Churches must lead the fight against HIV/AIDS
Stabroek News
September 4, 2002
The Christian community must take action now to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS, representatives of several Christian organisations agreed at a conference aboard the visiting Logos 11 ship recently.
A press release from the Volunteer Youth Corps said the workshop was preceded by presentations from Dr Michael Ali, Director of the Genito-Urinary Medicine Clinic of the Georgetown Public Hospital and Saji Abraham, a representative from Youth With A Mission (Guyana).
Dr Ali noted that Guyana is the country with the second highest incidence of HIV/AIDS in Latin America and the Caribbean and that young people are the most affected age category.
Meanwhile, Abraham spoke about the need for the Christian community to spread God’s message of hope and love in the context of the epidemic. Chairman of the Volunteer Youth Corps Kenroy Roach said churches should preach the message of abstinence and being faithful. The participants included pastors and youths from churches around Guyana.
The release said among the recommendations that came out of the workshop were; the formation of a Christian Coalition on HIV/AIDS; the development of a Christian public awareness campaign on abstinence, being faithful and other preventative messages on HIV/AIDS; Christian Youth groups should become involved in care and support; and the establishment of an annual national church service to pray for those infected and affected by the virus.