Child-Friendly HIV/AIDS Awareness Communications Materials Launched

NEW DELHI | March 30, 2006

Non-profit international public health organization Family Health International (FHI), in collaboration with the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), launched child-friendly communication materials for HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness here today.

USAID and FHI worked with three Delhi-based implementing NGO partners – Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA), Salaam Baalak Trust and Sharan to develop materials to address information needs of street and slum children and youth.

These materials, launched at the YWCA’s Family Health Centre in Najafgarh in South West Delhi, will help in efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS among vulnerable children. They use innovative games and participatory methods for providing HIV information to children. The messages emphasize abstinence and delay in sexual activity among youth below 14 years of age.

Speaking on the occasion, USAID Mission Director George Deikun said: “USAID carries out HIV/AIDS prevention, care and treatment activities in India on behalf of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS relief. At the highest level of both our governments we have committed to work together to stop the spread of HIV/AIDS in India. President Bush and Prime Minister Manmohan Singh recently reaffirmed this commitment during President Bush’s visit to India earlier this month. To meet the challenge of HIV/AIDS at the global level we are encouraging greater corporate participation in the struggle and have worked with India to establish the Indo-U.S. Corporate Fund for HIV/AIDS.”

Dr Albert J. Siemens, President and Chief Executive Officer, FHI; Ms Kathleen Kay, Country Director of FHI India Country Program; Ms Praveen Nair from Salaam Baalak Trust; Ms Sandhya Bhalla from Sharan; Ms Doe Nair from Chelsea; Ms Anjali Gopalan from Naz Foundation; Mr. Neville Selhore from Sahara; Mr. Ashutosh Saxena from SARDI; Mr. Singh from AIMTCS and Ms Nirmala Anthony from YWCA attended the event. Mr. J.P. Kapoor, Project Director, Delhi State AIDS Control Society was also present.

USAID in partnership with FHI plays a critical role in initiating and strengthening programs for orphans and vulnerable children in India. They are working with 30 NGO partners in six Indian states, including Delhi, to address the needs of over 38,000 orphans and other at-risk children. Their efforts focus on providing support to families and communities; and ensuring that children infected with or affected by AIDS and street and working children susceptible to HIV infection live and grow up in protective environments.

Some of the key strategies adopted for this are tapping community resources, child-friendly communication and reducing vulnerability of children to HIV/AIDS through life skills education and counseling.

Related Link: Read full text of the speech

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