In the shadow of AIDS, a home that cares

 
Now 14, Manjula (name changed on request) says she is lucky to get a home. Manjula and 19 other HIV-positive children live in Desire Society, where life is as normal as it can be in a caring orphanage where there is access to education.

The human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that leads to AIDS is often transmitted from the mother to the child in the foetus. Started in 2005, Desire Society is the brainchild of G Ravi Babu. Started with the help of friends, the special home for children infected with HIV-AIDS at JP Nagar VIII phase here, shelters 20 children in the age group of 2 to 15 years. It is dependent on on government-run hospitals to provide medical care to the inmates.

“Along with food, clothes and shelter, we also take care of the children’s education and medical needs,” Babu, Desire Society’s founder president, said. He became aware of the problem faced by HIV-positive children when a close friend who was suffering from AIDS died unattended.

“People with HIV-AIDS suffer from two problems. First, they needs constant medical attention. Second, they suffer due to the social stigma. I decided to work for the cause after my childhood friend died unattended,” Babu said.

According to Babu, children who inherit the disease from their parents are the most victimised. “We must remember that it was not their fault and yet they have to go through a lot of problems. At Desire Society we want the children to be educated and have access to medical care,” he explained.

The children are given food, medicine, education, shelter and all other necessities absolutely free of cost. The society depends on donations from individuals and corporate houses. “All the 20 children go to schools in JP Nagar,” said E M Subhas, the society’s vice-president. “We have plans to support their education till graduation level. Soon will start vocational training for them,” he added. Along with the children, four adults with HIV-AIDS also live at the home now.

For 44-year-old Keshav, one of the four adults, Desire Society has ushered in hope. “I lead a normal life and I would like to stay here forever,” said Keshav, who has been living at the home for the past six months.