Children, HIV, Asylum and Immigration
Written by admin on Monday, December 11, 2006 11:35
New report from the Children & Young People HIV Network
The Children and Young People HIV Network, based at the National Children's Bureau , has produced a report on a particularly vulnerable group of children in this country: those living with HIV who have insecure immigration status.This includes children in families which may be seeking asylum or awaiting an appeal, as well as visa overstayers or those who are undocumented.
The Children, HIV, Asylum and Immigration report draws on data gathered though interviews, questionnaires and case studies, and identifies several areas of concern.These include the fact that chronically ill children may be living in poverty with poor housing and facilities; they may even be in detention centres. Access to free NHS treatment may be a problem not only for HIV infected children, but also for pregnant women,in order to prevent mother-to-baby transmission. The report sets out recommendations for improving the situation. For example, the National Asylum Support Service should review their policy on dispersing families with health needs.
The report also recommends caseworkers who support an HIV infected child should provide that child’s clinician with contact details,to improve communication and ensure the child’s needs are considered in all decision making. The plight of all children in the asylum and immigration system is a concern, but for children living with HIV, there may be additional difficulties.We should not allow asylum and immigration legislation to prevent us from considering them, first and foremost, as children in need.
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