"When Peter Sir had food with us it was another misconception done away with. Having food with people regardless of their HIV status is normal and does not put anyone at any risk. Overtime Peter Sir encouraged us to be someone in our lives and guided or helped find guidance," he added. "I had interest in graphic designing course, but it was very expensive. I got financial support through Human Touch Foundation and was able to complete my course. Right now, I work as a graphic designer."
Another female youth told us that "I am currently doing a short-term course in hotel management along with interning at Human Touch Foundation."
Beacon of light to help the young is among themselves
When young people themselves took up the cudgels to provide counselling and support to other children and young people, the impact was profound.
"Youth are the best equipped to lead the response to HIV," said the young person who is living with HIV and interning at Human Touch Foundation and helping other youth.
"We at Human Touch Foundation provide a range of youth-led services, such as, mental health counselling, psychosocial support, help them avail a range of social protection schemes, nutritional packages, medical help, or treatment adherence support, among others," said Sandhya Chavan, Lead for Adolescent Health and Wellbeing, Human Touch Foundation. "It is important to look after their mental health and overall wellbeing. It also means going beyond HIV-related issues, for example, the need to connect them to educational spaces or career opportunities."
"Young leadership is so important in HIV response (as a lot of new HIV infections happen among them too). I am a young person myself and as young mental health professional, I help the young people living with HIV who perhaps can connect with me better. Young people with HIV face unique challenges. Many of our antiretroviral therapy centres (or other HIV care centres) may have only one counsellor who despite trying to do an important service to the best of her/his/their ability, may not have time to address so many other issues our young people are facing and need counselling support for," said Masooma Sheikh, a counselling psychologist, and Lead for adolescent health and well-being, Human Touch Foundation.
"Proper mental health services in HIV care centres like antiretroviral therapy centres goes a long way in helping the youth. We need a more holistic approach too," said Sheikh.
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