Healthcare a distant dream for street kids

Street children have no access to public health care facilities unless an adult member from an NGO or a social activist accompanies the child. A study on the street children in Mumbai by Youth for Unity and Voluntary Action (Yuva) states that these children have a tough time getting treatment in the public hospitals leading to severe health and nutrition issues.According to the study, the street children could access the medical facilities only if an adult member from an non governmental organisation (NGO) was accompanying them. Of the 128 street children interviewed, 98 suffered with illnesses like fever, cold, sever injury wounds on the body and even dog bites.Out of these 98 children, 96 were accompanied to the hospitals by NGO members.“Our findings have suggested that there is an urgent need of a binding on hospitals to take any child for treatment, even if unaccompanied by an adult. This should me made compulsory so that the street children can access the health care on their own instead of relying on someone who comes forward to help,” said Arokia Mary, programme coordinator, Yuva.Executive health officer of BMC, Dr GT Ambe, said, “We are considering the idea of an open health care facility for the street children in a few civic hospitals so that these children can get immediate medical attention.”According to Ambe, a desk for street children could be set up in these hospitals to ease the process for the children as they find it tough to find the appropriate departments in the hospitals.