PANJIM, SEPT 8
Living with HIV and AIDS is still associated with stigma and discrimination among elders as a result rendering millions of children orphans and vulnerable.
On September 15, around 25 children living with HIV in the State will put forth their problems before the Government at Clube Gaspar Dias in Miramar, here, at 3 pm, where Opposition leader Manohar Parrikar will be present.
Help India Charitable Trust has provided a platform for these children, most of them from South Goa, in association with World Vision and Zindagi to place their problems before the stakeholders concerned.
Before moving to Panjim the children will share their grievances at a consultation programme to be held from September 13 to 15 at SVD Seminary, Raia, Salcete.
J Allen Benjamin of World Vision says the programme has been organised to know the problems and issues related to HIV positive children. We have called those in the age group of 14 to 18 because these are bold enough to talk and put forth their grievances, he mentions.
Benjamin adds the basic aim was to identify the needs of these teenagers and empower them to live a healthy life free from stigma and discrimination. There are over 130 HIV-positive children in the State as per Government data, he informs.
Sunitha Shetty of Help India Charitable Trust observes the programme will also deliberate on brining in new programmes aimed at orphans and vulnerable children in the State. It is time we stand and speak out on issues of poverty, stigma and discrimination that have arose due to HIV, she adds.
Shetty says the basic objective of inviting the Opposition leader for the Panjim programme was to bring to his notice the problems of HIV infected children so that the same reach the Government.
She claims the problem of children living with HIV and AIDS is big and complex and only a few institutions are responding to the needs of children living with the disease.
