Zagreb, 17 September 2003 (RFE/RL) -- Parents in a Croatian town are refusing to send their children to a school where a girl with HIV is enrolled. Croatian television said 30 children moved to another school after the eight-year-old girl, known as Ela, moved to Kutina and enrolled in the school. It said only one other child remained in the girl's class.
Last year, when Ela enrolled in school in the coastal town of Kasteli, the same problem occurred.
Worried parents there ultimately agreed to let their children go to school with Ela after a government-sponsored public campaign explaining the dangers of HIV and that it cannot be spread through casual contact.
But before the current school year began, Ela's foster parents moved to Kutina.
Last year, when Ela enrolled in school in the coastal town of Kasteli, the same problem occurred.
Worried parents there ultimately agreed to let their children go to school with Ela after a government-sponsored public campaign explaining the dangers of HIV and that it cannot be spread through casual contact.
But before the current school year began, Ela's foster parents moved to Kutina.