‘Abhaya Students’ Shelter Inaugurated

Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram looks on as a child speaks at the inauguration of ’Abhaya,’ children’s home, by Native Medicare Charitable Trust at Kalappanaickenpalayam in Coimbatore on Sunday. Sex education should be made mandatory in schools for children above 13 years of age, Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said here on Sunday.

Inaugurating ‘Abhaya Students’ Shelter,’ a home for children affected by HIV/AIDS, set up by Native Medicare Charitable Trust (a non-governmental organisation), at Kalappanaickenpalayam, he said prevention of HIV/AIDS was possible only if there was awareness about the disease. Those living with HIV/AIDS and their children were marginalised mainly because of the lack of awareness among the general public. The spread of the disease had been noticeably high among lorry drivers, migrant workers and sex workers. Increasing urbanisation and the rapid changes in lifestyle characteristic of a shrinking world had also contributed to the spread of HIV, he observed. The focus should be on prevention. There was a need to create awareness about safe sex and condoms, he said.

Mr. Chidambaram appreciated the efforts of NGOs, voluntary organisations and self-help groups in improving the quality of life of people living with HIV/AIDS. The Government alone could not do every thing for those in need of counselling and support, he said. Though a vaccine for HIV/AIDS had not yet been developed, the medicines that would help them sustain their lives were available in every Government hospital. Medicines that could prevent the transmission of the virus from the mother to the foetus had also been developed. The cost of the medicines, however, was high, he said.

He appealed to the public to extend their support to people with HIV/AIDS and children who have been orphaned by the disease. If not financial support, they could spend time with the children, teach them and bring them to the mainstream. These children too were entitled to the same rights and opportunities other children enjoyed, he said.

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