The country is in the thick of the world's epidemic and there are an estimated 170,000 children with HIV/AIDS. This is a complex and multi-faceted problem, said Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Vice President of India while speaking at 'National Thematic Workshop on Children Affected by AIDS' on December 16, 2002 in New Delhi. The workshop hosted by the India HIV/AIDS Alliance (the Alliance), witnessed India's Vice President and the National AIDS Control Organization (NACO) affirming for the first time the Government's commitment to investing in home and community-based care and policies for the country's growing number of children affected by HIV/AIDS.

The Vice President said, "As their parents fall ill, children take on greater responsibility and have reduced access to food, education, health care and inheritance. They have to deal with grief at a very young age, suffer separation from siblings, harsh treatment from relatives and social stigma. These vulnerable children also face exploitation when they are forced to live on the streets."

He said, "The Alliance, with its experience of supporting strong community-based interventions, has revolutionized the concept of community care towards children affected by AIDS," He added, "This landmark meeting is a vital step in the tremendous amount of work that needs to be done." To ensure success "children must be included in assessing their needs, planning, working out care and support in their communities and in evaluating the progress. This meeting will place children at the heart of our response to HIV/AIDS."

The meeting was held at the India Habitat Centre in New Delhi and brought together over 250 grassroots workers from non-government organizations (NGOs) to tackle the challenges faced by children affected by HIV/AIDS. They were joined by representatives from the government and international, national and local civil society organizations. The gathering showcased innovative child-centered approaches to working with children affected by AIDS, provided training and outlined policy recommendations to be presented to NACO and other policy and decision makers.

"This is an historic meeting which brings together like-minded people from all sections of society to address the urgent and growing question of how to support children affected by AIDS in India," said Dr. Asha Rao, Country Program Director for Alliance India. The Alliance partners were from 40 NGOs working with children affected by HIV/AIDS in Delhi, Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu. A number of children participated by relating their personal experiences and concerns.

The participants shared several case studies and stories of children benefiting from home and community-based care and support programs, illustrating the Alliance's approach to working with children affected by HIV/AIDS. Participants from Thailand, Cambodia, Ukraine and Mongolia, and resource persons from Kenya and Uganda also shared their experiences in working with children affected by HIV/AIDS.

The India HIV/AIDS Alliance's children's work is funded by Step Forward, an Abbott Laboratories Fund Initiative that focuses on developing and sharing models that are successful in improving lives of children impacted by AIDS (www.stepforwardforchildren.org), the European Union, www.europa.eu.int/comm/development/aids and the Allan and Nesta Ferguson Trust (U.K.)

The Alliance in India has supported HIV/AIDS related activities since 1997. It pioneered integrated community and home-based care and support programs since2000 and is currently supporting projects in urban Delhi, central and southern Tamil Nadu and throughout Andhra Pradesh. In addition, the Alliance supports an integrated and comprehensive program of care and support for children affected by AIDS and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHA), and focused prevention with key populations in India.