PRESS RELEASE

Hope for African Children Initiative HACI Welcomes World Vision In Its Fight Against Aids

Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI), a collaboration of leading international humanitarian organizations, announced today that World Vision International has joined them in their work to address the enormous challenges faced by more than 13 million children whose lives have been affected by the AIDS pandemic in sub-Saharan Africa.

The wealth of experience and expertise of HACI's existing partners - CARE, Plan, Save the Children, the Society for Women and AIDS in Africa, and Religions for Peace - will be complemented by the knowledge and practical experience that World Vision brings to the initiative.

HACI supports sub-Saharan African communities in preventing the spread of HIV/AIDS, mitigates the impact of the pandemic, and provides care and support to children and families affected by AIDS.

"The Hope for African Children Initiative is truly a partnership and we welcome World Vision 's commitment to working with communities to improve the lives of African children," said Dr Pat Youri, the initiative's Nairobi-based executive director. "As HIV and AIDS continue to devastate whole families throughout Africa, global partnerships have an integral role to play in enabling communities to tackle this issue head-on."

World Vision has integrated HIV/AIDS prevention, care and advocacy into its development programs in the 26 African nations in which it works. "Through collaboration with civic groups, churches, and other non-governmental organizations, World Vision helps African communities reverse this deadly epidemic," said Ken Casey, who directs the organization's global HIV/AIDS efforts. "Joining HACI is a great opportunity to combine forces to do more for children affected by HIV/AIDS."

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