After 12-year-old Ahana (name changed) started behaving very strange and remained sick often, she was sent to the Civil Hospital for treatment. She was diagnosed with HIV positive. Doctors at the hospital followed protocol and screened her parents, who turned out to be negative. It was eventually learned that she was a victim of sexual abuse, which is how she contracted the disease. Not only HIV, but Hepatitis B, depression, and other psychological disorders are common in minors who are victims of sexual abuse, said Dr MM Prabhakar, superintendent, Civil Hospital. The hospital has taken an initiative to spread awareness on child sexual abuse and let children know about their rights. A first of its kind seminar was held on Tuesday after the hospital saw four cases of child sex abuse in a month; doctors and schoolchildren participated in it. "We are asking the children to break their silence and learn to say no. During the awareness programme, we educated kids on inappropriate touch, talk and misconduct from known and unknown persons," said Prabhakar. "After much consultation and deliberation we mentioned 'unknown reasons' for HIV on Ahana's documents. We asked her parents about blood transfusion, administration of injection and all other possible ways, but couldn't arrive at a conclusion," said Dr Bela Shah, Head, Paediatric Department, Civil Hospital. "As she is a minor, she was given a dedicated counselor. After six months, on condition of secrecy, Ahana told her counselor what happened to her. It was then we realised that she is a victim of sexual abuse and that's how she got infected with HIV," added Shah. Such things are usually never discussed, but the hospital authorities were compelled to take up the cause after four cases were reported in a month. "Only ten per cent of child sexual abuse cases get reported. There is a dire need for such cases to be discussed and children must know about their rights. Spreading awareness is a must to protect the children," Rakesh Joshi, Paediatric Surgery Department, Civil Hospital. Once a person becomes a victim of sexual abuse, it scars them forever. "That trauma never goes away. It is important for the victim to discuss, communicate with people. Unfortunately, wider availability of internet and busy lifestyles have made lack of communication plague our society. Parents must talk to their kids daily," said Dr Minakshi Parikh, Head of Department, Psychology. TRAILBLAZER The Civil Hospital has taken an initiative to spread awareness on child abuse and let kids know about their rights. A first of its kind seminar was held on the same on Tuesday.

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