The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Playing a positive role

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 10, 2007
ePaper

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Playing a positive role

D. Chandra Bhaskar Rao

The play centre makes HIV-infected happier

—Photo: G.N. Rao

A schoolboy with counsellors at a play centre in the district headquarters hospital in Khammam.

KHAMMAM: Sanjay is growing without any knowledge of his HIV infection status. The seven-year-old boy, a high scorer in English and mathematics, is the cynosure of all eyes in the convent school. Only source of concern for his teachers was his attendance. He has for quite some been on the anti retroviral therapy (ART). His parents, who are also infected by HIV, are in serious distress.

Though his father, a shopkeeper, looks to be quite healthy, he is in a state of depression because of the family’s dwindling fortunes. He had spent huge amount on the treatment of his son as well as wife, whose CD 4 count dropped below 200 cells last month. His limited resources made him to look for local sources to continue his son’s anti retroviral therapy life long.

The district headquarters hospital has set up a play centre for children like Sanjay, in need of environment that makes them feel happier while taking the anti-retroviral therapy. The centre was aimed at helping the children with the psychological and medical problems. The children could express themselves when they are part of a support group.

Training

The play centre initially aimed at catering to the need of some 76 children. Many of them are lacking family support and are in need of assistance of some one in adhering to the scheduled of paediatric doses as part of the ART. The play centre provides the much needed privacy for those undergoing treatment.

The anti retroviral therapy is a way to improve the health of the affected children and the hospital had set up the play centre as part of measures for strengthening facilities to cope with the problem of paediatric HIV, says Papalal, medical superintendent of the Hospital.

Five members have been trained by a Mumbai based NGO in handling and counseling the HIV affected children.

A few local NGOS had come forward to provide toys and facilities for the children visiting the centres.

Every child under ART should visit the hospital invariable once in a month to collect their paediatric doses for the next 30 days.

Special attention could be paid to them in the hospitals that are well equipped than the places with limited resources.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Andhra Pradesh