The Imphal Free Press

IMPHAL, Jan 12: Several NGOs working in the fields of drug de-addiction and HIV/AIDS have strongly condemned the act of the volunteers of the Centre for Research and Social Development, in conducting HIV tests on several underage children without the consent of their parents.

Representatives of SASO, MNP+, People of Positive and Care Foundation, at a meeting today, categorically condemned the act of the CRSD volunteers, which they maintained violates the human dignity and the rights of the children.

The NGO representatives have also called for the CRSD to be blacklisted from the Registrar of Societies, Manipur, with immediate effect for bringing disrepute to NGOs working for the cause of people living with HIV/AIDS in Manipur, and also decided to draw attention of the concerned authorities, including the MSACS, commissioner, health, and the seretary, Manipur Legislature Forum on HIV and AIDS.

The NGO representatives also cautioned fellow NGOs working in the field of HIV/AIDS to focus on the dignity of the people for whom they are working and not to violate ethical norms in their functioning.

Meanwhile, the two volunteers involved in the conduct of HIV tests on nine children without the consent of thier guardians have been terminated, said the CRSD today.

The children today revealed that they were taken for the test to RIMS after offering sweets to them.

The children said that they were sent to their respective homes after being paid Rs. 90 each.

The volunteers also asked the children to tell the doctors at the hospital that they hailed from Chandel district and were told not to speak Manipuri during the course of the tests.

The Centre for Research and Social Development, Sagolband Moirang Leirak, Imphal in a statement issued today said that an emergency executive meeting of the body resolved to terminate the two volunteers P Kenedy and S Tombi Singh with immediate effect for their moral responsibility for violation of protocol in conducting the blood tests.

The statement signed by CRSD president AK Kerani Singh further said that they also expected the two to resign as secretary and project co-ordinator of CRSD immediately while deeply apologising for the mental trauma and emotional suffering caused by the organisation to the children and their parents.

On the other hand, in a surprising move, a former founder member and present advisor of the CRSD while talking to mediapersons at MNP+ maintained that the exercise was done in good faith though there was some misunderstanding among the staff of the NGO.

Staff of the VCTC laboratory of RIMS microbiology section where the tests were conducted also maintained that HIV testing on the minors were done after fulfilling the formalities of the test.

Surpriya, councillor of VCTC, RIMS insisted that yesterday`s test on minor children was carried out at the centre on the ground that the NGO is a registered body and came to the centre for the testing after completing the formalities including the parental consent and mandatory counselling before conducting test.

 

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