Dhangadhi, January 10:

Twelve-year-old Prakash BK of Pratappur VDC-5 in Kailali district is a HIV/AIDS patient. He was born infected with the disease as both of his parents were infected with the dreaded disease. Young Prakash is living with his grandparents and is undergoing Anti-Retro Viral treatment to fight against the disease. Prakash has has lost both of his parents and he has no one in the family except the ageing grandparents.

Prakash is just an example. Many children in the far-west have lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS and many of them are taking shelter in different care homes as they don’t have their own family members.

“There are hundreds of children in Kailali district who have lost their parents due to HIV/AIDS,” regional coordinator of Family Health International (FHI) Prakash Pandey said. He also said most of the parents of the children got infected with the disease when they were in Indian cities for jobs. Over 50 children are regularly taking ARV in the far-west, according to Dr Subas Sitaula of FHI. ARV treatment is available in Seti Zonal Hospital, Mahakali Zonal Hospital and Doti District Hospital in the far-west.

“The number of patients getting infected with the disease while in India for jobs is high,” said Madhav Pant, chief at ARV Centre in Doti District Hospital. And increasing is the number of kids infected with the disease. He also said over 1000 children had lost one of their parents due to HIV/AIDS in Doti district alone. “As most of the children do not have family members to look after them, they are taking shelter and getting treatment in different care homes,” he added. Madhav Dangol, coordinator of Nawarkiran Plus, Doti, said they were looking after four children infected with the disease and who do not have parents. Twelve HIV-infected children, who have no parents, are taking shelter in Kopila Child Home in Kailali.

“A dozen of HIV/AIDS infected children who have lost their parents and are living with us are under the age of 10,” Sayamond KC, coordinator of Nawakiran Plus, Dhangadhi, said.