ASIA/INDIA - By 2020 India could be the world capital for HIV/AIDS. Catholic assistance for HIV/AIDS patients in Godavari

Thursday, 9 March 2006

Andhra Pradesh (Fides Service) - By 2020 India could be the world capital for HIV/AIDS. Since 1987 the country has registered 4.5 million cases of infection.
It emerged from a recent Indian government survey that highest rate of infection is in Godavari with a percentage of 3% in the west and 2.5% in the east. Khammam is in second place followed by Prakasam and Guntur.
This emerged in an annual survey involving 40 pregnant mothers in each area of Andhra Pradesh in September and October 2005.
In Vijayawada, Hyderabad, Khammam and other districts the rate of infection has dropped thanks to a programme undertaken by the government and NGOs which spread awareness about the problem and treated groups at risk .
Thanks to a programme Aids Awareness Sustained Holistic Action launched among rural communities undertaken by the state government of Andhra Pradesh, Sr Brigit K, MSI who is director of the project at Damien Leprosy Aids Care Centre di Eluru, hopes to improve results all over the state.
Sr Brigit said Catholic Relief Services (Caritas USA) works with local institutions in Andhra Pradesh on Cheyutha Programme to assist HIV positive women and children. The programme focuses on feeding, instruction, psycho-social support, community awareness in 41 outer districts of Secunderabad and Hyderabad, 10 villages around Vijayawada Madal, Krishna district, 50 villages around Dendaluru Mandal, Gadavari district and 21 villages at Peddapuram Mandal in east Godavari district.
Cheyutha Programme supports 160 programmes to fight HIV/AIDS in 31 different countries, caring for 3,400 children with AIDS and people who look after them and reaches 16,000 others through similar community organisations. Every day 50 visit the Centre for tests or treatment, serious cases are admitted to Guntur AIDS Hospital and only those requiring immediate assistance are kept at the Centre.
The Catholic Church in India runs 25% of care centres for people with HIV/AIDS including 5,000 hospitals, 2,000 rehabilitation centres and 62 training schools for nurses. (AP) (9/03/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:22 Parole:257)


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