About Us
Introduction
The Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated, a registered not-for-profit
charity, came into being in the mid-1980's as a direct consequence of
the plight of the then New South Wales toddler, Eve van Grafhorst, who
was forced, along with her family, to flee to New Zealand for sanctuary
when her own coastal community at Gosford decided it couldn't, and wouldn't,
cope with having an HIV-infected child in its midst and banned her from
a local pre-school.
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Eve died in New Zealand in 1993 at the age of 11, acknowledged
on both sides of the Tasman as an HIV activist heroine.
The appalling treatment meted out to Eve and her family, (mirrored
in so many fearful nations of the world still), hatefulness, discrimination,
stigma, verbal and physical abuse has been rightly described as
one of the darkest pages in Australia's HIV history.
Determined that this candle of hope shouldn't be blown out, The
Australian AIDS Fund Incorporated keeps the memory of her bravery
and example both alight and alive so that others might come to
know of her story and learn from the sorrow and the courage within
it.
Similarly, through this website, The Australian AIDS Fund Inc.,
and its partner agency - AIDS Information Services, are engaged
in telling the stories of other children like Eve in different
parts of the world whose mixture of courage, hope and determination
have helped turn around national attitudes towards those infected
by HIV.
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Such children can produce the necessary seismic shift so vitally
needed.
These children include Ryan White of the
United States who finally won the warm support of a handful of
American Presidents in his struggle; Nkosi
Johnson of South Africa who begged the international community
for HIV tolerance before his short life slipped away; and, two
siblings ( a brother and sister) in the Indian State of Kerala,
who've become political footballs as various groups argue over
their right to go to school and share their lives with other schoolchildren.
The example of another young heroine, Anne Frank, still shines
more than half a century on after her death in a German concentration
camp (Belsen).
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The world's infected mother and child summarise the plight of
an HIV/AIDS infected world. Their survival holds the key to the
future. Nations, families, economies.
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Globally, while recognising the various
shortcomings, it's aknowledged that the prevention messages come down
to what's known as the Ugandan HIV alphabet:-
A...for abstinence
B...be faithful..in a committed relationship
C.. use a condom.
D... or risk dying!
Overall, education must be made available for all.
Even while recognising cultural sensitivities and sexual taboos and
customs, everyone needs to know how they can get HIV.
Women the world over must be empowered
to make their own decisions in all matters relating to sex.
Those decisions must be not only recognised but also respected, endorsed
and safeguarded as much as they can be by partners, family and society.
Stigma must be tackled head-on so that discrimination can be beaten.
Circumcision also has a vital
role and NO, this DOESN'T have to mean the use of a knife, a stone,
or a razor-edged scalpel.
WHAT DO WE DO?
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