ZIMBABWE - Harare – The Herald - 22 October 2009 - Religious leaders have been urged to develop suitable approaches that do not stigmatise HIV positive followers within the church.
In an interview on the sidelines of a workshop on HIV and Aids bringing together clergy and youths on Tuesday, meeting convener Ugandan Reverend Canon Gideon Byamugisha said churches had the potential to defeat HIV if equipped with the right knowledge and skills.
"We have reached a point where we can defeat HIV and Aids in the church. What our bishops need are relevant and acceptable approaches to address followers," Rev Byamugisha said.
The clergyman, who tested HIV positive 17 years ago, said his organisation -- Christian Aid -- was promoting new comprehensive approaches to destroy stigmatisation in the church.
The widely accepted strategies for fighting HIV and Aids focus on abstinence, faithfulness and consistent condom use while Christian Aid is advocating safe interventions and empowerment of communities.
"The inclusiveness of this approach helps to destigmatise HIV and Aids, it treats HIV as a virus transmissible in many ways, whereas the ABC approach portrays HIV as a moral issue transmissible only through sexual activities," he said.
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