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Rome (Fides Service) - AIDS in Africa and the positive results of anti-retroviral therapy in a continent where 30 million people affected by HIV/AIDS, will be the theme of an international Conference organised by Sant’Egidio Community on 12 May 2004 at Rome’s Auditorium.
In Mozambique and other countries of Africa S. Egidio has launched a programme called DREAM to provide access to anti-retroviral therapy as well as promoting a new means of preventing mother/child transmission of the HIV/AIDS virus. The programme is presently being extended to 6 more countries in Africa and, for the number of persons reached, it is becoming the world’s most important programme to fight AIDS in Africa
Scientific results, the characteristics and scope of the programme will be discussed at the Conference by representatives of leading organisations working to eliminate AIDS in Africa. Health ministers from 11 African countries: Central Africa, Ivory Coast, Ethiopia, Liberia, Malawi, Mozambique, Republic of Congo, Senegal, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, the head of the World Health organisation AIDS programme Paulo Texeira, representatives of the World Bank, the Italian Spallanzani national institute of reference for the struggle against AIDS, Cardinal Lozano Barragàn, President of the Pontifical Council for the Pastoral Care of Health Workers and the Sick, representatives of DREAM and the Sant’Egidio Community will discuss the lack of international policies to fight the epidemic and indispensable short term initiatives. The cost of therapy, therapeutic approach, methods of intervention will also be chapters of the international conference which will be a moment of stock taking.
(AP) (10/5/2004 Agenzia Fides; Righe:27; Parole:292)
