Earlier this month the Children and Young People HIV Network ran a seminar to explore children's rights and HIV. One of the day's key messages was that many of the basic rights we expect for our children are negated by a positive HIV diagnosis.
One speaker, an HIV positive young woman, told how from the age of 8 to 14 she received medical treatment but was never informed of her diagnosis. She spoke of her fear during this time, and the betrayal she felt afterwards.
This information is not generally withheld because of independent decisions by medical staff, or the controlling nature of parents and carers. Rather it is due to the intense discrimination an HIV positive child still faces today. Parents and carers are so afraid of how family, friends and communities will react that they often feel secrecy is their only option. Yet by keeping this information from children, are we not colluding with the stigma, as well as preventing them from managing their own health and wellbeing?
Register Now to Continue Reading
Thank you for visiting Children & Young People Now and making use of our archive of more than 60,000 expert features, topics hubs, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's Included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Email newsletter providing advice and guidance across the sector
Already have an account? Sign in here
