/ 15 May 2003

Counselling centre for children

Estimated worldwide HIV infections: 52 041 714 at 2.59pm on Thursday May 15 2003.

A first-of-its-kind child counselling centre at the Chris Hani Baragwanath hospital is making a difference to HIV-positive and Aids-infected children and their families. The hospital and Cotlands charity are sponsoring the project.

Counsellors at the children’s centre will assist HIV-positive children and their primary caregivers during clinic visits and hospitalisation of the children. They will also provide bereavement therapy and prepare family members for the imminent death of a loved one.

Busi Nkosi, the programme’s counselling leader, said they had already dealt with 541 cases since the programme started at the hospital this year.

Source: Sapa