Asia, Africa make great efforts in fighting against AIDS

Source: CCTV.com | 12-01-2007 10:00

In northern Thailand, HIV and AIDS patients at a government hospital are given new hope. This is thanks to free anti-retrovirals drugs they receive from the government. The drugs allow many to work regular jobs and dramatically increase their life expectancy.

Sriboot Somwongwan, HIV patient, said, "It gives me hope to be able to live longer. I was weak when I was first infected with HIV but when I take this medication, I feel better. It is just like I died and was born again."

In India, the government is working to educate the public about the disease. AIDS activists warn that a lack of awareness and widespread stigma and discrimination contribute to paranoia about the virus.

There have been reports of infected children being expelled from schools and patients being denied treatment in hospitals.

Anuradha Mukherjee, program head, NAZ Foundation, said, "Very few things are being done for children, especially children who are orphaned because of HIV. So here we try to provide them the love and care that one would expect from a home."

On Friday, the United States Agency for International Development held an AIDS awareness seminar in New Delhi. The Agency says partnerships between individuals, organizations and governments are needed in the fight against the disease.

In Africa, football is used as a tool to fight HIV and AIDS among young people. Organizations in Kenya are running self-help programmes linking sports with AIDS prevention. Approximately 20-thousand young people are involved. It's believed sports can be used to teach children about HIV and AIDS and fight the stigma in an accessible and entertaining way.

Editor:Liu Fang