Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Lima (Fides Service) - Hogar San Camilo in Lima is a home for HIV+ adults and children opened in 1995 by Father Zeffirino Montin and still directed by him. The essential character of Hogar is to help HIV+ persons to lead a normal life and play their part in promoting solidarity and respect and access to drugs which even though they are not a cure, guarantee better quality of life.
It was during a course offered to HIV+ mothers with infants in November 2003 that Anna Bassino, a volunteer member of Anlaids from Lombardy in Italy, began her experience.
“When I came to Hogar as a volunteer from Anlaids-Lombardia, to work with children I found myself telling mothers how in Europe and other parts of the world HIV+ mothers give birth to healthy babies if during pregnancy the mothers receive treatment, from the third month onwards with antiretroviral drugs, if they have a caesarian birth and the new born baby is given special treatment for six weeks.
On hearing this the mothers and some fathers present for the course asked for more information and how they could also have this treatment. This led to a programme called ‘Alumbrando una vida’ to allow babies to be born healthy. The programme helps HIV+ persons to take an active part, to feel useful for other HIV+ persons. Formerly rejected and isolated, they become people who are able to help others escape from silence and marginalisation.
The message of Hogar is that working together it is possible to build a better world free of discrimination, with total respect for life, where solidarity is the basis of human relationships.” (AP) (9/12/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:27; Parole:321)
