Vice President Releases Book ‘Hopes Alive: Surviving Aids and Despair’

[Guest guest]

Vice President Releases Book `Hopes Alive: Surviving Aids and

Despair'

The Vice President of India Shri M. Hamid Ansari released a book

entitled " Hopes Alive: Surviving AIDS and Despair " published by FXB

India Suraksha at a function here today. Addressing on the occasion,

he said that the significance of the serious public health challenge

posed by HIV-AIDS is widely accepted and undeniable.

The challenges multiply when the incidence is in a developing

country, where illiteracy and poverty complicate prevention and

countering of AIDS. Concerted action by the government and civil

society has slowed the spread of AIDS but it would be a long time

before we can take satisfaction that the AIDS epidemic would not

threaten the lives of young men and women and their children.

Following is the text of the Vice President's address :

" It gives me great pleasure to be present today at this function and

to release this book outlining human stories of hope and

encouragement from various parts of the country.

The success of FXB India owes much to the vision and mission of its

international parent and to the commitment and hard work of its men

and women in various parts of India who are supporting the national

mission to fight AIDS and poverty and help those afflicted by them.

The significance of the serious public health challenge posed by HIV-

AIDS is widely accepted and undeniable. The challenges multiply when

the incidence is in a developing country, where illiteracy and

poverty complicate prevention and countering of AIDS. Concerted

action by the government and civil society has slowed the spread of

AIDS but it would be a long time before we can take satisfaction that

the AIDS epidemic would not threaten the lives of young men and women

and their children.

The efforts of FXB India deserve full appreciation because of the

specific focus on reaching out to children who are infected or become

orphans as their parents are infected. Their marginalization not only

ruins their lives but also places an enormous economic, social and

moral burden on our society and polity. They need the hope, caring

touch and commitment that many individuals and civil society

organizations in the country are trying to provide.

As I went through the stories of hope and despair of various children

in the book, I was particularly struck by the plight of the so-

called `platform boys and girls'. They are especially vulnerable

segment among children with no family moorings, survive undertaking

hazardous occupations and become vulnerable to exploitation.

I do hope that more efforts would be focused on addressing the

problems that lead to this phenomenon of platform children and

concerted governmental and civil society actions would succeed in

addressing their plight. I once again congratulate FXB India for

their efforts and wish all its members success in their endeavours. "

http://pib.nic.in/release/release.asp?relid=48194