Goa Children Consultation, Margoa

[Guest guest]

*Children consultation in Goa*

A three day consultation was organized for children in Goa. This programme was

organized by World Vision India in partnership with Zindagi Goa. The technical

support was provided by Buds of Christ, Chennai.

The workshop had about 50 children from different parts of the state.

This was the first workshop of it’s kind in Goa, in educating children on

various topics related to health. One of the major topic included HIV and AIDS

too.

The three day workshop was participatory involving singing, drawing, role plays,

games and learning sessions in groups.

From the workshop it was realized that children above 13 years, had very less

information about reproductive health and the risk factors to HIV and AIDS.

There was a general fear about the transmission of HIV and common myth like

mosquitoes as one mode of transmission and avoiding eating food prepared by

people living with HIV were also assessed from the group.

In the same age, boys had more exposure to information through internet, which

was mostly pornographic pictures and not information around reproductive health

nor sexuality. With regard to girls they had very poor knowledge on the

reproductive function of female organs.

Stigma and fear of being discriminated was felt and well understood among

children, and there was an unanimous expression of care and support towards

people living with HIV and children affected by HIV and AIDS.

For most of the children, though they have all come from a background where

either one member in their family is affected by HIV and AIDS, the information

about infection is very less, as parents themselves have not been able to share

information and their status due to pressures from the care takers, especially

their close relatives.

The workshop has been able to provide information around HIV and AIDS,

stigma associated with it in the society and the love, affection, care and

support to be provided for people living with HIV AIDS, but more encouragement

for parents and care takers need to be done on issues surrounding disclosure.

In solidarity

Jpaul

Buds of Christ

# 305, M.I.G 6th Cross St., Mugapair, Chennai 600 037.

TN - India

e-mail: <jpaul@...>