

India's.

But if India cannot embrace an HIV infected father, mother and their young son,

what hope is there for all of those fearfully hiding their own infection.

We call on India's President to take the national stage and urge acceptance of

your country's HIV infected millions.

In solidarity,

Haill,

President,

The Australian AIDS Fund Inc,

Melbourne, Australia.

www.aids.net.au

E-mail: <bhaill@...>