As more and more men and women from the general population, particularly the pregnant mothers are being motivated to get themselves tested for HIV infection, more and more children have been known to have a positive HIV status at a younger age through mother to child transmission of the virus..
These children particularly belonging to low socio-economic group, face problems of a different nature. Despite the government providing low cost testing facilities (HIV and CD4 Counts) and free Anti-retroviral therapy,the compliance remains to be low.
Taking these children to the hospital every month for treatment, getting the laboratory testing done and providing high protein diet, is hard for the parents who are either too sick themselves or earn very low wages. In addition to this, getting these children admitted in schools or be accepted by the community where they live is a difficult task.
THEY DO NOT KNOW WHY'?
1. These children know that they fall sick very often… But theydo not know‘WHY’?
2.They know that they have to regularly take medicines for as long as they are alive…But theydo not know‘WHY’?
3.
Some of them are orphaned and become a burden on their relatives. But theydo not know‘WHY’?
There are innumerable issues that surround them which need to be addressed.
Drishtikon has launched an initiative ‘MAASOOM’ to respond to these problems. The programme presently comprises providing Nutrition, Psycho social care and support to twenty five children living in West Delhi. It will be our endeavor to expand the programme and provide support to as many HIV +ve Children as possible as per availability of financial resources.
