Child-friendly HIV/AIDS awareness communication materials launched

New Delhi, Mar 30 (UNI) An NGO in collaboration with US Agency for International Development today launched 'child-friendly' communication materials for HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness.

USAID and Non-profit international public health organisation Family Health International (FHI) had worked with three Delhi-based implementing NGO partners -- Young Women's Christian Association (YWCA), Salaam Baalak Trust and Sharan -- to develop the materials to address needs of street and slum children and youth, a statement said here.

These materials, launched at the YWCA's Family Health Centre in Najafgarh in South West Delhi, would help in efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS among vulnerable children.

It used innovative games and participatory methods for providing HIV information to children. The messages emphasised 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 US President George Bush'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.'' ''Mr 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-US Corporate Fund for HIV/AIDS.'' USAID in partnership with FHI played a critical role in initiating and strengthening programmes for orphans and vulnerable children in India. They were 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 focused 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 lived and grew up in protective environments.

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

UNI IP HS KP1755