Care and Support 50 HIV+ Orphan Children in India

The support group for young people living with HIV was organised in the months of January and February and the topic included on setting personal goals on health and education. In the health goals, the young people in group help their peers set goals in building the immunity and also ensure adherence to treatment.

It has been observed in group meetings and individual counselling the challenge of adherence to medication starts when the young people move into adolescence. In that stage if right information of HIV with good care is provided to the children, it enables better adherence to treatment.

Anuradha (name changed ) is 16 year old and has been recently diagnosed of her HIV status. Though she was born with HIV, she was not tested, as her mother's HIV status was diagnosed only when she became very sick. Three years before, she also was affected by cervical cancer and passed away. Recently Anuradha was tested because of her low immunity and falling sick often. Though she had been disclosed and has been advised for treatment, she is not encouraged to take the medication. The peers in the group had also shared their testimonies and have tried to encourage her to take the medicines. She also had expressed that, she was not interested in taking treatment, as her father was not  empathetic  and was suspicious of her behaviours which  affected her even more.

The importance of taking the right knowledge about HIV  to the care takers to enable a supportive environment for young adolescents towards healthy life was also identified and counselling to the family was also provided. Though the young people feel safe and confident in support groups, the stigma of HIV is still affecting the young people.