SOME RELIEF: Children from Manipur at the 3-day camp which concluded in Tirupati on Saturday.

TIRUPATI: They had fun, ate together and shared ideas. The common thing in these children, aged less than seven years, was that they were all deserted and socially stigmatised. They were declared HIV positive.

Bringing back the smiles, the three-day camp organised by Action Aid International-India and coordinated by Women's Initiatives (WINS), a Tirupati-based NGO, provided an opportunity for these children hailing from Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Manipur to share a common platform.

Language no barrier

Language was not barrier for them. But then, they were too young to know that they shared the same pain and suffering.

The programme was meant to show the positive side of life, i.e., drive home the message that HIV was not synonymous to AIDS and that being HIV positive did not mean instant death. "We explain to the caretakers that the children can and will lead a longer and better life. And we tell them how," explained R. Meera, secretary of WINS, which had been working for the cause of HIV+ people in Chittoor, Anantapur and Guntur districts.

Malnutrition

Most of these children had lost their parents and were living under the care of relatives. Meeting the medical and maintenance expenses of the children had become a millstone for the elders. But for the scrawny physique which indicated the urgent need to address the malnutrition factor, the children were as intelligent and playful as any other child. Brought by `Milana', an NGO of Bangalore, and Manipur Network of Positive Persons (MNP+), Imphal, the children took part in painting, story telling and other games at the camp. They also watched the Sound & Light show at Chandragiri Fort and wild animals at SV Zoo Park.

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