In aid of AIDS orphans

[Guest guest]

In aid of AIDS orphans

Express News Service

Kolkata, October 25: The Geneva-based NGO, Association Francois-

Xavier Bagnoud(AFXB), with a presence in all the Indian states, is

now on a mission to promote the reintegration of AIDS orphans into

the society.

Highlighting the need for a policy framework to support orphans and

vulnerable children (OVC), Countess Albina, the founder of AFXB,

said, " The children need to be brought up in a home and not in

orphanages or other such institutions. "

Till date, the AFXB's India wing, has implemented 147 projects in

all 35 states and Union territories by successfully collaborating

with the state governments and other local organisations. Calling

for a holistic approach to combat AIDS, Albina said, " The NGOs have

restricted their activities to only selected pockets of the country.

It is the prerogative of the political leadership to address the

issue. It is only then that a problem of such a large dimension like

AIDS can be checked. "

The link between health and human rights is at the core of AFXB's

global strategy to fight AIDS and poverty. Pointing out the need for

generating awareness Countess Albina on a today-visit to the city

said, " The stigma associated with AIDS patients has made the

vulnerable groups hesitant to go for routine blood checks. " She

claims that the magnitude of the problem can only be substantiated

by World Bank reports, which suggest that there will be five million

new HIV patients in two years.

In Kolkata, AFXB is involved with three main programmes. Firstly,

through its HIV/AIDS Prevention Programme for jute mill workers it

is trying to generate awareness among the high-risk migrant workers

in the jute mills.

Secondly, an awareness and preventive education programme for

healthcare workers, women and adolescent girls is being implemented

in collaboration with the Howrah Municipal Corporation, which has

addressed 14,000 commercial sex workers and 3500 healthcare workers.

FXB's school health education programme has also been a successful

campaign which has targeted 17,000 school students and 600 teachers

in Kolkata and the suburban areas.

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