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Helping hands reach out to Anil

Helping hands were stretched out to helpless little Anil* who is HIV Positive and whose plight was highlighted by The Sunday Times recently.

Kindhearted Sri Lankans rallied round sending their mite for Anil's fund launched by the newspaper, to see him through the agony of his disease and hopefully give him a longer childhood.

Following numerous requests after infant Anil's story was published in the PLUS of June 15, The Sunday Times, in coordination with the Commissioner of Probation and Child Care of the Western Province, opened Savings Account No. 1-0001-08-4276-1 at the National Savings Bank Head Office branch. Donations in the form of cheque or cash can be made to any branch of the NSB islandwide, to be channelled to his account.

Anil, became a ward of the state when he was abandoned by his mother soon after his birth at the Castle Street Hospital for Women and was handed over to the Commissioner of Probation and Child Care by the hospital authorities. He was being cared for in a state home, until he was found to be HIV Positive. Now being treated at the Mulleriyawa Infectious Diseases Hospital, Anil needs medication to keep the HIV virus down. The government, unfortunately, does not provide anti-retroviral drugs through the free healthcare system to treat the HIV virus and bring it under control.

Please rally round Anil, otherwise he may not live to see his fifth birthday.

Every donation sent through The Sunday Times to Anil's fund will be acknowledged and the monies utilized for his medical needs. The funds will be channelled through the Probation and Child Care authorities.

* Anil's name has been changed to protect his identity.