Re: World AIDS Orphans Day on May 7

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Combined messages on World AIDS Orphans Day on May 7

1) World AIDS Orphans Day: Kozikode, Kerala

2) New Delhi: Hundreds light candles to commemorate Aids Orphan Day

3) Hydrabad, St. ’s Trust World AIDS Orphans Day message

4) Goa, GSACS to commemorate May 7 as World AIDS Orphans Day

1) World AIDS Orphans Day: Kozikode, Kerala

KOZHIKODE: World AIDS Orphans Day will be observed on May 7 under

the aegis of Francois Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) India Society, Kerala

branch, with different programmes. The weeklong programmes, which

started on May 1, include awareness programmes to sensitise the

public on the plight of children of AIDS affected parents.

The programmes envisaged are writing letters to the authorities

concerned on the problems faced by the section of children in

society, conducting awareness classes, interaction with the orphaned

children of AIDS affected parents, rallies, poster exhibitions and

public meetings. Poster exhibitions and awareness programmes are

being held at all bus stands in the city. A get-together of children

orphaned because of AIDS with NCC volunteers will be held on May 6,

at the FXB office premises. The objective is to remove the stigma

and bias against these children.

http://www.kaumudi.com/news/050406/c_kozhi.stm

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2) New Delhi: Hundreds light candles to commemorate Aids Orphan Day

New Delhi: Hundreds of citizens lighted candles, scribbled messages

and prayed for kids who have lost their parents to the deadly AIDS

on the eve of World's Aids Orphans Day at Dilli Haat here Saturday.

The candle light vigil was an initiative by Francois-Xavier Bagnoud

India, an arm of the Switzerland-based NGO AFXB, to draw attention

of leaders, policymakers and the people in general to the plight of

the children who have been silently fighting the menace.

Organisers said that in spite of the spread of the disease, the

government was yet to compile a data sheet on the number of such

children.

" As of now there is no data available on the number of kids who have

lost their parents to AIDS and the number of kids infected by the

disease. Though the government has taken a number of initiatives for

the adults, these innocent kids are out of their social measures, "

said Manisha Pal, programme coordinator of the NGO.

" We hope the government will wake from its slumber and act for their

betterment, " Pal told IANS.

An estimated 15 million kids worldwide have been orphaned by AIDS so

far.

Visitors at Dilli Haat, a popular handicraft market in south Delhi,

were overwhelmed by the initiative.

" It is shocking. How come the issue about children orphaned by AIDS

never crossed our mind? I think the NGO has done a great job by

organising this candlelight vigil for them, " said Ashok Garry, a

visitor.

http://www.teluguportal.net/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3584

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3) Hydrabad, St. ’s Trust World AIDS Orphans Day message

Dear all, 7th May - World AIDS Orphans Day.

This email is to remind you that 7th May 2006 happened to be World AIDS Orphans

Day. Instead of lip sympathy, I will be glad if we all can do something in a

humble way for the benefit of these children in most difficult circumstances

i.e, HIV /AIDS infected and affected Orphans, otherwise called OVC (Orphan and

Vulnerable Children).

Dr. Vineta Gupta's email appeared on AIDS India e forum is thought provoking and

remained us of our responsibilities to combat the greatest challenge the

humanity is facing to day ie., the total devastation caused by HIV /AIDS

pandemic and to think how best we can do something to alleviate the misery of

lakhs of HIV /AIDS infected and affected children – the silent inheritors of

pain and the majority of the deaths among HIV /AIDS infected children from below

the poverty line is due to starvation.

As on today St. ’s Trust is taking care of more than 7000 PLHA out of which

281 happened to be HIV infected children, so the percentage stands at 4%, so

even if you take the National average as 2% still there are 50,000 infected

Children in India. St. ’s Trust apart from 281 infected children has 7560

affected children, that means the minimum number of HIV affected children will

be more than 2,00,00,000 (2 Crores) in India, majority of these children have

either lost one parent or both the parents. Even if either one or both the

parents are alive, they are sick with the disease.

So India has a mammoth burden of taking care of such a big number of children in

difficult circumstances ie., HIV infected and affected children and these are

the most vulnerable children. When it comes to the question of infected

children, the saddest part is that there are a big number of HIV infected

Orphans – a double tragedy. There are only very few homes for such HIV infected

Orphans.

With a very painful heart let me place before all of you that a big number of

HIV infected and affected children are going to bed every day without food to

eat and the same will happen on 7th evening also i.e., on the eve of World

Orphans day. On the other side, bogus consultants and resource persons knocking

away the lion share of HIV /AIDS budget meant for these unfortunate children

i.e, I describe this as cannibalism in HIV /AIDS work i.e., wasting all the

resources with corporate style of functioning i.e., Luxuary in Social Work /

HIV /AIDS work when lacks of HIV infected and affected children are suffering

without food clothing and shelter.

So let us condemn this inhuman Act i.e, the biggest crime against humanity which

these people are doing in the name of service to humanity. The greatest

challenge humanity is facing today is not HIV /AIDS, but the problems created to

humanity by these pseudo Social workers i.e, today social work is nothing but

professionalism without humanity and Mahatma Gandhi has described it as Science

without humanity. People Living on HIV /AIDS (PLOHA) eating away all the

resources meant for People Living With HIV/AIDS(PLWHA).

Help delayed is help denied

With regards,

Dr. K.I. ,

Chief Executive,

St. ’s Trust,

E-mail: <kodiyattu_jacob@...>

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4) Goa: GSACS to commemorate May 7 as World AIDS Orphans Day

HERALD NEWS DESK

PANJIM, MAY 6 — It’s a global effort to call attention to the plight of million

of children orphaned by AIDS and all orphan and vulnerable children.

The observance of World AIDS Orphans Day (WAOD) is an initiative began by Albina

du Boisrouvray, President AFXB - International, that supports the world’s

orphans and vulnerable children left in the wake of the AIDS pandemic.

The theme of WAOD 2006 is to urge governments to fulfill the commitment made to

the UN in 2001 to fund programs to deal with the worlds AIDS crisis, and their

action will be reviewed at a special UN session May 3 1 -June 2, 2006.

HIV/AIDS has orphaned thousands of innocent children often with nowhere to go

and no one to hear their young voices. To bring the plight of these children to

the forefront and mobilize much needed government & community attention, FXB is

commemorating 7th May as World AIDS Orphans Day across the world.

There are several programmers for children but no specific program to address

the special need of these children who are infected, affected, Orphans and

vulnerable. Action is needed to stop the suffering of millions of children

orphaned and made vulnerable by diseases, poverty, conflicts and other cases

particularly AIDS.

To commemorate this occasion on May 7, Goa State AIDS Control Society in

collaboration with FXB-Goa in association with other NGOs is organising a Candle

Light Vigil/Procession (in solidarity with the World AIDS Orphans) from Old

Secretariat to Children’s Park, Campal, Panjim at 4.00 pm. All the people of

goodwill are cordially invited to join the team for the rally and show your

solidarity to the World AIDS orphans, states a press note.

Minister for Law, Judiciary, IT & Health Dayanand G Narvekar will grace the

occasion and flag off the procession. The procession will conclude at Children’s

Park, Campal with a Circle of Hope symbolizing support and solidarity with the

children.

http://oheraldo.in/node/13340