A couple of weeks ago the Kyiv City Council resolved to establish two centers for HIV-infected children and youth by the end of 2007. One will be on the Right Bank, on Poryk Street, and the other one on the Left Bank, near the Darnytsia subway station. Two years ago the Cabinet of Ministers passed a resolution on the need to establish such centers throughout Ukraine.
“So far, Kyiv is the only city to operate these types of institutions. The government has allocated four million hryvnias for this project this year. The municipal authorities provided the premises. We’re selecting personnel now and the centers will start operating soon,” says Volodymyr Filippov, chairman of the Kyiv City Council’s standing commission for family, youth, sports, and tourism.
Filippov says that the main purpose of such institutions is to help HIV-infected children and young people adapt to life in society. Children aged 5 to 18 years can attend these institutions. They will be treated by experienced psychologists, while the medical staff will monitor their physical condition. Schoolchildren will attend regular classes. These institutions will not function on a restricted entrance/ exit basis, so children will be there only during the day and spend the night at home.
“At present HIV-infected children, and especially those with AIDS, cannot attend regular schools or daycare centers. Their immunity is so weak that the slightest bodily injury, a bruise or scratch (during gym class) can cost them their life. Now these centers will provide special conditions in which these children will be able to forget about their affliction, even if for a short while. All services here will be free of charge. I hope that the Kyiv experience is a positive one and will be emulated soon by other regions of Ukraine,” Filippov says.
Volodymyr Tantsiura, director of the Kyiv City State Administration’s center for special services for families, children, and youth, told The Day that the need for such centers is explained by a sharp increase in the numbers of HIV-infected children and youth in Kyiv. There are 3,364 registered cases, and experts predict that there will be 4,500 at the beginning of 2008. By 2010 there will be up to 6,500 HIV-infected residents.
COMMENTARY
Oleksandr HUBENKO, editor of the journal Praktychna psykholohiia i sotsialna robota (Practical Psychology and Social Work):
The founding of special training centers for HIV-infected children is an interesting socially innovative project that has its pluses and minuses. Among the positive aspects I would mention the fact that this category of patients really needs special care from physicians and teachers. If these children will really be provided with adequate conditions and get the proper treatment, then such institutions are an absolute necessity. As for the minuses, patients at such centers are somewhat isolated from society, although, on the other hand, they can freely associate with people at home and outside. Therefore, I think it will be some time before certain conclusions can be drawn, especially since we cannot assess this innovative project from the standpoint of foreign experience. From what I know, there are no such institutions anywhere in Europe. There are special social adjustment centers for people with HIV, but I’ve never heard of ones where HIV-infected children can also study. Kyiv will thus be a trailblazer.
