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American Center, New Delhi & AIDS Healthcare Foundation-India Cares Observe World AIDS Day With 'Photos of Hope: Lives Saved & Transformed By HIV Treatment' at American Center, New Delhi December 1st-December 16th 2006

Posted on: Wednesday, 29 November 2006, 15:01 CST

NEW DELHI, India and LOS ANGELES, Nov. 29 /PRNewswire/ -- The American Center, New Delhi, and AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the US' largest HIV/AIDS healthcare and prevention and education provider, which operates free AIDS treatment clinics in the US, Africa, Latin America/Caribbean and Asia, will commemorate World AIDS Day this year in India with the opening of Photos of Hope: Lives Saved and Transformed by HIV Treatment, a photo exhibit in Delhi opening on Thursday November 30 that features portraits of men, women and children thriving on HIV/AIDS care and anti-retroviral treatment (ART) provided through several of AHF's free treatment clinics in India and the United States. The exhibit will run through December 16 at the American Center.

"This exhibit puts a human face on the promise that treatment can bring to people living with HIV/AIDS when they have access to medical care and lifesaving antiretroviral therapies," Dr. Chinkholal Thangsing, Asia Pacific Bureau Chief for AIDS Healthcare Foundation, which operates AHF-India Cares. "As a physician treating people with HIV and AIDS, I see firsthand how care and treatment saves lives and transforms people. I am grateful to the American Center for hosting this exhibit through which we share these success stories from both India and the US. It is my hope that these photos serve as an inspiration for others in need of such treatment, and as a World AIDS Day call to action to scale up global treatment efforts."

"Photos of Hope" puts the Indian AIDS epidemic in focus by sharing striking images and stories of patients who are among the fortunate few on treatment in the developing world alongside photos of several AIDS Healthcare Foundation patients from its longer-standing clinics in both Los Angeles and San Francisco. On display from December 1st through 16th at The American Center, New Delhi, "Photos of Hope" will kick off with a special opening night reception on Thursday, November 30th at 6:00 p.m. which will feature several of the Indian portrait subjects who will share their stories of survival and hope in-person at the reception.

Over the past three decades, People Living with HIV/AIDS (PLHAs) have had to overcome fear, uncertainty, stigma, discrimination and sickness. Today, many are rising above these burdens to live healthy, hopeful lives. This dramatic change has come about through new drug treatments as well as compassion and care from others. ART has drastically improved the lives of many.

Equally important has been the fight against discrimination and stigma. Together, this partnership of medicine and support has given People Living with HIV/AIDS a new lease on life.

Anti-retroviral treatment (ART) and care have transformed the lives of People Living with HIV/AIDS. Where they often faced fear and despair before, many now have hope, dignity and a zest to live.

For more information, visit http://www.aidshealth.org/.

AIDS Healthcare Foundation

CONTACT: Media, INDIA - Dr. Chinkholal Thangsing, AHF Asia/PacificBureau Chief, cell, +91.9818270687, chinkholal.thangsing@aidshealth.org, orU.S. - Ged Kenslea, AHF Communications Director, +1-323-860-5225, orcell, +1-323-791-5526, gedk@aidshealth.org, both of AIDS HealthcareFoundation

Web site: http://www.aidshealth.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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