BANGALORE: Tom’s (name changed) innocent smile holds in a lot of his fearsome knowledge. He is aware why he is falls sick so often. Why he has to take the tasteless medicine regularly and he can’t go and study in school. The ten-year-boy is cognisant about his diesase. He knows he is affected by the most noxious virus, HIV like his fellow friends in Infant Jesus Children’s Home.The home is an institutition that takes care of children who are affected by the Human Immunity Virus. Started in 2001 at Kothanur near Hennur, today there are 105 children living under the love and tender care of the Deena Seva (Servants of the poor) missionary sisters. Among the total habitants only eight are not affected by AIDS. From a newborn baby to sixteen-year-old teens are living in the calm and serene atmosphere of the home.“Almost all the children here acquired the infection during pregnancy, birth and breast feeding from the infected mothers. After birth the child can get infected by blood through blood transfusions or by sharing a common infected needle.Unfortunately the highest degree of children here are abandoned; some are referred to by doctors while others by NGOs,” said Sister Veronica, the manager of the institution. Nearly all the children are from the districts of Karnataka and few from other states such as Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh. She further added, “Often in our society HIV positive children are turned away from schools and orphanage. They are neglected and abused.”As the virus affects the immune system, the body is prone to diseases. Even the slightest variation in temperature can result in death. “Cold, fever, dry cough and dehydration are common among the patients. We have monthly check ups and there are two staff nurses always to attend them. In addition to physical treatment, we have counsellors coming every week to speak with the children. They are aware about their illness, so they do not object to take the painful treatment,”she revealed. “Educating these HIV children raised many people’s eyebrows in and around the locality. It was a challenge and we had to go through many phases to create awarness among the people nearby,” recounted Mother suprerior at the home. Sadly HIV positive children do not go to regular schools like normal children. “The parents of other children will never want their young ones to mingle with HIV infected children. Such problems arise due to lack of knowledge and ignorance.” she further added.To solve these problems Infant Jesus Children Home built a school for its dwellers in their own compond. Children are trained in a special way. The study shedule includes yoga and resting hours which focus on their physical, mental, spiritual and psychological well being. Four of them are preparing for SSLC this year. “Many youth groups and other volunteers visit the home to help train and teach these children. There are quite a few people who volunteer themselves to help these children and cater to their needs,” said sister Veronica.India ranks tenth in the list of countries that are affected with HIV. According to a recent report by the United Nations, there are 95,000 adolesents in our country between the age groups of 10 to 16 years who are affected by this deadly virus. Girls face high risk ofHIV due to biological vulnerability. Most of the cases are due to neglect and unawareness. The number of people infected with the virus is higher in rural India than in urban India. The main reason for this is the lack of information and knowledge among the people.
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