Apathy plus HIV kills, but stigma kills faster
Irrespective of several awareness drives and campaigns on HIV-AIDS, nearly a decade later the stigma seems to linger on. According to a recent study conducted by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR), children of HIV positive parents are facing lot of difficulties in getting admission in schools and are treated almost as untouchables by even their closest family members. However, not only is the educated class living in denial of the causes and transmission of the disease but the healthcare providers are also not tending to children. DCPCR will be soon releasing a report on this study and sending it to the Government asking for immediate redressal on the issue.
The commission looked at several cases of children born of HIV parents in Delhi and studied the condition in which they children are living and what is being done for them. “There exists a discrimination amongst these kids, which goes beyond class and caste. They are ostracised from society and denied basic human rights leave alone child rights. Surprisingly nothing is being done for them as well,” said Arun Mathur, chairperson of DCPCR.
Mathur elaborated that a stigma is attached amongst even the educated class. “There has been so much campaigning about HIV and AIDS. But there seems to be that fear which is instilled in the public. The most astonishing fact is that care givers are discriminating. They are reluctant to deal with these patients,” said Mathur.
The study found that the problem lies in the lack of understanding. DCPCR members say that it’s not that people don’t know how HIV is spread but because of the lack of understanding of the disease everyone plays safe. “The maximum discrimination is seen in the family. The family within itself discriminates the child,” said a member. This translates into other problems for the child as well. Findings show that these children are not even getting basic education because school authorities do not understand. “If school authorities only don’t understand then how can one expect the students to understandIJ With the thought of how the child be treated by his classmates in school scares parents and they don’t put their child in a school as well,” said Mathur, who feels that only awareness and a good understanding of the disease can change the situation.
Thus, the DCPCR will be preparing a report by end of the month and giving it to the Government to take necessary steps to ensure that these kids at least get educated and treated properly.