Call for more support for children on eve of AIDS Orphans Day

[Guest guest]

Call for more support for children on eve of AIDS Orphans Day

The Imphal Free Press

Imphal, May 6: Children are vulnerable sections of the society and more so are

those children who are living with HIV/AIDS. It is the state`s responsibility to

look after them and give them protection.

Making a call for children`s rights the celebration of " World AIDS Orphans Day "

will be observed on May 7. A media awareness programme on the eve of the

observation was conducted by the FXB India Suraksha Manipur branch, Singjamei

Chongtham Leikai today with many resource persons discussing issues related to

children, their rights, how to protect them, especially those who are orphaned

and are living with HIV/AIDS.

According to Dr. S Gajendra of the department of psychiatry at RIMS, the issue

of HIV/AIDS was a relevant topic as around 20 million children were living with

HIV/AIDS in the world today.

There were many children who were orphaned either of one parent or both parents

because of HIV/AIDS. Such children face psychological problems and trauma,

depression, sleeplessness, restlessness and lack of appetite. Adults are able to

speak out or express their problems freely, but the young children are unable to

express themselves and find it difficult to share their problems with others. As

a result, they have somatic problems, he said.

Children who have lost either their father or mother due to HIV/AIDS and are

living with only one of them have anxiety and always fear they might lose their

other parent also.

Dr. Gajendro further said that such orphaned children or those living with

HIV/AIDS are always socially isolated fearing their friends or neighbours might

reject them or that they might be separated from their siblings. Such

psychological fears and trauma remain embedded in their tender minds for a long

time subconsciously, he added.

Only the basic needs of food, clothing, shelter are not enough for them. What

they need most is guidance and counselling, he observed.

Keisham Pradip Kumar, member secretary of the CWC, Imphal east emphasized the

" Rights of the child under UNCRC " in his speech and said that the rights given

to the children should be implemented and the government should ensure that

children are properly cared for, protected and well looked after in the best

interests of the children. Children have the right to live and the government

should ensure that children survive and are healthy, he said.

Pradip Kumar also explained about the child welfare committee and juvenile

justice board and the major roles they were undertaking for the welfare of the

children.

Sapam Dilip, reporter with the AIR said that children living with HIV/AIDS

should be well looked after by the government and should be protected in life.

Dilip also discussed the role of media, and a free media as one of the strongest

forces or pressure groups. The media should take advantage of their reach and

spread awareness to the people by giving coverage in newspapers and other

mediums. At the same time they should be sensitive and used the appropriate

terminology, he said

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