HYDERABAD:
She’s just 13 and mentally challenged. As ill-luck would have it, she’s
tested positive for HIV too. More than all this, what worries her
parents are her suicidal tendencies. Fatima Begum (name changed) from
the Old City had dropped out of school last year after she and her
parents came to know that she had AIDS.
?“To this day, we don’t know how she has contracted the deadly virus.
?We
took her to the Niloufer Hospital 10 months ago when she became so weak
that she couldn’t even walk. There the doctors confirmed that she has
AIDS,” recalls her mother, adding that “she tries to commit suicide
often.
” Fatima Begum has been under
treatment at the Pediatric Center for Excellence in HIV where she had
been referred to by the Child Guidance Bureau (CGB).
?Fatima’s case is not an isolated incident.
?Like her, every month over 1,100 teenagers from different places in and around the twin cities visit the CGB for counselling.
?All of them have more or less the same psycological problems and suicidal tendencies.
?The causes for the same range from as silly as obesity and looks to as serious as HIV and other medical issues.
?The CGB is a special wing in the Department of Juvenile Welfare, Correctional Service and Welfare of Street Children.
?It
has set up a separate unit called, Yuva . The Future, on the premises
of the Niloufer Hospital for guiding and counselling children to prevent
juvenile delinquency.
?According to
officials, at least 35-45 teenagers, suffering from psychological
problems visit the unit every day. Of the over 1100 that visit every
month, 75 per cent are girls. “The teenage girls and boys brought to the
centre face social and psychological problems and have suicidal
tendencies.
?Some want to commit suicide because of poor academic performance.
?Some
others have family problems. There are those also who want to end life
because either they are physically weak or mentally challenged,”
explains M Uma Devi, senior child counsellor at CGB.
?N
Soma Shekar, psychologist at CGB, adds, “these adolescent boys and
girls have problems related to body image, sexual and reproductive
health, sexual abuse, drug abuse, premarital relationships, life and
study skills.” Of all the patients, over 5 per cent have strong suicidal
tendencies.
?“We treat them as special
cases and provide medical and moral support,” he explains. The CGB also
makes sure that the parents also respect their child’s rights, privacy,
confidentiality and adopt a non-discriminative approach.
?The
most alarming aspect of it all is that the number of children in need
of counselling has been increasing year after year. In 2009-10, the
number of patients at CGB was 500 per month. In 2010-11 the number
touched 800 and in 2011-12, it has crossed 1,100