MARGAO: At a convergence meeting on strengthening the protection and welfare measures for children living with HIV, the Goa State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (GSCPCR) pulled up Goa State AIDS Control Society (GSACS) for the failure on its part with regard to getting the State Rules for the HIV AIDS Act notified even though the Act was enacted in 2017.
GSCPR pointed out that GSAC had failed to show any progress during the last two convergence meetings. Against that backdrop, GSCPCR wrote a letter to the Health Secretary and Health Minister wherein it gave seven recommendations and asked for an action report to be submitted within four weeks. GSCPCR also highlighted GSAC’s lacklustre attitude in detail in that letter.
GSAC officials, who were present for the meeting, said they were following up the matter with the Health Department but Borges said this response was unsatisfactory.
“The Act was enacted in 2017 and even after several years, GSACS has been dragging its feet and is not acting honestly in the spirit in which the Act has been framed. There is practically no headway in mainstreaming and social protection at GSACS for the past few years. GSACS need to get down to some real work, behave responsibly and build resilience in these children. It cannot be that they are sitting there helplessly seeing the children’s rights violated” said Borges in his letter to the government.
GSCPR’s first recommendations was for appropriate disciplinary action to be taken against GSAC Director and GSAC Deputy Director for negligence in the discharge of duties and in carrying out the work assigned, i.e notification of State Rules for HIV and AIDS Act, 2017.
“Despite the availability of legal protection, the children’s rights were violated with no mechanism for protection for long years,” GSCPCR noted.
GSCPCR’s second recommendation was for urgent notification of State Rules for HIV and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017 and appointment of ombudsman.
“The much-needed creation of grievance redressal mechanism required under HIV Act, i.e., notification of State Rules for HIV and AIDS Act, 2017 has not been done for the past 6 years. Efforts of GSACS lack determination that is required. We have come across a complete disconnect, with GSACS merely operating like an event management company, trying to score points, focusing on mere tokenistic programmes, with no connect to ground realities and needs,” Borges added in that letter.
The Commission also highlighted in detail, how children infected with HIV at birth are at risk and are suffering and are prone to exploitation.
GSCPCR’s third recommendation was for providing access to all HIV sensitive social protection measures, i.e. DSS scheme, KTC free pass, access to food security under PHH, in time-bound manner with simplified procedures to children and adolescents living with HIV to create positive impact on adolescents’ adherence to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and general wellbeing.
GSPCR recommended notifying and enforcing HIV and AIDS policy for establishments in Goa, to create an enabling environment for young adolescents for livelihood and job opportunities, which are violating the rights of the young adolescents.
The fifth recommendation was for formulating and making available HIV and AIDS related information, education and communication programmes which are age-appropriate, gender-sensitive, non-stigmatizing and non-discriminatory.
The final two recommendations were for revising citizen’s charter of GSACS with updated information on services and the process of availing the said services and to immediately arrange for pediatric HIV medicines drugs, i.e. Lopinavir/ritonavir and Abacavir, which are facing stock out.