Pastors to Fight Discrimination Against HIV/Aids Sufferers

The attitude within the Church that HIV/AIDS is a disease for the sexually immoral has bred stigma and discrimination of sufferers, Protestant leaders said today.

They pledged to work hard to reverse this perception that is based on persistent fear and ignorance of the disease which was first detected in Kenya more than 20 years ago.

HIV is still seen as a symbol of disgrace and infamy, with those infected often isolated as carriers of death, the church leaders said.

"Our brothers and sisters who have confessed to being HIV-positive have lost jobs, spouses, fiancees and friends. They are denied educational and employment opportunities, and until recently, medical insurance companies would refuse to insure them."

The workshop, organised by the National Council of Churches of Kenya (NCCK) and Christian Aid, brought together some 60 senior clerics from around the country.

Stigma, they said, is perpetuated by fear and ignorance of the disease, making many infected people live in denial.

"As executive church leaders, we lament that HIV and AIDS related stigma is very strong in our churches and organizations. We have not integrated within our structures systems to embrace and support persons and families living with HIV and AIDS, and are limited in the information we share regarding HIV and AIDS."

All people are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, the leaders affirmed. "We all have to accept that AIDS is not a disease for the sexually immoral as we have been led to believe over the last two decades." They resolved to build "HIV and AIDS-competent churches" that gave close and continuing attention to the pandemic.

"Many church leaders and Christians in general perpetuate HIV and AIDS related stigma and discrimination because of poor understanding of the virus. We commit ourselves to facilitate training of the church leaders we work with to ensure that they are also competent to address the issues surrounding HIV and AIDS."

The clerics also pledged to empower congregations and communities to appreciate that HIV is preventable and that AIDS is manageable. "We shall encourage people to embrace responsible livelihoods and practices that will prevent transmission of HIV, realizing that unsafe sexual activity is not the only channel through which the virus is transmitted."

Thirdly, the churches will train HIV-positive persons to realize that with good management they will live longer. They will also promote voluntary counseling and testing at the congregation level.

Lastly, the churches will promote economic empowerment especially of women and youth, as poverty is a leading factor in the spread of HIV and transition to AIDS.

"The church is an important partner in the campaign to prevent and manage HIV and AIDS. We recognize that some of our theologies have been life-threatening and life-reducing. We commit ourselves to reshaping this to produce a life-enhancing, life-protecting and life-defending theology. We shall use our influence to work towards a HIV and AIDS-competent nation."