8-year-old orphan inherits HIV, a house, a loan

Though Dr Belicita, the State AIDS programme officer, talks about awareness camps, counselling and free medical treatment, none of these seems to have filtered down to those most in need of such help. Arun family’s experience calls into question the efficacy of the programme.

A resident of Kavalakulam in Perumbazhuthoor panchayat in Neyattinkara taluka, Arun’s descent into the heart of darkness began when his nine-year-old sister Anjana, who suffered from frequent bouts of fever and tuberculosis, was diagnosed as being HIV positive. Tests revealed that he and his mother were also carriers.

It is presumed that his mother, Prasannakumari, mighthave contracted the virus from his father, Chandran, who committed suicide six years ago. Anjana succumbed to her illness on September 2 and her mother on October 10, last year. Since then Arun has been in the care of his aunt, Vasanthi Devi, a primary school teacher.

Though Vasanthi Devi says that awareness camps were held in the area and Arun’s school by the primary health centre after Anjana’s illness came to light, it was too late to help Prasannakumari.

Deprived of information, Arun’s mother preferred to isolate herself as she feared that she might infect someone through her mere presence. Says her sister Vasanthi,“Prasanna panicked and gave up on life. Both mother and daughter were too weak even to get up from their beds. Prasanna refused to let us approach her as she was worried about infecting one of us.”

The existence of such ignorance and horror about AIDS is corroborated by Rev S Sathyadas, secretary of the Society of Integrated Development for Rural People.

He says, “Our experience inthis taluka shows that many people are not well informed about this disease even now. Most people are reluctant to get along with AIDS patients.”

However, Arun seems to have been spared the traumatic experience of being ostracized by the villagers. But his aunt and uncle still seem to be in the dark about the course of treatment to be followed or the fact that AIDS is not curable.

This has led the family to an ayurveda doctor in Ernakulam who claims to have discovered a cure for AIDS. The Rs 1750 shelled out by the family for two bottles of medicines (500 ml) is an amount the family can ill-afford. The lack of counselling and information is obvious. Dr Jayashree, who runs the Foundation for Integrated Research in Mental Health says, “The importance of counselling cannot be over-emphasised. It is not only for the patient but also for the caretaker. This kind of counselling gives them information about the illness and also teaches them to care for the patient.”

Though official statistics put the numberof AIDS related deaths in the State at 185, it is clear that many more cases might have gone unrecorded as neither Anjana nor her mother figure in the list prepared by the AIDS centre at Thiruvananthapuram.

According to Dr Belicita, there are about 1875 HIV-positive cases in Kerala. But she justifies the absence of a rehabilitation package or special centre to care for AIDS patients on the ground that this might lead to their segregation and social ostracisation.

She argues, “We see no difference between a person suffering from AIDS and another person suffering from another disease. So, there is no question of segregating them or giving them any kind of special treatment. Our medical system at all levels is well-equipped to handle such cases.”

Agreeing with her Dr Jayashree says, “HIV-positive people can be looked after like any other patient by the family. The idea is to integrate them with society and to avoid their segregation.” Adds Dr Belicita, “Arun is like any other orphan. He does notmerit special attention just because he is HIV-positive.”