Indian organisation NMCT hosts national consultation on children and HIV and AIDS
18 December 2006
Around seventy-five representatives across eight states of India have participated in a national consultation in Tamil Nadu on children living with and affected by HIV and AIDS. Officials from State AIDS Control Societies in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu also were present at the consultation organised by Alliance India implementing non-governmental organisation the Native Medicare Charitable Trust (NMCT).
The consultation was called to understand the health needs of HIV-positive children better and develop policy recommendations for addressing stigma and discrimination, health needs and support systems related to HIV-positive as well as affected children. Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Meira Kumar, who opened the consultation, confirmed that she would support affected children through her department.
Alliance India facilitated a session on children’s health needs that included early identification of HIV; care, support and treatment facilities for children; and the prevention of virus progression. It also covered comprehensive paediatric AIDS care.
A session on community approaches in HIV/AIDS interventions was facilitated by Palmyrah Workers Development Society (PWDS), one of Alliance India’s lead partners.
