Focus on welfare of HIV/AIDS affected - Cycle-rally Flagged off by the Project Director of TSACS Mrs. Amudha I.A.S

[Guest guest]

Focus on welfare of HIV/AIDS affected

A trust has been formed for Orphan Vulnerable Children (OVC) for the benefit of

the children affected by HIV/AIDS throughout the State to ensure rehabilitation

and relief measures to them.

The sum of Rs. 5 crore had been sanctioned for the trust in 2009 as the fixed

deposit, and steps had been taken to mobilise more fund for the trust.

Flagging off a cycle-rally at Agricultural Products Producers and Traders'

Association (APPTA) Market in Nagercoil on Friday, the Project Director of Tamil

Nadu State AIDS Control Society, Amudha, said that the rally would pass through

Tirunelveli, Kovilpatti, Virudhunagar, Madurai, Theni, Dindigul, Manapparai,

Tiruchi, Ariyalur, Perambalur, Chengalpattu and reach Chennai on December 1,

World AIDs day.

The main aim of this rally was to create awareness among the people of involving

persons affected by HIV/AIDS particularly the children in the mainstream by

community participation.

The Government was extending welfare measures to 1,595 children including

education assistance, nutritious food and other essential items to them in

different parts of the State. More than1.6 lakh people in different parts of the

State were affected with HIV/AIDS.

The Government was implementing various measures for the benefit of these

people, the Project Director said.

Collector Rajendra Ratnoo said that the district administration had already

taken necessary steps to ensure the welfare of HIV/AIDS affected persons in the

district. There were as many as 1,617 HIV affected persons including 37

children.

They were being given treatment in the Anti-retro Viral Therapy

Centre in Kanyakumari Government Medical College Hospital. Relief and

welfare measures were also given to the affected persons, said the

Collector.

The programme was jointly organised by Tamil Nadu State AIDS Control Society and

AIDS Prevention and Control Project (APAC) to create awareness among the

community.

The main objectives were to develop nutrition and health study of the

affected children below 6 years, creating concrete structure to enhance

community-based activities, decrease infant mortality rate, malnutrition, health

hazards and school dropouts, to ensure good cooperation with schools, primary

health centres and hospitals and to improve the status of childcare and hygiene

among women through nutrition and health education, said Director of Centre for

Social Reconstruction.

The district supervisor of TANSAC, V. Shanakar Raj, said more than 150

volunteers of various non-governmental organisations participated in the cycle

rally. Various cultural programmes were organised throughout the district to

create awareness of evils of the killer disease.

Member of Lok Sabha J. Helen son, Deputy Director for Health M.

Madusoodhanan, district programme manager Stella Jennet participated in the

function.

Date:20/11/2010 URL:

http://www.thehindu.com/2010/11/20/stories/2010112051850200.htm

Forwarded by:

---------------------------

Yours in Global Concern,

A.SANKAR

Executive Director- EMPOWER - Professional Civil Society Organisation

Vice Chairman -Initiatives of Health Net (IHN)

Founder and General Secretary - Confederation of Indian Civil Society

Organisation’s (CICSO)

National Convener- National Alliance for Health, Environment and Rights (NAFHER)

107J / 133E, puram

TUTICORIN-628 008, TN, INDIA

Telefax: 91 461 2310151; Mobile: 91 94431 48599: www.empowerindia.org