Children and Aids - it's not a subject that gets plenty of attention - and in fact HIV and Aids are seen as adult problems. But according to the Ministry of Human Development, 2,000 Belizean children are living with HIV and Aids and 60 are on retro-viral medication. So HIV and Aids are not issues only for grown ups; it affects children too. And that's why a program called 'Caring for Children' was launched yesterday at the George Price Center in Belmopan.
Anita Zetina, CEO - Ministry of Human Development
"It highlights an acutely vulnerable group whom continues to be a large and unacceptably missing face in our national efforts to arrest and halt HIV and Aids in our country."
And yesterday - members of that vulnerable group went to the George Price Center in Belmopan to learn about HIV and Aids and to hear how it is affecting their generation. They got a very sobering message.
Rana Flowers, UNICEF Country Rep.
"One in twelve of you will be infected in your life with HIV in Belize."
And while the message from adults is one thing - they also heard testimony from their peers. These children presenters read testimony from children living with or affected by Aids. Now, we stress the presenters don't have HIV or Aids - they are just reading the testimony of those who do.
Child #1,
"Other children at school tease me and one of them said that they would kill me."
Child #2,
"My cousin got a tattoo with a needle some of his friends use. He has Aids now. He gave Aids to some girls at his school. The girls got tested for HIV/Aids. The doctors told their parents that they have Aids. The police arrested my cousin. Three days later he died without medical treatment."
Child #3,
"I am teased all the time and children pick on me. People are always whispering around my family. When we go to some shops, they don't want to take our money and don't serve us."
Child #4,
"I am teased at school because my mom died of Aids and they say I have Aids too but I don't. My father's aunts and uncles won't let me play with their kids. We got thrown out of house and we had nowhere to live for a while. At my village like 34 people have HIV. My uncle died of HIV/Aids one year ago. His wife could live five years. My father's cousin died of HIV/Aids last week. I am afraid."
Child #5,
"My mom got sick with Aids and then me my mom and my brother were made to leave our home. We just had biscuits and water but my mom couldn't eat that. I tried to hold her up to drink water and I helped her she got sicker and I tried to help her but she died."
Griping accounts - again from presenters simply reading testimony from child sufferers. But the fact even that we have to state that disclaimer twice is part of the bigger problem: stigma and discrimination.
Anita Zetina,
"We recognize that children and young people living with or affected by HIV and Aids need support to be able to speak out and seek help with fear of being blamed. But in many instances the stigma and discrimination is too prevailing."
And now this generation next has to not only undo and up-end that stigma - it also has to avoid contracting HIV.
Rana Flowers,
"I am appealing to you to stand up and in whatever way you can, ensure that your voice is heard and that young people are put on the agenda and that they get the care and protection that they need. As I said, it well may be one in every 12 of you in this room and that is way too big a price for any society to pay."
The purpose of yesterday's launch was to raise awareness for a nationwide appeal for donations for the Caring for Children Programme. That programme will be officially launched on World Aids Day which is Saturday.
