AFRICA/IVORY COAST - Health care alarm in northern Ivory Coast with rapidly spreading HIV/AIDS. Local Catholic Church supplies medical personnel and supplies to isolated areas

Wednesday, 6 October 2004

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Abidjan (Fides Service)- “The healthcare situaiton is critical” local church sources in northern Ivory Coast area in the hands of New Forces rebels for two years now. “The public health system has collapsed. Hospitals lack personnel and medicines. Besides a situation of anarchy and disastrous conditions of public health, the country is in the grip of rapidly spreading HIV/AIDS ” local sources told Fides.
“To meet the needs of the people the local Church has organised mobile teams of medical personnel who visit areas without hospitals, rural areas in particular” the local sources told Fides. “Clinics have been opened in missions and parishes to inform people about the danger of HIV/AIDS and to help those already infected with the virus”.
“These local church initiatives have the full support of the Red Cross, the World Health Organisation and other UN agencies which supply medicines to distribute through the network of missions and parishes” the local sources told Fides.
“Amidst so many difficulties, the Church is opening a new Pastoral Year centred on the “Eucharist, Source of forgiveness, unity and peace”. We are organising courses for catechists based on theology and biblical studies in view of helping the people to build peace and unity, respect for others also through prevention of AIDS” local sources told Fides.
Ivory Coast is still feeling the effects of a crisis in September 2002 which led to the division of the country in two areas one under government control and the other under the New Forces secessionists. An agreement signed in Accra (Ghana) on 30 July 2004, stipulated the disarmament of the various armed groups, a preliminary condition to restoring national unity which should begin on 15 October. The agreement also foresees a series of amendments to the constitution which have yet to be made. In view of these delays the rebels refuse to disarm and the situation is one of stalemate.
To make things worse yesterday 5 October in front of the French army headquarters in Abidjan there was a public protest against a recent bank robbery by French troops stationed in Ivory Coast. The protesters, militia close to President Gbagbo, three stones at the gates of the army barracks. (L.M.) (Agenzia Fides 6/10/2004 righe 34 parole 421)