Atono Tsükrü
Kohima | July 11
A five year old orphan boy from Mokokchung district who contracted HIV from his parents and was struggling to find a rehabilitation home for the past one month is likely to find a permanent home at Cradle Ridge, Seithogei.
Following the news reported by The Morung Express on June 18 about the boy’s sad case, Nagaland chief secretary Temjen Toy had convened a meeting of all stakeholders and line departments on July 5 to discuss the plight of Children Living with HIV among other issues.
The meeting was attended by officials and representatives from the of department of Health & Family Welfare, Labour & Employment, Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, School Education, Social Welfare, Naga Hospital Authority, Kohima (NHAK), Nagaland State Aids Control Society (NSACS), NAGADAO and Naga Mothers Association (NMA).
Sources informed that the chief secretary called for another meeting on July 9 with all stakeholders to take some concrete decisions, wherein the NMA was said to have submitted some proposals to the government for consideration.
It was informed that the chief secretary committed to provide Rs 30,000 every month to Cradle Ridge, while directives has been issued to the department of H&FW and NHAK to provide free medicine on priority, on need based.
Education department, it was told, is committed and every ready to provide free education when the need arises, and has requested NMA to approach to them.
It was also learnt that chief secretary has also issued directives to the Labour and Skill development department to consider and provide skill training to the children of Cradle Ridge, while social welfare department was asked to looks for ways and means to assist and support whenever need arises.
Confirming the commitment made by the chief secretary, NMA president, Abeiü Mere has expressed gratitude to all stakeholders and departments for their commitment in coming forward to help and assist.
When enquired if NMA has taken the boy under its care, Mere said, the board members are yet to have a sitting however, she was hopeful that some positive decisions would be taken on this.
Terming the little boy and his case as ‘very lucky’ as many people have been ‘pressuring and recommending’ for him, Mere said, other children aren’t as lucky as this little boy with hardly any support and recommendation from any quarters.
She was optimistic that the board members would come up with positive decision not only for this orphan, but so many other children like him.
Meanwhile the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) Mokokchung for PLHIV community in a letter to the director Child Protection Service (CPS) Nagaland appealed to take cognizance and intervene for making provisions available for the child in question. It also sought rehabilitation, care institutes of children with HIV/AIDS and other provisions to safeguard the lives and protection of children in Nagaland with HIV/AIDS virus.
