Recommendations from Caretakers of Children living with HIV Training held in Kerala, India

[Guest guest]

Dear Members,

We are pleased to share with you some of the key discussion from the care takers

training for children living with HIV ,held on 13th and 14th of March 2009 at

ernakulam. Around 20 women from different parts of the state attended the

workshop.

The workshop was organized by Kerala Positive Women Network with support from

Cochin Corporation. The technical support for the

workshop was provided by Buds of Christ.

The main aim of the training was to build the capacities of the care takers in

providing better care for children living with HIV and support them in treatment

and adherence.

The training focused upon building the awareness of the care takers of

children Living with HIV, on HIV and AIDS information related to children,

children health monitoring indicators, treatment process, side effects of ARV

and it's management (home based), Nutrition, HIV related illness management,

OI's among children, disclosure and issues of children,in physical, social,

institutional, spiritual and psycho-social areas.

The treatment services, like the pediatric formulation of the drugs were also

discussed. Participatory techniques like discussions, chart work and role plays

were used, as the group representatives were mostly from lower educational

status.

Some of the issues and concerns expressed related to children included:

1. Children living with HIV miss schools while coming for care and

treatment.

2. Care takers/parents usually accompanying them are less aware of the

treatment adherence and resistance, so if the child refuses to take drug they

just comply by it.

3. Women with children living with HIV felt the need for separate

support meetings organized on a quarterly basis as their needs and concerns are

different and cannot be shared in common meetings

4.Women also felt the need for exclusive meetings for children to

learn and understand the facts on treatment so that they adhere to the

treatment.

5. Women feel the need for disclosure to their children, but have not

due to fear.

6. Non availability of pediatric formulation at the state was

discussed. The health monitoring mechanisms as mentioned under WHO

guidelines for children under age 5 is also limited only for the first

testing and at the later stages it has not been included.

The recommendations included:

1. Networks and community based organizations to be strengthened

through capacity building workshops focusing on treatment and adherence

information, so that women and children are well informed

2.Supporting initiatives ,like life skills and support group meeting

for children living with HIV and affected by HIV to cope with the existing

situation

3. Special treatment days for children if observed will help them

access the services better. Ex., having Saturdays as days for children, will

also not affect their school days.

4. Exclusive meetings for children are found essential on treatment and

adherence.

For more details you can contact: -@... and Bindu at-

kpwnplus@...

Jeyapaul

e-mail: jpaul@...