Pune couple providing hope for HIV-positive kids

Three years ago, 13-year-old Sangeeta (name changed to protect identity) was suddenly left to fend for herself as both her parents died due to Aids. The HIV-positive girl who was temporarily living with her maternal uncle was acutely aware of the dislike towards her due to her ‘infected’ status.

She was forced to stay indoors with fear of ‘polluting’ other kids with her ailment. After a few weeks of mental agony, Sangeeta was welcomed into a new home by Pune couple Shilpa and Amar Buduk.

Having worked in NGOs and social service sector for 12 years, a majority of that time spent in orphanages, the young couple had decided to do something about HIV-positive children. In July 2008, they started a residential facility Mamta Foundation for such kids operating out of their own house for lack of funds to rent a place or servants.

“Initially, we got two kids, one boy and girl who had lost their parents. In three years, we are now looking after 26 children aged from 5 to 14 as well as three HIV-positive women who take care of the children. This residential home takes responsibility for children’s overall development including meals, medicines, regular check-ups, exercise, and schooling,’’ said Shilpa Buduk.
The organisation has now hired a mini bungalow in Kondhwa Khurd where the children live with the three HIV-positive women while the Buduks live in the adjoining lane.

Ask Malini (name changed) of her experience at the home and her face glows up.“They took me and my mother after my father died. We are both infected but lead a healthy life as they provide us good food and medicine. In fact, we didn’t have such good life in our village as food and medicines were scarce. Even people would make fun of us. Here, I have many friends both at home and school,’’ said the 13-year-old girl who topped her class in the nearby civic school she has been admitted.

Amar Buduk insists that while overall development and rehabilitation remains the focus, what has especially stood out in the programme is the nutrition model that they have developed for improving immunity amongst the HIV-positive kids and mothers.

“HIV medicine experts as well as panel of doctors visit here. With their help, we developed a special diet for the children which is individualised. We are implementing the diet programme strictly as we believe good nutrition is key to building immunity and keeping CD4 levels high. If CD4 levels are high, life span increases and anti-retroviral therapy can be delayed,’’ said Buduk.
He claimed to have kept records of regular check-ups to prove that good nutrition regime followed has helped in improving CD4 counts in children, an important indicator of health status of HIV-positive patients and vital for the management of the ailment.