#1256: EVERYONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILDREN ORPHANED BY AIDS, SAYS HAITI'S FIRST LADY. (fwd)

[Robert Corbett <bcorbett@netcom.com>]

From:JVoordouw@aol.com

EVERYONE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CHILDREN ORPHANED BY AIDS, SAYS HAITI'S FIRST 
LADY.

New York, 1 December 1999, Panos/CECOSIDA.  As the sole representative of the 
Caribbean and Latin America, Mrs. Geri Benoit Preval, First Lady of the 
Republic of Haiti, made a powerful appeal at the United Nations on behalf of 
the children orphaned by AIDS.  She spoke at a panel on "Child Care, Child 
Welfare and Clinical Issues" on the occasion of World AIDS Day at the United 
Nations in New York, which featured a special symposium on the children 
orphaned by AIDS.

"In spite of all the progress achieved in the 20th century in the areas of 
children's rights, the welfare of children remains a constant subject of 
concern," Mrs. Preval said.  "They are usually the first victims of natural 
disasters, civil wars and political unrest.  They also carry the most heavy 
load of the AIDS epidemic."

After sub-saharan Africa, the Caribbean is the region hardest hit by the 
disease.  Current statistics for Haiti indicate an infection rate of 11% in 
urban areas, 5.3% in rural areas and 7.3% nationwide, said Mrs. Preval.

Haiti's population is very young: 15% are less than 5 years old, 40% less 
than 15, and 61% less than 24.  As of this year 150,000 children have lost 
one or both parents to AIDS and over the next three years 30% of Haitian 
children will be born to HIV positive mothers, according to projections.

As elsewhere, in Haiti children are being left behind, not only by their 
parents, but also by society.  "A true vicious circle exists, of an 
increasing mortality rate, prostitution of youngsters, teen-age pregnancy, 
sexual abuse, extension of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs), violence and 
homelessness among children," Haiti's First Lady commented.

She gave examples of some NGOs in Haiti which provide care in these areas.  
She said also that a "Network of persons affected by AIDS" is being created, 
as well as an association promoting the involvement of the media, the Group 
for Communication on AIDS (CECOSIDA).

Mrs. Preval emphasized that the government is also fully engaged in the 
struggle against AIDS.  Since 1995, the Ministry of Health has included the 
fight against AIDS in its reproductive health programs.  A pilot program of 
free drug distribution for STD treatment is underway. Several of the planned 
Community Health Units under the Ministry of Health already have operational 
plans for fighting infant and maternal mortality from AIDS.

"The fight must be multi-sectorial and must include besides the Ministry of 
Health, the education sector, the justice system, the Ministries of Social 
Affairs, and of Women.  We must not forget that the fate of the children left 
behind rests on all of us," the First Lady said.

(Panos/CECOSIDA/Jan Voordouw/1 December 1999)
[457 words]

This article is on the web at: http://www.panosinst.org