Church role in checking AIDS’ spread discussed

July 8, 2008

Church role in checking AIDS' spread discussed

NEW DELHI (ICNS): The Catholic bishops are planning a national

consultation on the Church's contribution towards checking the spread

of AIDS in India.

The Health Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India

has announced the consultation will be held in New Delhi from July 8-

9.

The consultation will be on " Church's contribution towards universal

access to prevention, care and treatment for HIV and related

diseases: sharing best practices, lessons learnt and the way

forward. "

Fernandes, minister of State for Labour and Employment, and

Chairman, Parliamentarians' Forum for HIV and AIDS, will inaugurate

this Consultation.

Panambaka Lakshmi, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare,

will release the revised 2nd edition of " The Directory of Catholic

Health Facilities in India " .

Sujatha Rao, Director General, National AIDS Control Organization, is

scheduled to give give the keynote address. Archbishop Bernard Moras,

chairman of the bishops' Health Commission will preside over the

meeting.

At the consultation, the repot of the Catholic Church's progress in

response to HIV and related diseases will be presented.

The meeting would assess " where the Church was, where the Church is

presently placed, and future opportunities and plans for strategic

growth in our major health-related initiatives, " said a note from the

commission.

It will also be an occasion to assess our performance in the

implementation of Global Fund Round 6 project (which involves

creating Community Care Centers for people living with HIV in 5

States), it said.

The meeting will also finalize plans for and initiate the Global Fund

Round 4 project (collaboration with the Revised National TB Control

Program in 11 States).

The Church will also launch the All India Catholic Coalition on AIDS

and Related Diseases (AICCARD) during the consultation, the note

said.

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