Ananda Ghar, the only home for HIV+ children in the state has 42 inmates. Privately run by an NGO at Gobindopur in South 24-Parganas, it claimed that hundreds of infected youngsters from Kolkata and its outskirts were eager to join the home. "At least, 150 children are waiting and we have regular contacts with them. Most are either orphans or social outcasts. This proves that the WBSAPCS data is fabricated. They have neither done a survey nor have any programme to care for these children," said Kallol Ghosh of OFFER, the NGO which runs the home.
What could be even more dangerous is the threat they pose in terms of transmission, many pointed out. "Few of the kids are aware of their status and have no access to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). Since a high percentage of them are drug-users, they could well be transmitting the disease," said Tarit Chakraborty, secretary of BNP Plus a network of HIV-positive people.
Less than 25% of the children now receive ART, said an official at the ART centre in Calcutta Medical College Hospital. "There has never been any study or survey. But information from private bodies working across the state, shows the total number of infected children could be more than 3000," said the official.
What could be even more dangerous is the threat they pose in terms of transmission, many pointed out. "Few of the kids are aware of their status and have no access to Anti-Retroviral Therapy (ART). Since a high percentage of them are drug-users, they could well be transmitting the disease," said Tarit Chakraborty, secretary of BNP Plus a network of HIV-positive people.
Less than 25% of the children now receive ART, said an official at the ART centre in Calcutta Medical College Hospital. "There has never been any study or survey. But information from private bodies working across the state, shows the total number of infected children could be more than 3000," said the official.
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