It has been 20 years since the pathbreaking free Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) initiative began in India and the HIV epidemic has overall decreased in Manipur as well. However, children with HIV/AIDS are still facing a variety of challenges despite strides made in HIV prevalence and stigma.
However, even as the rate of HIV/AIDS is decreasing, there are still HIV positive persons who hide their status thus leading to serious consequences for their children.
Stakeholders working in HIV/AIDS prevalence areas are working hard but to end all variety of challenges, all sections of stakeholders need to collaborate while dealing with them.
Therefore, the Manipur Commission for Protection of Child Rights (MCPCR) and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights organised a one-day state level workshop on prevalence of HIV/AIDS among children and preventive strategies at the Manipur Press Club in Imphal on Saturday.
In connection with the workshop, MCPCR chairperson Keisam Pradipkumar said that MCPCR will soon file a petition to the High Court to ensure the timely implementation of the Manipur State Policy for Children 2020, which was notified in the Gazette but is yet to be enforced.
It has been four years since the policy was notified, and the delay of enforcing the policy has hindered efforts to protect and support children affected by various issues, including HIV/AIDS, the chairperson said.
Pradip highlighted the critical provisions within Manipur State Aids Control and Prevention Act 2015 and Manipur State Policy on Substances Used Act 2019 that directly impact children, that need for robust action, stating, “The Manipur State Policy for Children must be implemented to address the increasing vulnerabilities faced by children, especially those affected by HIV/AIDS and substance abuse.”
Pradipkumar also pointed out the need for comprehensive support for HIV-affected families, including access to Double Ration Cards and monthly stipends to ensure proper nutrition and healthcare for children. “In the fight against HIV/AIDS, affected individuals, particularly children, need more than just medical care—they require sustained social and nutritional support,” he added.
Pradip stressed the importance of greater integration of HIV affected children under the Right to Education (RTE), advocating for special reservations for socially disadvantaged and weaker sections. These include HIV-affected children, with a suggestion that affected children should be provided with stipends and additional support in hostel and boarding facilities to ensure their continued education and wellbeing.
During the technical session, state nodal officer child health, NHM spoke on ‘factors causing HIV/AIDS amongst children in Manipur’; retired joint director Manipur State AIDS control society, Mongjam Abhiram spoke on ‘experience sharing on issues and challenges faced by children infected and affected with HIV/AIDS’; deputy director (Basic Service Division) Manipur State AIDS control society, Dipabali Nameirakpan spoke on ‘prevalence of HIV/AIDS amongst children in Manipur (types of infection, classification of gender wise and age wise)’; head of department of Psychiatry RIMS, Dr Senjam Gojendro spoke on ‘psychosocial counselling to improve quality of life of CLHIV and their affected family’; joint director (prevention division) Manipur State AIDS Control Society, Wakanbam Joyson spoke on ‘prevention strategies to deal with children infected and affected with HIV/AIDS and available schemes for them under government of India and Manipur’.
