Treatment and Care for Children with HIV/AIDS

Dr Sarath Chhim discussed the vulnerability of children in both rural and urban settings in Cambodia. It is estimated that by 2005, approximately three percent of all children under the age of 15 in Cambodia will have been orphaned by AIDS. It is also predicted that by the end of 2000 over 5 percent of all HIV infections are likely to be in children under 18 years. Only a few individuals and organisations in Cambodia have skills to help children grieve, and to help vulnerable children cope with multiple stresses.

There is little experience amongst health workers of treating children with HIV/AIDS in Cambodia, and drugs are either expensive or not available. The appraisal found few services directly supporting children affected by AIDS. In this context, supporting the family, strengthening children's and carers ability to cope and enhancing community child protection mechanisms was seen as vital. Main challenges now are capacity building generally for working with vulnerable and traumatised children, and building the clinical capacity for providing care to children with HIV/AIDS.

Dr Sarvade (India), from YRG concluded that a greater understanding of the epidemiology of paediatric HIV infection may led to opportunities to reduce or even eliminate perinatal transmission. Identification and treatment significantly improved the quality of the infected children's lives. Greater knowledge of the clinical manifestations in the local are will help physicians diagnose and manage the treatment of infected children and their families.