Children: Forgotten face of the epidemic

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

In recently concluded International Symposium on children and HIV/AIDS at

Harvard University, Boston, Dr. Piot, Executive Director UNAIDS rightly

said that children issue is a “forgotten face of the epidemic”.

[The full text of Dr. Piot’s speech is available on AIDS ASIA e FORUM at the

following url. AIDS_ASIA/message/1058

..Editor]

Speaking in national context orphan and vulnerable children infected and

affected by HIV/AIDS is not getting enough attention. This issue is still a

neglected area. As of now we don’t have exact data to

find out the number of children being orphaned by HIV/AIDS. Much emphasis is not

being paid to this most vulnerable group.

We all know that India Government is taking up different schemes/projects to

address the needs of the underprivileged child. To mention a few Sarva Shiksha

Abhiyan (Universal Education) is one of the projects being taken up by the

central government and it is

implemented across the country. Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) offer quality

education to child labourers in the age group of 7-14 years since long.

It’s quite tragic that in spite of this SSA project being put into place since

long time back, OVC infected and affected by HIV/AIDS are not getting equal

opportunity to free basic education like the

other underprivileged children. The SSA should also aims to incorporate OVC

infected and affected by HIV/AIDS into its program rather than focusing on

particular vulnerable group of children.

This SSA scheme should be made mandatory for infected and affected children who

cannot afford education. The law should equally treat both underprivileged and

infected/affected children.

Education is not only an issue to address the needs of children infected and

affected by HIV/AIDS. There are lots to be address to meet the needs of children

in the context of HIV/AIDS. We need to address psychological needs, nutritional

needs, issue of conflict, medication needs and socio economic needs.

All these needs can be meets up to some extent if not all once the separate

policy of child is implemented. But it doesn’t mean that meeting some of the

needs will solve the problem, we should constantly advocate the concern

stakeholders to come up with a concrete solution to address the needs of the

children infected

and affected by HIV/AIDS.

Lack of political commitment into the issue make an impediment while dealing

with both infected and affected children. The central government should pressure

both Social Welfare Department and Health

Department to work together since they are directly deal with the welfare of

children.

An extensive research work needs to be done from NACO side to find

out the exact number of OVC in India. This will enhance efficiency of advocacy

and project implementations. But the need of the hour now is to frame a

constructive agenda in order to bring it up at the parliament and discuss in the

winter sitting.

" Help the children living with HIV/AIDS,your contributuion can make a

difference "

Best Regards

Ishwarchandra Haobam

Regional Focal Point- South Asia

Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS,

Project Coordinator, Social Awareness Service Organization,

IDUs Project

Phone:91-0385-2411408, Fax: 91-0385-2411409

Mobile:91-9856136300

Email:ishwarchandra@...

ishwar.haobam@...

www.youthaidscoalition.org

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Re: Children: Forgotten face of the epidemic.

/message/7916

Ishwar, has rightly pointed out the relative neglect of the issues of Orphan and

Vulnerable Children (OVC) in the response to AIDS at the national level.

UNICEF had organised a national consultation on OVCs in 2005 in Delhi and

estimating that extent of the problem was one of the priorities identified

during the consultation. However, I am not aware of the follow up action after

the consultations.

However, in terms of the response that is needed to the issue you have raised, I

think it will be useful to study (find out) why are these children not getting

eual opportunities in the SSA in the first place. (Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA)or

Universal Education)

a. Are there any provisions in the SSA that excludes Children Affected and

Infected by AIDS?

b. Is it because of stigma and discrimination (on the part of SSA and the school

authorities or by other students in the school)

c. Is it because of lack of support from adults and guardians (or NGOs)?

d. Will having something like a quota be a solution. If we have

answers to some of these, it might help us come up with the appropriate

responses.

The other issue you raised were the numbers and estimates of OVC, while I agree

with what you say about lack of numbers at the national level.

Has anything been done to study the extent of the problem at the state level by

the NGOs and organisations work in Imphal or in Manipur? Having these numbers in

a relatively high prevalence state such as Manipur might be a useful advocacy

tool at the state level, for advocacy with the SACS and the relevant authorities

in

the state.

Best wishes,

Vijay

e-mail: <vjscuk@...>