Close to 100 mn AIDS orphans by 2010: FXB

Visakhapatnam, May 6 (UNI) The Francois-Xavier Bagnoud (FXB) International estimates that there would be close to 100 million orphans and vulnerable children in the world by 2010 due to HIV and AIDS, FXB India Suraksha South Regional Director P S K P Raju said this today at a meeting conducted by the Andhra Pradesh State AIDS Control Society and the Greater Visakhapatnam Municipal Corporation here. He said AIDS had emerged as a major challenge globally and there was increasing need to focus attention on the distress of these children and the consequence of their social and economic exclusion.

The FXB and its NGO partners will observe World AIDS Orphans Day tomorrow.

''Better forms of anti-retroviral treatment have resulted in a decrease in AIDS deaths in the last few years,'' added Additional District Medical and Health Officer (AIDs and Leprosy) P Rejendra Prasad.

UNI