KARACHI, Nov 9: It was a rare opportunity for street children to get themselves amused and to amuse others at an Eid Mela organised by the Pakistan Voluntary Health and Nutrition Association (PAVHNA) here on Wednesday in collaboration with the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP) and the Global Fund for Tuberculosis and Malaria Eradication (GFATM).
Hundreds of street children and guests were enthralled by the young unassuming and non-professional performers not only by their songs, skits and tableaux but also with well-punctuated and at times quite emotional renditions.
Performance by the street children registered with PAVHNA’s drop-in centres (DICs), known as Kirnain, reflected change brought about in their perception about life through interaction with trained health and social workers guiding them to protect themselves against serious health risks, commented Dr Asma Bokhari, Programme Manager, NACP.
Acknowledging the need for helping the children streamline their lives, she observed that their will and ability to emerge as sound contributory member of the society also reflects that how efficiently they could protect themselves from severe transmittable ailments.
Dr Huma Qureishi of GFATM also appreciated the children and assured them of all support and assistance for DICs visited by street children. These children not only amused and amazed the audience by their resilience and confidence but also compelled many to contemplate the changed fate of these generally abandoned children who have been denied their basic right to have education and safe environment.
Equally astonishing were the products turned into decorative items and daily use articles reshaped from trash and junk material by these children. The PAVHNA drop-in centres for vulnerable street children, established with the support of GFATM and NACP in localities mainly inhabited by workers and lower socio-economic segments of the society, are meant for raising awareness level on prevention of HIV/AIDS and provide them better life.
The children at the Eid Mela were among the 1,400 street children registered with five PAVHNA drop-in centres at Malir, Korangi, Landhi, North Karachi and New Karachi.
“There are more than 12,000 children wandering in the streets of Karachi and 63.4 per cent of them are abused and left to get exposed to critical diseases like HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis B and STIs,” Ms Rehana Rashdi, Director Programmes of the institution said.
Mentioning that PAVHNA was a consortium of NGOs/CBOs working in development sector in Pakistan with specialised focus on reproductive and relative health matters, she also thanked GFATM and NACP for their support in establishing the DICs.
Ms Afsheen Ahmed, PAVHNA President, along with other activists and workers, was also present on the occasion. Anjum Shaikh, Manager for Street Children Programme conducted the proceedings.—APP
