Give a future for 950 Indian kids living with HIV

STOP PRESS: WE WILL MAIL YOU TOMORROW TO REMIND YOU THAT DONATIONS CARRY A BONUS

I am Selvi, a volunteer with our District Positive People’s Association, supported by Arogya Agam. Mahesh, a 14-year-old boy living with his grandmother after his parents separated, arrived at the government hospital in poor health and tested positive for HIV. My friend did a search at the health centre and it was confirmed that he had been on sporadic treatment for years. With his grandmother struggling and his father unwilling to be involved, we arranged his admission to a hostel experienced in supporting children living with HIV.

A year later, the hostel warden informed me that Mahesh’s father had taken him and not returned as promised. He claimed Mahesh was needed to care for his mother, but I discovered he had stopped school, was working in a shop, and had again stopped his HIV treatment. When I met Mahesh, he tearfully pleaded for help. I arranged counselling for his parents at the health centre, and when that failed, I reported the situation to the Child Welfare Committee—but the parents still refused to cooperate.

Mahesh was thin like a stick, I was so worried. I contacted a sub-inspector at the women’s police station, who is a relative, and we devised a plan. The police called his parents, warned them of legal consequences, and secured their agreement in writing for Mahesh to stay in the hostel until he turned 18. He is now back in the hostel, receiving treatment, healthy, happy, and preparing for his 10th-grade exams.

We had to play a dirty trick to get Mahesh back to the hostel—but parents should never get to gamble with their child’s health. Both are HIV positive, they should have known better. As an HIV-positive woman myself, I know the facts and believe that only results matter. I wasn’t about to let anyone put Mahesh’s future at risk.

STOP PRESS: DONATIONS MADE TOMORROW, TUESDAY WILL GET A BONUS.

WE WILL MAIL YOU TOMORROW WITH THE APPEAL.

Thank you so much for your past support. With best wishes,

John Dalton