Nagpur Municipal Corporation to start schools for HIV-infected Children

[Guest guest]

Dear FORUM,

Nagpur Municipal Corporation to start schools for HIV-infected Children. Is such

an initiative helpful for the society? I would be of the opinion that CLHAs

should be integrated in the society by admitting them in the same schools where

other children study. I would be grateful to get feedback from the forum inorder

to reply to the NMC.

____

Nagpur, Dec.4: the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) is mooting the idea of

opening special schools with same facilities as in other civic schools for

HIV-infected. Additional Municipal Commissioner Atul Patne gave this information

while interacting with the media persons here on Tuesday.

He said that, there are 84 HIV-infected children in the city between the age

group of two months to 14 years. These children suffer for no fault of theirs. A

desensitized society is further making life difficult for them depriving them of

a dignified life and of basic rights of children.

Now, the NMC would do its bit by giving them a decent life. Groups of

HIV-affected children residing close-by, would be formed and enrolled in these

special schools to be set up closer to their locality. For this, a classroom

would be provided in NMC-run dispensaries or community halls in the same area.

Teachers of these schools would be deputed from the teaching staff of NMC

schools. Facilities such as uniforms, study material, nutritive meals,

scholarships and other benefits would be extended to children of these schools,

like any other regular NMC school. Subject to the success of this project, the

NMC further plans to start residential schools for these students. Not just

these children, the NMC also has plans for the HIV-infected mothers of these

children.

The NMC would help them to become financially independent by forming their

self-help groups. Besides, the HIV-infected children and their mothers, a

proposal to start schools for child labourers and street urchins is also on

cards. A large number of children are found roaming aimlessly or doing some

measly work for a measly earning at railway station, brick kilns and also the

red light area of the city. The NMC would like to provide a decent education to

these children as well and help in shaping their future. Who knows, some of them

might turn out to be gems for the society in the future.

Regards,

F. Borges

Programme Manager, HIV/AIDS

The Young Men’s Christian Association, (YMCA)

140, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Nagpur – 440 001, Maharashtra – INDIA

Phone: +91-712-2524 834, 2548 789, 2540 024; Mobile: +91-9923414559

E-mail: peter.borges@...; Skype: peterfloriano;

Website: http://www.ymcanagpur.org

[Guest guest]

Dear All,

I would request the members to kindly opine about the proposed establishment of

'special schools' for the CLHA and come up with a specific recommendation to the

NMC.

I believe that even if chalked out with very good intentions such a measure

would be counter-productive.

The very process of mainstreaming the PLHIV is bound to be hindered by such an

initiative. Different messages will go to different sections of the society if

the idea mooted by NMC sees the light of the day.

It would create hurdles in the process of integration of facilities for studies

of HIV positive children if the guardians feel that all CLHIV may be sent to

such special schools now that they are being established for that purpose.

We all have to appreciate that there is no need of creation of any special

infrastructure for the services to the PLHIV. The fact that HIV does not spread

by social interactions must be emphasized at every

opportunity and any segregated service provision/facilities may adversely affect

the pursuits in that direction.

The concerned authorities and all stakeholders may kindly visit the issue again

and take it up differently in a mainstreamed approach.

Best wishes,

Dr.Rajesh Gopal.

Dr. Rajesh Gopal, MD

Joint Director,

Gujarat State AIDS Control Society (GSACS),

O/1 Block, New Mental Hospital Complex,

Meghaninagar, Ahmedabad, Gujarat. PIN 380016

Phone (O) 079-22680211--12--13,22685210 Fax 079-22680214

e-mail: <dr_rajeshg@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum

Nagpur Municipal Corporations decissionto start schools for HIV-infected

Children is misgided.

Will NMC open a college for those children who matriculate from such special

schools? Will NMC be able to find special offices for them to work? Will NMC be

able to implement special buses for PLHA to move around? What will NMC do to

avoid the discrimination to be faced by PLHA, if they are labelling them by

providing special schools?

This initiative only helps to increase stigma among the society.

Regards

Ajai

New Delhi

e-mail: <ajai.ksacs@...>

[Guest guest]

Dear Forum,

The question Dr Rajesh gopal and Ajai raised is definitely relevant.

Re: /message/8176

I remember similar moves in kerala in the last few years were successfully

stalled by th leadership in the field. But why this issue of discrimination in

the schools and solution in the form of special schools coming up again and

again? I feel any discussion in this area (academics/ or social) doesnot address

the issues.

The fear in the mind of parents and students are as genuine as the fear in the

mind of a surgeon and the answer for this is not negating the minimal risk but

preparing the society to address it.

It is important to train our teachers and children to maintain the habit of

universal precautions just like in the health care setting.

It is mandatory to tech health habits in school which include covering of any

bleeding would irrespective of HIV status,along with many other ...

It is also important to tell everybody that there can be many unknown HIV

positive individuals in the society and only way to prevent spreading is

universal (standard) protection.

Unfortunately we are failing to use HIV as an opportunity but going into more

and more HIV excluvism.

Dr Ajithkumar

Trichur

e-mail: <ajisudha@...>