ROME -- The AIDS therapy and treatment programme known as the ‘DREAM Programme,’ headed by the Roman religious community of Sant’Egidio and active in 10 African countries, shall be handed the ‘Antonio Feltrinelli’ award for its outstanding work Friday morning in the Accademia dei Lincei, as an “exceptional endeavour of the highest moral and humanitarian value.”

 Alberto Quadrio Curzio, president of the academy in the Italian capital, shall hand over the award during the opening ceremony of the academic year for the institution.

 Such high recognition for the programme shall contribute towards a new health centre in Zimpeto, becoming a structure of great health and social impact, unique to Mozambique.

 Designed predominantly for the cure of women and children, the Zimpeto Centre shall have one main focus, specialising specifically on the treatment of the HIV infection and the prevention of transmission from mother to child whilst in the womb. There shall be laboratories for the early diagnosis of neoplasia, a section for the treatment of tuberculosis, (the first cause of death for people with HIV and among the first causes of death in Mozambique), and an area for the nutrition of malnourished patients, in particular children.

 DREAM, acronym for ‘Disease Relief through Excellent and Advanced Means,’ represents a practice against AIDS, malnutrition and chronic infections and pathologies. Thanks to the best diagnostic-therapeutic protocols, the programme has flourished in Africa and provides support for thousands.

 Up to now, the programme has 46 active health centres, complete with 24 biological-molecular laboratories. Overall, 63,000 babies have been born healthy due to the preventative methods used by the programme, and 333,000 HIV-positive patients have been able to benefit from various treatment methods.

 The ceremony shall take place at 10am in Rome’s Palazzo Corsini, Via della Lungara.

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