Care and Support 50 HIV+ Orphan Children in India

Harina is 15 year old and an orphan living with her aunt. She is born with HIV and has been actively participating in the support group programmes of Buds of Christ at the government hospital. When she joined the support group, she was not aware of HIV but through the group meetings, she learnt about HIV and also gained confidence of living positively with the Virus from her peers in the support group. Recently in her school, there was a form circulated and in that, they were gathering data of  various issues like disability, other chronic illnesses and HIV and in that form she had marked boldly about her HIV status.

Seeing it, her teacher asked her and she boldly stated “Yes mam! I am living with HIV and my parents died of AIDS". She also has started sharing about HIV information to five of her close friends who come to her for any clarification regarding HIV. Recently in one of the NSS camp in her school, the instructor had planned a visit to a home for HIV and AIDS and also had expressed that one should not move very close with people living with HIV as it can transmit through close proximity with them. Her friends who were part of it came to her for further clarification and she boldly objected the point and shared that it does not spread and also shared that if it was in that way, all the classmates would have been infected easily. She feels happy and says that, “I am not afraid of the reactions of people, as If I live by their reaction, I cannot move on."

We at Buds of Christ were greatly surprised at the remark made by this young girl Harina and salute her for her courage and the change she has been able to make among her classmates. At the same time, we also find the need to start educating the school teachers and students about HIV and their sensitivity to the issues of HIV and AIDS as they make a important impact in the lives of children and young people.