Incidence of HIV/AIDS among Children and Some Solutions

In a United Nations survey conducted a few years ago, it was estimated that globally over 2.1 million children below the age of 15 were affected by the HIV virus and some 290,000 odd children had died of the deadly disease. Out of this huge number, over 70,000 children live in India alone and about 21,000 in this country are affected every year due to transmission of the virus from parent to child. These numbers undoubtedly scale far above our imagination.

Primary prevention is an obvious solution to control the disease from spreading among children. This calls for adoption of result-oriented agendas and mass campaigns to disseminate knowledge about the disease. The spotlight should be on children who should be informed about the disease from an early stage in life so that they can take their own first step towards defeating the spread of HIV/AIDS. Children should learn to keep away themselves away from peer pressure in schools and homes.

However, there are certain frustrating social barriers as well. Most often, children with HIV Positive status are refused proper education and health care, not to mention other social benefits, simply on grounds of being found HIV-affected. This denial and reproach from society leads to seclusion and separatism along with violation of child rights resulting in more children facing negligence and death. It also makes it difficult for interest groups to locate these children. This has to change before any constructive solution can be implemented.

Any program to contain HIV/AIDS must first prioritize on increased representation and participation of affected children and gradually include more and more non-affected children. From the government’s point of view, various departments, from education and health to public services, would have to cooperate and coordinate efforts and resources against HIV/AIDS.

In November 2006, the Congress Chairperson, Mrs. Sonia Gandhi set up collaboration with former US President, Bill Clinton through his non-profit organization, The Clinton Foundation in developing an action plan to support children affected by HIV/AIDS. This initiative has succeeded in administering anti-retroviral drugs to some 10,000 children. We would like to see more such efforts come up over the years in tackling what we think is society’s greatest “virus”.

Shambo Dey

CRY o Volunteer