Friday, 9 August 2013




Rehabilitation of   HIV infected minor
Arti aged about 12 years comes from lower middle class family whose parents died of AIDS around two years ago. After death of the parents she was living with her old grandmother and two brothers. When she was at home with her grandmother she was allegedly very badly treated, beaten, and made to do all the work and given only dry chappatis to eat.

One of the relatives of  Arti put her in the  boarding at Nirmala institute in Vaijapur in June 2012 and she was admitted in class VI at Karuna Niketan School  there. She had no health problem then. After a year she went her home to spend summer vacation. She returned from her vacation, having a severe attack of herpes on her neck which took a long time to heal. She was taken to govt. hospital in Vaijapur for treatment where she was detected of having HIV+. When it was communicated to her grandmother she forbidden her to return to the village, her all close relatives rejected her. Since it was not possible for Nirmala Institue, Aurangabad to continue to keep her in boarding with others, they wished to put her in a place where she will be cared for and receive all treatment necessary.
Sr. Pracy D’ Souza from Nirmala institute  phoned Ms. Hilda Fernandes, Director of Sakhya to make arrangement to have transferred her to another institution. Ms. Hilda Fernandes got an information about shelter facility at Inigo Icaza Arruti, HIV Centre, Benepatti-Merces, Sandoor, Vasai(W) . On 23rd July 2013 she was produced before Aurangabad Child Welfare Committee to get  an order to transfer her at Inigo Icaza Arruti, HIV Centre Vasai. Aurangabad Child Welfare Committee recommended to produce the girl at Bhiwandi, Child Welfare Committe as Inigo Icaza Arruti, HIV centre does not fall within their jurisdiction.
On 23rd July Ms. Reena Singari brought her to Vasai , on the same day Ms. Hilda Fernandes and Ms. Reena Singari admitted her in Inigo Icaza Arruti, HIV Centre. On 25th June she was produced before Bhiwandi Child welfare committee and got order sanctioned for her stay at Inigo Icaza Arruti, HIV Centre. On 26th July Ms. Rushila Rebello,Socila Worker along with Shashi Kala,a Social Worker of Chirag, an Ngo working on HIV took her to Sion Hospital Mumbai  to register her name for ART and medical treatment. They got her name registered in HIV department, she was reconfirmed her HIV status and was prescribed to continue medicine and treatment.
On 29th July one of the sisters of Inigo Icaza Arruti  got her admitted in St. Elizabeth School, Holy in standard VII.  Arti is happily staying and getting all the necessary treatment, food  and shelter. We are happy that she can leave her life with hope and dignity


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