Dupeyroux S, Plotkin S; International Conference on AIDS.

Int Conf AIDS. 1992 Jul 19-24; 8: D387 (abstract no. PoD 5005).

Dessine moi un mouton, Paris, France.

ISSUE/PROBLEM: HIV infection in children and/or their parents has created urgent daily family problems requiring immediate solutions to which institutions are unable to respond. DESCRIPTION OF PROJECT: Dessine-moi un mouton (DMUM) is a private volunteer association founded to provide short-term direct aid (at home and in the hospital) to HIV+ children and their families. Volunteers (50 at the 25/02/92) receive formal training and attend monthly support group meetings, DMUM employs a person to follow the families helped and to coordinate the volunteers' visits. Main services include: baby-sitting, visiting children/parents in hospitals or orphanages, accompanying the child to doctor's visits, emergency financial and/or material aid, and referral to other appropriate agencies, etc... RESULTS: DMUM has functioned for 2 years. It regularly helps 5 to 7 families with multiple requests (greater than 350). Other requests are of a more short term nature or direct the family to another association (140). The greatest needs right now appear to be: 1) baby-sitting children, to help keep families intact and at home 2) rapid material aid 3) a need for trained foster families willing to accept, and possibly adopt, HIV+ children. LESSONS LEARNED: 1) AIDS is a chronic, not acute, family disease, that has created a new level of urgent needs in an already fragile structure. 2) Professionals involved in working with HIV+ infected people need thorough training on the medical, scientific and psychological aspects of AIDS. Above all they need to work on their real and imagined fears. 3) At this time, social organizations cannot respond quickly enough to fulfill emergency needs. DMUM acts as a link between the families and these organizations.

Publication Types:

• Meeting Abstracts

Keywords:

• Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
• Child
• Child Rearing
• Family
• HIV Infections
• HIV Seropositivity
• Health Services Needs and Demand
• Humans
• Infant
• Organizations
• Research
• United Nations
• Voluntary Workers
• education
• organization & administration

Other ID:

• 92402509

UI: 102200223

From Meeting Abstracts