AIDS Control Board to campaign against ostracism

Kottayam, Dec 9 (UNI) The AIDS Control Board has taken steps to undertake a campaign to resolve the issue relating to the HIV-infected students studying at the MDLP school at Pallivathukkal near Pampady here.

The issue surfaced following objections from Parents Teachers Association (PTA) of the school against the five HIV affected students of the Asha Kiran Centre attending classes along with other students in the school.

The Asha Kiran Centre was started by P C Yohannan Ramban of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church at Pampady to rehabilitate HIV affected children and their mothers.

When contacted, Yohannan Ramban said his earlier intention was to teach the HIV-infected students at the centre itself, but they were sent to the school following the AIDS Control Board's advice that the students should not be discriminated and should be allowed to mingle with other children.

There were eight children and five mothers at the Asha Kiran, who were brought to the Centre from different parts of the state and Karnataka.

The HIV-infected students had been attending class at the MDLP School since June last.

Presently, the parents of other students came out with a complaint following a report in a section of the media that the HIV-infected students from the Asha Kiran were studying with other children.

He said, following the parents' objection, the HIV-infected students were withdrawn from the school and from December five, they were taught at Bala Bhavan, an orphanage run by him.

Meanwhile, State Health Minister P K Sreemathi and AIDS Control Society Secretary Dr Rajan Khobragade visited the school the other and held a discussion with the parents.

The Minister assured the parents that the HIV infected children would not be sent to the school without their permission.

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