By Mary Julie | Director, Programs
On 12th July 2014, the support group for small children (5-12 years) was started at Tiruchengode Government Hospital premises. The primary purpose of this support group for children is to help children cope up with their HIV illness, make friends who are living with HIV and to support themselves in adhering to medicines and treatment.
The care takers of these children are mostly grand-parents or widowed mothers who are less educated that makes the condition more vulnerable for smaller children not understanding the purpose of being healthy. So the support group involves play-way method with children to feel more comfortable with the environment and communicate better about their health condition with the hospital team.
In the first group, we had 8 children who are HIV positive. The youngest was a 4 year old boy who is studying Kinder Garden. There was a girl thirteen years who has not gone to school for the last two years due to ill-health condition. In the first meeting, introductory games were introduced so that the young children know each other better. The counsellor of the ART center also got involved along with few care takers which made a way for better communication between children and elders. School educational kits were also distributed to the children who attended the support group.
Note: Photograph for this report is not posted because the premises was a Govt Hospital and we did not get permission
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