NGO seeks funds from Gates Foundation

From: Sify, India
Nov. 14, 2002

The Deaf Reach Centre for Research, Education and Empowerment of the Disabled, an NGO, has appealed to the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for assistance for the disabled to get access to information and education on HIV/AIDS through ''relationships and health workshops''.

In a letter to Bill Gates, Deaf Reach Chairperson-cum-Managing Director Christine Lazares, quoting ''Project Sign Post'' funded by the MacArthur Population Programme Fellowship, said India had nearly two lakh deaf HIV-positive, people largest segment of the population in the world.

''A two-month long workshop would train people in sign language alongside the relationships and education. In turn, they would be able to train people at the district and mandal levels to educate the deaf on HIV/AIDS prevention,'' she said in the letter, copies of which were made available to the Press here yesterday.

The programme would cost Rs 3,26,200, the letter added.

© Copyright Satyam Infoway Ltd, 1998. All rights reserved.