National Consultation for children-Recommendations

[Guest guest]

We, Positive Women Network are pleased to circulate the recommendations that emerged from the recently held Joy n Joy, National Consultation for Children from 24th to 28th May at Delhi.

Recommendations for NACP III

Arising out of a consultation of children living with and affected by HIV and AIDS

A five-day consultation organized by Positive Women Network in partnership with UNICEF for children affected by HIV/AIDS was held in Delhi from 24th to 28th May 2006. 53 infected and affected children from 10 states participated in the process, which was facilitated by trained facilitators who were members of Positive Women Network (PWN+). Children shared their experiences and concerns on issues that ranged from social isolation, being orphaned, denial of services, access to education, emotional distress and their dreams and aspirations for the future. A separate document is under preparation on the process and the outcome of the consultation. Towards the end of the process, keeping the issues that emerged in mind, the NACP III document was revisited to see if all the major areas of concern had been addressed in the document.

The group recognized that Treatment, care and support for children were addressed comprehensively in NACP III with a view to provide ARV to 39000 children living with HIV per year. Key activities and indicators developed in programs providing care, support for children infected and affected with HIV and AIDS ensures improving the quality of lives of children.

While the document deals with most of the key components relating to children affected by AIDS, it is suggested the following issues can be incorporated to make it comprehensively responsive to the needs of children.

The need for children’s support groups to be established at district level facilitated by positive women’s groups as a part of care and support programs

Ensuring access to correct information: Family, extended family members, carers need to be provided with correct information in supporting children

Psychosocial support for children affected and living with HIV and AIDS…need for trained child counselors or building skills of counselors in counseling children,

Revisit and revise existing guidelines for counseling to address needs of children affected by HIV and AIDS

Counselors to address violence against affected children

Ensuring access for parents/carers of affected children with Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme, Widow pension, schemes for homeless women, Economic empowerment for SC/ST through THADCO, girl child marriage scheme, vocational training for girl children and various other support schemes

Expert committee to explicitly monitor quality of facilities for orphan children

Evolve monitoring indicators for key indicators in 3.7.4 providing care support for children infected and affected with HIV and AIDS.

Prioritize stigma and discrimination reduction among friends of children affected through School AIDS Education Program and Adolescence Education program

Involve children affected by HIV and AIDS in program and policy designing, planning, implementation, monitoring and evaluation. (GICA- Greater involvement of Children living with HIV/AIDS, Support for CAHA - Children affected by HIV and AIDS)

Include measurement of stigma and discrimination among school children and young people in the national BSS

Key indicator in 3.7.4 – indicators, OVC to be changed as Children infected, affected and orphaned by HIV and AIDS.

Institutional strengthening for training, human resource support and resources to build capacity support for children living with HIV and AIDS in community, home based and institutional care.

Need for specific schemes for economic support to the care of children living with and affected by HIV and AIDS.

Positive women Network is an affiliated organization of Indian Network of People living with HIV and works exclusively for women and children affected by HIV in India.