Catholic Church in India launches its HIV/AIDS policy on August 31.

[Guest guest]

Catholic Church in India launches its Health Policy and HIV/AIDS

Policy on August 31.

The Catholic Church in India is launching its revised Health Policy

and the new HIV/AIDS Policy. The formal launch meeting will take

place on August 31 at Habitat Centre, New Delhi. Cardinal Telesphore

Toppo, President of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India will

inaugurate the function. Dr. Anbumani Ramadoss, the Union Minster for

Health and Family Welfare will release the Health Policy and Shri

Fernades, the Minister for Statistics and Programme

Implementation and the Chairman of the Parliamentarian's Forum for

HIV/AIDS will release the HIV/AIDS Policy.

At the same occasion, Smt. Panbaka Lakshmi, the Minister of State for

Health and Family Welfare will release a book, " The Nurse " ,

written by R.H. Lesser, a renowned Catholic author. Mr.

Deikun, the Country Director of USAID will release the book,

" Streams of Compassion " , which contains 11 case studies of the

Church’s response to HIV/AIDS in India.

Explaining about the Policy, Archbishop Bernard Moras, Chairman of

the CBCI Health Commission, said, “In the emerging scenario of

challenging health exigencies in our country, the revised Health

Policy of the Church reminds for a renewed commitment with a wider

reach-out, especially to the under-served areas. The HIV/AIDS Policy,

as the title reminds, is `a commitment in compassion and care’,

which includes comprehensive programmes for prevention, care and

support for the people living with HIV and those affected and to

address other related issues like stigma and discrimination.â€

The policy formulation was done as a result of extensive consultation

in the national level as well as 12 regional levels, with technical

assistance from the USAID and the Policy Project of the Futures

Group. Dr. Sherry ph, the programme coordinator, the Futures,

said, “The principles followed in the policy development process

included policy dialogue, broadened participation of stakeholders and

policy relevant research. One of the activities undertaken was to

research and document the interventions by the Church-based

organizations working on different aspects of HIV/AIDS.

A compilation of 11 such case studies, entitled `Streams of

Compassion " , will be published on August 31. Dr. Vadakumthala,

the Executive Secretary of the CBCI Health Commission said, " This

meeting for the official launch is in view of planning a clear

strategy of implementation of the Policies and thus to foster

greater response to the multiple challenges in the field of health

and to build a wider commitment to principles and practices "

The Catholic Church in India runs 4790 health care facilities, out

of which 64 centers are care and support homes for the people living

with HIV/AIDS.

Fr Vadakumthala

Executive Secretary

Commission for Health

Catholic Bishops' Conference of India

Tel. +91-11-23340774; 23344470