Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) - Twenty five years have passed since researchers in the United States identified acquired immune deficiency syndrome AIDS which was soon to develop into a pandemic causing millions of deaths mainly among people for whom life is already difficult even without illness. It spread mainly in Africa, Asia, South America and in the West among underprivileged people in lower income brackets or trapped by drug addiction and prostitution. Not only adults but also children are the victims of this scorge because they can be infected at the moment of birth by an infected mother.
For many years the Vatican’s Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital in Rome has worked to protect children from this terrible disease. Initially it offered special support programmes for families, healthcare at home and organised holiday camps where children with AIDS can breath the air of normal life. As research made progress the Hospital turned its attention to preventative methods and therapy. After 25 years encouraging results obtained with therapy and prevention of mother/child infection should prompt governments to adopt global action plans to prevent mother/child infection.
In the last 7 years Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital has not lost even one of its little AIDS patients, it has reduced the number of intercurrent illnesses and shortened hospital stays. But in Africa, Asia and South America the situation is still appalling.
In Tanzania in the new capital Dodoma the Hospital has offered to organise laboratory activity at Hope Village a centre for infected AIDS orphans. The Hospital’s intervention will include the installation and use of modern equipment and sending of specialised personnel. Hope Village is an oasis of relief and human and health assistance for children in one of the world’s poorest countries. (AP) (18/7/2005 Agenzia Fides; Righe:29; Parole:357)
