EUROPE/ITALY - World Food Programme and S. Egidio agreement for HIV/AIDS prevention in Africa

Monday, 10 April 2006

Rome (Fides Service) - On April 11 at 11am at the WPF Rome offices, the United Nations’ World Food Programme and the S. Egidio will sign an agreement to provide food support for an HIV/AIDS prevention programme in Africa called DREAM.
In the past three years DREAM, launched by S. Egidio Community, has been the most effective programme to prevent HIV/AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Launched in extremely difficult situations and absence of infrastructures DREAM is proving to be a model light medical intervention with results not obtained by other similar programmes in Africa: anti-retroviral treatment allows 97% babies of HIV positive mothers to be born healthy, free of the HIV virus; anti-retroviral treatment allows 90% adults with AIDS to resume normal life and work, 94% of patients in therapy perseveres and completes the necessary treatment.
Food aid for patients is essential for successful therapy and this latest agreement with WFP is a decisive element in the fight against HIV/AIDS where DREAM is already operative (Mozambique, Malawi, Tanzania, Guinea Bissau, Kenya and Guinea Conakry), and the rest of the sub-Saharan nations which S. Egidio hopes to reach in the near future. (AP) (10/4/2006 Agenzia Fides; Righe:240; Parole:21)


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