Himachal Government to support AIDS orphans

[Guest guest]

Himachal Government to support AIDS orphans

To provide financial aid for their education, basic requirements

Scheme will be applicable for all children up to the age of 15 to

help them stand on their feet

State provides free travelling facilities to HIV/AIDS patients, to

the hospital for treatment

Shimla: The Himachal Pradesh Government has started an ambitious

programme for the welfare of the AIDS orphans by providing financial

assistance to children losing parents due to the deadly disease.

Financial assistance of up to Rs.700 is provided to AIDS orphans for

education and basic requirements, Project Director of State AIDS

Control Society S. Puri said on Sunday.

The financial assistance is provided up to the age of 15 under

different age categories to lessen burdens on such families and help

children stand on their feet, she said. The scheme started in the

hill State in December last, Ms. Puri said.

The project director said according to the scheme even in the case of

death of one of the parents due to AIDS, the children are treated as

AIDS orphan and provided the benefits. Funds have been made available

through health directorate to the Chief Medical Officer in the

districts to provide benefits to the eligible children, she said.

The State AIDS Control Society monitors the functioning of the scheme

across the State, Ms. Puri added.

Himachal Pradesh has thousands of HIV positive people for whom the

State Government is already providing free medical treatment at a

special AIDS ward in the reputed Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC)

in Shimla. The facility has also been extended to their children.

The State Government also provides free travelling facilities to the

AIDS and HIV positives along with one attendant to visit IGMC for

treatment, Ms. Puri said. — PTI

http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/28/stories/2008012852890300.htm

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

The scheme has now been modified to include children of parents living with HIV

/AIDS.

Thus all AIDS orphans ans children affected by HIV/AIDS will get a monthly

assistance of 300 to 700.

In District Kangra we have disbursed this assitance to over 30 children, despite

being a low prevalence area there are a lot of persons suffering in silence.

Deep Mala, Coordinator FXB India- a NGO working for the cause of AIDs orphans

has been instrumental in facilitating this activity.

We take special efforts to ensure confidentiality of the clients, especially in

face of irresponsibile reporting by media and publishing photos of the victims,

exposing the to further discrimination.

Rajesh

Dr RK Sood

PO BOX 17

GPO PALAMPUR 176061 HP INDIA

e-mail: <drrksood@...>