Catholic groups to start coalition to improve HIV/AIDS care in India

Published: 2007-04-19

NEW DELHI (CNS) -- Catholic health care and development agencies plan to establish a coalition to streamline and strengthen the HIV/AIDS care and support service in India, the country with the highest number of people infected with HIV. "We have a bank of health personnel. We need to coordinate and make use of their service to strengthen our care and support service to move ahead faster," said Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore, chairman of the health care commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India. At an April 12-13 international conference on church response to AIDS in India, more than 150 church health workers -- including delegates from most of the 78 AIDS care and support centers run by the Catholic Church -- discussed the plan. The meeting was organized by the bishops' health care commission and the New York-based Catholic Medical Mission Board with the support of UNAIDS, the joint U.N. program on AIDS. "The government is looking for credible partners" in the fight against AIDS, said Archbishop Moras, endorsing the proposal to launch the Catholic coalition.

Copyright (c) 2007 Catholic News Service /U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops. The CNS news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed, including but not limited to such means as framing or any other digital copying or distribution method, in whole or in part without the prior written authority of Catholic News Service .