Kerala's HIV Positive Bency Passes Away

Kerala's HIV Positive Bency Passes AwayThe 15-year-old Bency, one of the two HIV positive children who fought a gritty fight against educational institutions in Kerala for banning them, passed away on Thursday.

Her grandmother stated that Bency's funeral is likely to be held on Saturday.

Bency was admitted to the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College hospital last week after her condition turned worse and her body weight had fell to as low as 16 kg from 29 kg.

Her grandmother Sallamma told, "Bency's funeral will take place as and when her uncle and family come from Mumbai. The uncle is arriving today (Friday) and his wife will come tomorrow... so in all likelihood it would take place tomorrow (Saturday) at the Kaithakuzhi Mar Thoma Church."

Bency and her brother Benson got HIV from their parents, who died a few years back. Their 56-year-old grandmother looked after them.

The HIV positive sibs caught media attention in the year 2003 when they were refused admission to the school in their native village.

In the year 2004, Benson and Bency were re-admitted to the government-run educational institution near their home at Chathanur in Kollam district, approx 50 km from Thiruvananthapuram.

The parents of Benson and Bency died of AIDS. Their father died in the year 1997 and mother in the year 2000.