MNP+ education balm for Tamenglong kids
Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, May 22 2011:
Manipur Network of Positive People (MNP+) has started providing support to 10 selected children hailing from HIV affected needy families of Tamenglong district under its education support programme.
MNP+ has been providing assistance to HIV infected/affected children of underprivileged families since 2008 under its Education Support of Children Living with HIV and Affected by the Pandemic programme.
With an aim to keep HIV infected/affected children healthy and provide education to them like any normal child, MNP+ is implementing the ambitious programme without any fund from the State Government and outside agencies but from its own resources.
It provides support to children who have lost their father/mother or both to HIV/AIDS.
A total of 103 children are getting benefits under the programme with the latest addition of 10 new children from Tamenglong district and three from Imphal East district.
Expenses for admission fees, tuition fees, uniform, text books, exercise books and medical treatment for these children will be borne by MNP+ under the programme.
Speaking to The Sangai Express, Convenor of the education programme, M Jhaljit said, the 10 children of Tamenglong district are drawn from Tousem, Nungba and Tamenglong Sub-divisions.
Out of these 10 children, nine are HIV infected, five have single parent while three have no parents and two have both the parents.
They are all in the age group of 3 to 11 years.
As a first phase assistance, Tamenglong DC K Panmei distributed admission fees to these 10 children on May 17 .
M Jhaljit expressed concern over the high prevalence of HIV/AIDS discrimination in Tamenglong district, especially in Nungba Sub-division.
He said, many people in Nungba Sub-division still have the notion that HIV spreads through physical contact.
Saying that persons living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) are even denied to buy anything from local shops, M Jhaljit said, many HIV infected children do not disclose their HIV status with the fear that they may be expelled from the school.
Informing that many such children have not started treatment he added, proper facilities for treatment are also not available at Tamenglong district hospital.
The Education Support team also expressed gratitude to Bishnupur SP Th Radheshyam, Printing and Stationery Director M Harekrishna and Tamenglong DC K Panmei for their support.
Meanwhile, with the release of the video album, I want to go to school, I want to study, we too have hope, Ukhrul Network of Positive People has provided education support to two more children and Chandel Network of Positive People provided treatment to three children.