2012-12-04 14:40:25

Indian Church in the frontline in HIV/AIDS care


December 03, 2012 - The Catholic Church is committed to end AIDS related deaths in India by 2015 following the goals of World AIDS Campaign, says the head of Indian bishops' health commission. "Along with the civil society, the church is committed to work towards this initiative" of the World AIDS Campaign, said Archbishop Vincent Concessao in his message for the United Nations World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, Saturday. Between 2011-2015, World AIDS Days will have the theme of "Getting to zero: zero new HIV infections. Zero discrimination. Zero AIDS related deaths." The World AIDS Campaign focus on "Zero AIDS related deaths" signifies a push towards greater access to treatment for all, noted Archbishop Concessao, chairman of the Office for Health Care of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI). Pointing to UN figures, the retired archbishop of Delhi stressed that “achieving zero new HIV infections in children is possible.” Of the 34 million people living with HIV in the world, about half do not know their HIV status. The report states that if more people knew their status, they could come forward for HIV services. For the Church in India, he said, health care "is essentially an expression of concern for the sick and the suffering. Archbishop Concessao stated that the vast network of healthcare services of the Indian Church has also been always committed to the cause of HIV/AIDS. He pointed to the Church-run Promoting Access to Care and Treatment (PACT) project that has 49 Community Care Centers where more than 53, 100 people with HIV/AIDS are enrolled. In addition to this, numerous Religious groups and Catholic health workers and institutions are also contributing to the fight against HIV/AIDS, Archbishop Concessao added.








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