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International Federation of Anti Leprosy Associations

Associazione Italiana Amici di Raoul FOllereau

AIFO stands for 'Associazione Italiana Amici di Raoul FOllereau ', 'Italian association of friends of Raoul Follereau' . A non governmental organisation with its head quarters in Bolgona, Italy. AIFO is founded on the spirit of love for the destitute which found full expression in Raoul Follereau a great social reformer. His tireless work for the leprosy affected persons spanned four fruitful decades, until his death in 1977.

AIFO collaborates its activities with the United Nations and is recognised as an official collaborating organisation of the World Health Organisation. It is recognised by the European Union and by the Italian Foreign Ministry for Projects of Development Co-operation.

AIFO is a founder member of

· ILEP International Anti-Leprosy federation

· IDDC International Disability and Development Consortium

· CSFD Circle of Solidarity Follereau-Damien

With Leprosy work as its focus, AIFO provides support to projects in developing countries, without any discrimination on the basis of colour, race, religion, gender etc. It also supports rehabilitation of persons with disabilities and programmes for vulnerable children with a community based approach.

AIFO supports projects in India connected with

· Leprosy control in an integrated primary health care setting

· Community based rehabilitation focussing on marginalised groups

· Community development projects focussing on children

AIFO in India

AIFO began its operations in India in the 1970s. It first began supporting leprosy projects through German Leprosy Relief Association. In 1979, Dr V Ekambaram, an eminent leprologist was chosen to be the AIFO representative in India. His expertise and experience as the First State Leprosy Officer, Tamil Nadu helped to lay the solid foundation for all future activities of AIFO. In 1983, AIFO extended its support to National Leprosy Eradication Programme of the Government of India. In 1989 Dr. Daisy Kandathil was appointed as the Indian representative of AIFO till the year 2001. Since then, it has been functioning under the leadership of Mr Jose M V.

In 1996, AMICI di Raoul Follereau, was formed as a public charitable trust, with its head office at Bangalore. At Present AIFO is giving technical and financial support to 27 projects categorised as Children, Leprosy-CBR and District Technical Support Teams (DTST).

AIFO India is also supporting 2 projects in Bangladesh.

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