Needs of Children living with HIV. Report of a Consultation

[Guest guest]

Children Consultation for formation of State level Children Advocacy Forum

(28th-30th Aug 2009 at  Asha Niwas, Chennai)

 

Positive Women Network (PWN+)  organized the 3 day consultation for children for

the formation of State level Children Advocacy Forum between 28th – 30th

August at Chennai.

This consultation was organised in Partnership with Tamilnadu Positive Women

Network and supported by UNICEF through the Children Voices Project,

consultation process was facilitated by Buds of Christ.

The Overall Objective of the consultation was Supporting children affected by

HIV/AIDS organize themselves as a State level children advocacy forum for the

rights of children affected by HIV/AIDS.

 

The three day consultation was structured to enable children understand child

rights and existing policies and programmes in the context of issues affecting

them. It also aimed to facilitate a review of implementation of the OVC Policy

Framework for Children and AIDS within the purview of NACP III

 

Around 29 children from 12 districts actively participated in the three day

consultation and have understood the frame work and shared their understanding

about the framework.  They have also identified the gaps in the implementation

of the OVC framework in their living context and have provided recommendations

in making the implementation child sensitive.

 

Vetri Kootam (Tamil Nadu State Children Advocacy Group) evolved from the three

–day consultation has identified the gaps in the implementation of the

Framework and has also recommended for more inclusive programmes for children.

The gaps and recommendations are listed below:

 

Gaps in the implementation of the framework  

People have very less information and there are still many myths &

misconceptions about HIV and how it infects a person.  This is affecting the

health, social wellbeing and mental health of the HIV infected / affected and

their families.  So prevention education programmes must be periodic and

catering to all sectors of population.

Though we have programmes like red ribbon clubs, only in certain places it is

functioning and very helpful for children like us, while in most places it is

yet to be functional.

Child specific counselling services are available for Children Infected by HIV

in some places, similar facilities should be given to the affected children, as

we  Affected children also have fears and worries that are often not addressed.

Different programmes are made available for adults affected by HIV, while 

children do not have Children group / support group meetings as part of their

programme. A space for children, even in existing programmes like drop in

centre, Treatment centre is essential.

Livelihood support though mentioned in the framework, programmes facilitating

that should be implemented for the family members. This will facilitate children

to stay in families and also facilitate access to services in health and

education

Visit to ART centre, (having the name board for HIV care) makes us feel more

conscious in availing the centre, especially in being identified by others in

the community while accessing the service.

In some places the staffs at the ART centres are insensitive and children are

often treated with less respect.

ART centre information materials are not child friendly.

 

Recommendations:

Sensitization of the school department so that children are not discriminated at

the schools

Adolescent education programmes should be actively implemented as there is a

great need for education on sexuality, gender and HIV/AIDS among adolescent

group

Children of families affected by  HIV are exposed to HIV and AIDS information

much earlier (by 8  years) and therefore prevention and care education in a

child friendly process is essential

More active role should be played by red ribbon clubs within schools and

community and strict monitoring mechanism should be there in place to facilitate

better service delivery.

At least one counsellor should be trained in ART centre for providing services

to both infected and affected children

Sensitization of family members & neighbours to control the level of

discrimination to children living with and affected by HIV and their families.  

Children support group meetings to be included as part of care and support

programme and this should be facilitated at the block and district levels.

Programmes that encourage and develop skills among infected and affected

children like the Life Skill Education (LSE) need to be implemented

Income generation schemes to be provided to parents so that the children are

taken care at home and prevent children being referred to care homes/Hostels

The name of the ART centre should be changed to Children Welfare Centre or some

other name that is more general than HIV specific.

Continuous and ongoing sensitization of the ART team members, especially in

dealing with children

Any IEC materials should have cartoon depicted on them which makes it more child

friendly

The SACS should consider instructing ART centres to have Saturdays specifically

for children as this will avoid taking unnecessary leave for school thereby

creating suspicion among students and teachers.  

Education and information on HIV / AIDS to children should be made available in

the form of games and play activities

There should be enough space for outdoor and indoor games in the ART / hospital,

especially during the waiting time.

President

Positive Women Network.

Chennai.

e-mail: <poswonet@...>