AEGiS-PRn: SOS Children's Villages Recognizes World AIDS Day: South African Woman Gives the Gift of Hope

Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2006. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.

SOS Children's Villages Recognizes World AIDS Day: South African Woman Gives the Gift of Hope

PRNewswire - December 1, 2006

MTHATHA, South Africa, Dec. 1 /PRNewswire/ -- Zanana may be only 26 years old, but she has already learned more about life than some people many years older. Zanana is HIV-positive, out of work, and shunned by others around her. Despite this, she is embracing life as a volunteer counselor at the SOS Social Center in Mthatha, South Africa, which operates from the local SOS Children's Village. "For me, being HIV-positive and living a positive life go hand in hand," she said.

Zanana holds support group meetings for more than 30 people from the Mthatha community every week for two or three hours. "Courageous people like Zanana are working with SOS Children's Villages all over the world to bring comfort to those afflicted by the AIDS pandemic," says Heather Paul, CEO of SOS Children's Villages - USA, "On World AIDS Day we want to acknowledge Zanana as a shining example of how we can all come together to help educate and support those who are suffering because of this horrible disease."

Increasingly in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America, SOS Children's Villages actively engages in HIV/AIDS prevention education, family support, and medical care. The core focus of these programs is to sustain the children affected, which also includes support for affected families. Typical aspects of the programs include medical support (primary health care services, HIV testing, STD and AIDS treatments, drug and ARV provision), HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programs through schools, and community outreach (providing food and clothing, school fees, psycho-social support, legal advice, life skills training, and day care for young children).

About SOS Children's Villages

SOS Children's Villages was founded in 1949 to provide families for orphaned and abandoned children. Today there are over 450 villages in 132 countries around the world. SOS builds families for children in need, helps them shape their own futures and shares in the development of their communities. To learn more, visit http://www.sos-usa.org.

Available Topic Expert(s): For information on the listed expert(s), click appropriate link. Heather Paul -- http://profnet.prnewswire.com/Subscriber/ExpertProfile.aspx?ei=53513

SOURCE SOS Children's Villages - USA

http://www.sos-usa.org/

061201
PR061214

Copyright © 2006 - PRNewswire. All rights reserved. Reproduced with permission. Reproduction of this article (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through PRNewswire, Permissions, 810 Seventh Ave., 32nd Floor, New York, NY 10019 http://www.prnewswire.com.

AEGiS is a 501(c)3, not-for-profit, tax-exempt, educational corporation. AEGiS is made possible through unrestricted funding from Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National Library of Medicine, Pacific Life Foundation and donations from users like you.

Always watch for outdated information. This article first appeared in 2006. This material is designed to support, not replace, the relationship that exists between you and your doctor.

AEGiS presents published material, reprinted with permission and neither endorses nor opposes any material. All information contained on this website, including information relating to health conditions, products, and treatments, is for informational purposes only. It is often presented in summary or aggregate form. It is not meant to be a substitute for the advice provided by your own physician or other medical professionals. Always discuss treatment options with a doctor who specializes in treating HIV.

Copyright ©1980, 2006. AEGiS. All materials appearing on AEGiS are protected by copyright as a collective work or compilation under U.S. copyright and other laws and are the property of AEGiS, or the party credited as the provider of the content. .