Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Rome (Fides Service) – Cardinal Claudio Hummes archbishop of Sao Paulo in Brazil, led the Holy See Delegation to general assembly of the United Nations in new Yor, The them of the assembly was “Implementation of the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS.”
The Cardinal voiced appreciation for the initiative which aimed at identifying more effective ways of fighting HIV/AIDS and other preventable disease such as malaria, cholera and tuberculosis. He affirmed that HIV/AIDS is one of the greatest tragedies of our day. It is not only major problem of health it is also a social, economic and political question and a serious matter of moral order seeing the causes of the epidemic clearly reflect a serious crisis of values. It is estimated that in the next 20 years at least 70 million people will die of AIDS.
The Cardinal focused particularly on the most vulnerable sectors, children, infected at birth, or orphaned when their parents die of AIDS. The rate of infant mortality caused by AIDS is rising fast. In 2001 3.8 million of the 19 million who died of AIDS were children under 15. In the last twenty years 14 million children have lost their parents because of AIDS, 11 million of these in sub-Saharan Africa. It is estimated that by 2010 Africa will have 40 million AIDS orphans, 95% of virus carriers.
Cardinal Hummes said that 12% of care for people suffering from HIV/AIDS is provided by Catholic institutions and organisations. Through its Pontifical Council for Pastoral for Health Care workers, and other Catholic organisations, the Holy See has operative institutions and programmes in every country in sub-Saharan Africa, it has opened new centres in Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Thailand and Lithuania. These centres provide services ranging from information campaigns on responsible behaviour, moral support and advice, feeding centres, orphanages, treatment in hospitals and at home and in prisons. To coordinate its activity the Holy See set up a special Commission on the fight against HIV/AIDS.
AP (Fides Service 24/9/2003 EM lines 35 Words: 438)
