Southern States - Andhra Pradesh-Hyderabad   

`Diya' refuge for HIV woman, son

By Suresh Krishnamoorthy

HYDERABAD Nov. 14. Her life has been shattered and she does not know what future holds for her. In addition to abject poverty, fate has now dealt a cruel blow to Kamala Ben and her 14-month-old son, Sangarakshit. Both of them were found to be HIV positive at Niloufer Hospital just a day ago.

Unsure of what to do and unable to get the required tests done to determine the immune status of her son, Kamala Ben, a native of Nanded, took refuge at `Diya,' Freedom Foundation's special facility, set up to provide succour to HIV positive children, here on Thursday.

The woman in her mid-20s, expecting her fourth child, walked into Niloufer Hospital last week with a frail-looking Sangarakshit, who was suffering from a plethora of problems. Even as the boy was being treated she prematurely delivered a boy, who breathed his last a few hours later.

It was two days later, she knew why her three sons died and the fourth was suffering from diseases. Doctors at Niloufer ran some tests and found that Kamala and Sangarakshit were HIV positive. The authorities recommended that the boy should undergo a CD-4 and CD-8 count blood tests to determine his immune status. The tests, to be done at Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences, were beyond her reach.

A voluntary worker told the hapless woman to seek treatment and it was only then she approached the Freedom Foundation. Kamala and the boy were admitted immediately.

Kamala, a Marathi, whose family settled in Jeedimetla years ago, was married to a mechanic at Nanded. While her first two boys died soon after birth at Nanded, Sangarakshit survived.

The medical team at the foundation, led by Troy Cunningham, says that the boy is malnourished and is suffering from `opportunistic infections.' A parallel treatment for malnutrition and diarrhoea has been started simultaneously.

The executive trustee of the foundation, Karl Sequeira, says Sangarakshit is responding to the treatment.

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