Kathmandu, August 16

Children suffering from human immunodeficiency virus are found to be ignored by their parents, families and relatives.

Two children suffering from human immunodeficiency virus, who were rescued recently, are taking shelter at Baby Life Home, a school -cum-non-government organisation that looks after HIV positive children. Santosh (name changed), 12, has been suffering from HIV and also has a congenital heart problem. But his family has refrained from contacting him.

“We need family members for further treatment of the child but none of them are available,” said Dattu Ram Rai, a teacher of the organisation. He has father, a married sister and two brothers, according to Santosh.

Prabin (name changed), 11, too has been taking shelter in the home. “I had a very difficult life after my mother’s death. I had to work a lot as there were several cows in my home. I used to cut grass and take care of the animals. It became more difficult when my father died in February. My uncles and relatives said they couldn’t look after me and they brought me to the capital city. I was then handed to a shelter home,” he said.

These children were brought to the organisation recently. There are also other children taking shelter in the organisation who have been ignored by their family members.

Ramesh, 16, who hails from Dang and has been studying in Grade X shares the same plight. He said, “I and my sister were brought to Kathmandu after the death of my parents. When asked about familial property, our family members said all properties were sold by my father for his HIV treatment.”

Despite impressive strides made by Nepali society in terms of education, technological advancement and modernisation, its perception towards HIV infected persons is negative. HIV positive children have become victims of negative mentality of people, said Rai, adding that such children were shunned by people and were not allowed to mingle and play with other children.