Unicef to focus on emotional care for children suffering from HIV

“In the existing module, we do have a section on psychological needs of children infected with HIV and AIDS but there is no emphasis on this topic. Agencies working in this field like Mumbai District AIDS Control Society (MDACS), doctors administering anti-HIV drugs, counsellors, care givers and other funding bodies felt the need to prepare a separate module for such children,” said Dr Tushar Rane, from UNICEF, Maharashtra.

Professionals working in this field were finding particularly difficult to deal with the effects of stress on children. A poorly developed sense of identity was also a problem. “This particularly affects those children and young people who are in institutions. They have no parent or adult relative who can help them develop their own identity within their own culture,” said Dr Rane.

“We get children who are slightly depressed, with psychosomatic problems and are withdrawn. But since they are children they can cope with life faster than an adult. All they need is a push and this module will help them,” said Dr Mamta Manglani, who heads the pediatric anti-retroviral therapy (ART) centre at Sion hospital. Sion hospital ART center currently has 300 children on anti-HIV drugs.

There are three other tertiary care hospitals in Mumbai giving ART drugs to such children.

“The biggest challenge lies in funding ART treatment. When these children realise that their dreams cannot be fulfilled, they are disheartened,” said Dr J K Maniar, HIV specialist at Jaslok hospital.

The module is proposed to be implemented in Mumbai and then extended to Maharashtra.

“The module would make coming to ART centres a more pleasant experience through games,” said