HIV+ children want to be teacher, doctor

Hyderabad, Dec 1: Many might cringe when they name their ailment, but that has not deterred a group of HIV positive children in Andhra Pradesh from dreaming big. On the occasion of World AIDS Day today, a group of children at a rehabilitation centre in Andhra Pradesh's Kakinada city voiced their wishes to beat their infection and achieve their goals.

"My teachers say I am very good at Mathematics. I will study more and become a teacher," said 8-year-old Satyavati, a resident of Kakinada. Raju, a 10-year-old HIV infected from a nearby village, is confident of becoming a doctor and said he would treat people in his village free of cost.

"My grand mother says my parents died as they could not get treatment. I don't want to see others suffering. I will treat them free of cost when I become a doctor," he told PTI.

"And I will study more to become a scientist like Abdul Kalam," quipped nine-year-old Shiva, who lives with his elder sister after both his parents died of AIDS two years ago. The trio is among 700 other HIV infected children being treated at the rehabilitation centre.

"None of these children know the seriousness of their ailment..it's like ignorance is bliss for them," said Dola Mohapatra, National Director of ChildFund-India, which runs the rehabilitation centre. "The children are happy and lead a normal life till they know the stigma attached to their infection," Mohapatra said.

PTI