‘Balasahyoga’ program launched in Andhra Pradesh for children infected and affected by HIV/AIDS and their families

[Guest guest]

‘Balasahyoga’ program launched in Andhra Pradesh for children

Hyderabad, April 17, 2007: The Honourable Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh

together with the CEO of The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, Ms

-Hohn, launched the ‘Balasahyoga’ program at Grand Kakatiya Sheraton in

Hyderabad today. This program is aimed to improve the quality of life of

children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS and their families in Andhra

Pradesh through expanding coverage of comprehensive HIV and AIDS care, support

and treatment services in all the 23 districts of Andhra Pradesh.

The CIFF-supported consortium led by Family Health International, would cover 11

districts (Guntur, East Godavari, West Godavari, Chittoor, Kurnool, Medak,

Vizianagram, Kadapa Ananthpur, Aadilabad and Mahubnagar) reaching out to almost

60,000 children. The consortium will include FHI, Clinton HIV/AIDS Initiative

and CARE. In addition, a consortium led by the India HIV/AIDS Alliance would

cover the remaining 12 districts (Visakhapatnam, Krishna, Prakasam, Hyderabad,

Khammam, Karim Nagar, Warangal, Nalgonda, Nizamabad, Rangareddy Nellore and

Srikakulam) of Andhra Pradesh, by extending support to almost 24,000 children.

The program is funded by The Children’s Investment Fund Foundation (CIFF) and

the Elton AIDS Foundation (EJAF) combined with support from the Global Fund

for AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (GFATM) in partnership with National AIDS

Control Organization (NACO) and Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Organization

(APSACS). A minimum of US$14m over a five-year period has been committed to the

program in Andhra Pradesh.

HIV/AIDS scenario in India and Andhra Pradesh

India has an estimated 5.2 million[1] people living with HIV/AIDS. The adult HIV

prevalence is 0.9% and majority of the HIV infection is in the age group of

15-44 years. Nearly 40%[2] of India’s AIDS patients are women, with heterosexual

transmission being the single highest mode of transmission and very few of

HIV-infected pregnant women having access to reproductive health services

including access to contraception to avert unintended pregnancies and drugs for

HIV treatment. According to the UNAIDS report 2004, about 120,000 children are

estimated to be infected with HIV in India and the number of affected children

would be much higher.

Andhra Pradesh is one of the country’s six high HIV prevalence states with 19

out of 23 districts having HIV prevalence of 1% or more among women attending

government antenatal clinics.

It is estimated that close to one million children less than 3 years old in

Andhra Pradesh are underweight, of whom 40.2 % are female. According to the 2001

Census, Andhra Pradesh has 1.3 million working children below 14 years. For

children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS, factors such as ill health,

missed opportunities for education, abuse and exploitation threaten their most

fundamental rights, keep them enmeshed in poverty and make them more vulnerable

to future waves of HIV infection.

State initiatives for children infected and affected by HIV and AIDS

Antiretroviral Treatment in Andhra Pradesh started in 2006, as part of the

National ART program. More than 3,000 children have been registered for ART in

Andhra Pradesh and 600 children are currently receiving ART in the state. These

children along with 10,000 adults receiving ART are provided nutritious food

supplement called “AASHA Poshakarharam” free of cost. Three HIV care and support

centres for children affected and infected with HIV and AIDS have been started

and more such centres are envisaged in the state through Women and Child Welfare

Department. Recently, 0/7 campaign was initiated by APSACS with an objective to

achieve zero HIV positivity among newborns preventing vertical transmission.

Through the third phase of the National AIDS Control Programme (NACP-III),

national and state governments are increasing their commitment to strengthen HIV

treatment, care and support for children-affected by HIV and AIDS and their

family members by expanding policy initiatives and committing resources.

For further information, please contact:

fhiindia@...

Manjula Singh

E-MAIL: <msingh@...>