A plan to help reduce the impact of HIV/AIDS in Africa

World AIDS Day
Melbourne - Thursday, 1 December 2005

As Goodwill Partner for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games, Plan is showcasing how its work is having a positive impact on the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa, particularly in developing Commonwealth nations.

Goodwill Ambassadors Jamie Durie (television personality) and Craig Mottram (Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games athlete) who is Plan’s newest Goodwill Ambassador will be encouraging Australians this World AIDS Day to support Plan and help people affected by HIV/AIDS, especially children, in sub-Saharan Africa.

Jamie Durie and Craig Mottram, (Australia’s best long distance runner) will launch Plan’s Goodwill Christmas Appeal to raise funds for the Reducing Community Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS Program at the World AIDS Day breakfast in Melbourne.

The "Reducing Community Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS" Program – one of the priority programs targeted by Plan as the Goodwill Partner for the Melbourne 2006 Commonwealth Games.

The program operates in selected communities in sub-Saharan Africa – the region hardest hit by the epidemic where the United Nations reports 25.8 million people are living with HIV/AIDS and this year alone, 2.4 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses. An estimated 13 million children, who have lost one or both parents, have been orphaned and this number is estimated to reach 50 million by 2010.

Plan national executive director Ian Wishart said as a child centred agency, Plan is very concerned by the enormous impact on children and adults affected by HIV/AIDS.

“Plan’s response focuses on working with children and their communities to find ways to cope with the stresses and impact of the disease. Some of this work involves training for community based HIV prevention work, especially with children and teenagers. Assisting to improve household food production and nutrition through home vegetable gardening, for example gardens run by support groups of positive people,” Mr Wishart said.

“Our work also includes helping to strengthen the work of community groups that provide counselling, home-based care and material support to adults living with HIV/AIDS, orphans and vulnerable children. And assisting women and children protect their legal rights especially inheritance of land and other property on the death of husbands and fathers,” Mr Wishart said.

The Reducing Community Vulnerability to HIV/AIDS Program operates in selected Plan-supported communities in the Commonwealth countries of Zambia, Kenya and Uganda – and in Zimbabwe. The program is managed by Plan and the Burnet Institute, which also implements the program in Mozambique. The program receives funding from the Australian Government’s overseas aid program AusAID with additional funding being raised by Plan.

Plan is calling on all Australians this Christmas to help reduce the impact of the HIV/AIDS on children in Africa. To make a donation to the Goodwill Christmas Appeal visit www.plan.org.au or call 13 PLAN (13 7526)

World AIDS Day breakfast:

(7am to 9am)
1/12/2005
RACV Club, 501 Bourke St, Melbourne

Media enquiries and photographs contact:

Ian Wishart
Plan, national executive director
13 PLAN (13 7526)

Heather Ellis
Plan, media officer
13 PLAN (13 7526)