Recently, a major hospital here declined to do a knee surgery on an HIV-positive patient. Then, the head of the hospital intervened and promised that it would not happen again. A similar incident occurred at a popular eye hospital in the city too.
Doctors, who are most aware of the situation concerning HIV-infected people, are alienating them, says Sunil Kumar (name changed), who has been in the forefront of movements upholding the rights of HIV/AIDS patients in the district for over 15 years.
Even after so many awareness programmes over the years, most people in the State are still unaware of the true state of affairs when it comes to HIV/AIDS. The social stigma remains, Mr. Sunil Kumar says.
The government observes World Aids Day every December 1 with elaborate programmes.
The State government will spend around Rs.6 lakh this year to organise awareness rallies, flash mobs, and other sessions across the State this December 1.
The children of the HIV-infected parents are the worst hit. Such children, though not infected, face many social issues. A group of people in Kozhikode are planning to set up a forum to sponsor around 50 such children.
Varghese Mathew, a former teacher at the Malabar Christian College, is leading the efforts.
The theme of the initiative is ‘Let this smile remain for ever.’
“We would encourage individuals to sponsor such children. One individual can sponsor only one child and the identity of the children will not be revealed to anyone other person other than the sponsor,” Dr. Mathew said.
