EUROPE/ITALY - WORLD DAY AGAINST AIDS: A CALL AND HOPE FOR AFRICA DOVE WITH 30 MILLION SUFFERING FROM HIV/AIDS, BUT NO THERAPY

Rome (Fides Service) – The Rome based community of S. Egidio supports the warning launched by Kofi Annan on the risk that the AIDS battle may be lost and it supports the moral appeal of the AIDS struggle as a central battle for human rights launched by Nelson Mandela.
In 18 months in Mozambique DREAM (Drug Enhancement Resource against AIDS and Malnutrition) has proved to be the most effective means of guaranteeing free therapy Sub-Saharan Africa with compatible costs of organisation and management light structures which attack the effects of AIDS fighting them radically as well as fighting environment pollution, TB, malaria e malnutrition. The programme consists not only in the distribution of treatment but a whole chain from biology in the laboratory to periodical control and health education.
Here is the result: 97% of the children are born health from HIV/AIDS positive mothers treated with (ART) from the 4th month of pregnancy; 90% resuming of daily activity; 95% adherence to therapy more than in Europe and North America for people taking anti-retroviral therapy.
DREAM was started in Mozambique where there are 11 centres. About 7000 have been contacted and 3000 today are receiving treatment including 1000 following HAART (Highly Active Anti Retro Viral Therapy). This is the highest number of persons treated in Africa, where there are 30 million HIV/AIDS persons, but at present without therapy
From Mozambique DREAM is spreading to Malawi (with particular attention to the problem of malnutrition and hunger), to Guinea Bissau, to Tanzania and Angola. DREAM will also be launched in South Africa. (AP) (1/12/2003 Fides Service; lines: 29; words:319)