‘Beware affected rich people’

Affluent people who are HIV positive and undergoing treatment still look healthy and can lure uninfected people, particularly women, into promiscuous sex and, thus, pass on the deadly virus.The warning came from none other than the deputy chairman of the National AIDS Council board, Joseph Egu, a well-known person who has the virus and the head of People Living With Higher Aims Inc (PLWHA), an NGO for HIV-positive people who are involved in advocating care and awareness.

Mr Egu was speaking last Friday during a guest lecture to final-year health management degree students at Divine Word University.He told the students to be careful, particularly with affluent affected people undergoing treatment who could use their wealth to lure innocent young people, such as students, into promiscuous sex and pass on the deadly virus.

Karen Dunaway Gonzalez, a 13-year-old activist living with HIV, speaking at the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. She is a prominent AIDS activist in her native Honduras.

“Can anyone tell that I have the HIV in me?” he said. “No, you can’t. “I can walk out of here and convince the next woman for sex and she will not refuse.“When I drive down the road in a flashy car, flick out a het blong somare (K50) note and ask a girl to jump in the car, using the most convincing language, she is not going to refuse.“These (treated HIV-positive) people are out there at a nightclub and hotel (names withheld) in Madang – do not be fooled by their looks.”

Mr Egu said some of those undergoing treatment “were out there in the community, still engaged in promiscuous relationship”. He called on the students to refrain from sex until after marriage as a sure protection against HIV infection. He urged them to give priority to their studies, pointing out that their parents and relatives spent a lot of money on them to succeed and be better people.

Class captain Belinda Kabia applauded Mr Egu for his sincerity and hard work in his campaign against HIV/AIDS. Ms Kabia said it was the first time for her class to hear someone of Mr Egu’s status to come out and speak frankly, advising the students on ways to avoid getting the deadly disease. She said the students appreciated Mr Egu’s advice.

PLWHA was started by Mr Egu, who saw that the awareness campaign trends carried out by different advocacy groups did not effectively address problems caused by the spread of the disease.

He believed the real fight was to gather those living with HIV and encourage them to live positively and aim higher, just like unaffected people. PLWHA, established six months ago, has set up many sites in Madang. It has encouraged career professionals to volunteer in the fight against the spread of the disease.

Click here for more information about HIV/AIDS, awareness, and ways to get involved in Papua New Guinea

The article is from The National

*** Mr. Egu is right in pointing out this because I've seen this on numerous occasions in Mount Hagen last year when I was there for two months. Young girls just don't care where they end up when they see these old men mostly in their 6os in their flashy cars just picking up girls prearranged by so called friends known to themselves in various isolated spots.

Our lives are short and we got to enjoy our lives to the fullest. Contracting HIV/AIDS and dying at an early age is terrible and agonizing for our families, friends, communities, and the nation at large. In this modern age and time, we need to be careful with our lives not to engage our lives with immoral practices which will ruin our lives and ultimately lead us to death.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, that "Money is not the answer to all our problems". We have a brighter future ahead of us. Say no to sex and drugs and we should be on a right path and our dealings in life would be prosperous. Today is the time to SAY NO TO SEX AND DRUGS.

‘Beware affected rich people’

Affluent people who are HIV positive and undergoing treatment still look healthy and can lure uninfected people, particularly women, into promiscuous sex and, thus, pass on the deadly virus.The warning came from none other than the deputy chairman of the National AIDS Council board, Joseph Egu, a well-known person who has the virus and the head of People Living With Higher Aims Inc (PLWHA), an NGO for HIV-positive people who are involved in advocating care and awareness.

Mr Egu was speaking last Friday during a guest lecture to final-year health management degree students at Divine Word University.He told the students to be careful, particularly with affluent affected people undergoing treatment who could use their wealth to lure innocent young people, such as students, into promiscuous sex and pass on the deadly virus.

Karen Dunaway Gonzalez, a 13-year-old activist living with HIV, speaking at the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. She is a prominent AIDS activist in her native Honduras.

“Can anyone tell that I have the HIV in me?” he said. “No, you can’t. “I can walk out of here and convince the next woman for sex and she will not refuse.“When I drive down the road in a flashy car, flick out a het blong somare (K50) note and ask a girl to jump in the car, using the most convincing language, she is not going to refuse.“These (treated HIV-positive) people are out there at a nightclub and hotel (names withheld) in Madang – do not be fooled by their looks.”

Mr Egu said some of those undergoing treatment “were out there in the community, still engaged in promiscuous relationship”. He called on the students to refrain from sex until after marriage as a sure protection against HIV infection. He urged them to give priority to their studies, pointing out that their parents and relatives spent a lot of money on them to succeed and be better people.

Class captain Belinda Kabia applauded Mr Egu for his sincerity and hard work in his campaign against HIV/AIDS. Ms Kabia said it was the first time for her class to hear someone of Mr Egu’s status to come out and speak frankly, advising the students on ways to avoid getting the deadly disease. She said the students appreciated Mr Egu’s advice.

PLWHA was started by Mr Egu, who saw that the awareness campaign trends carried out by different advocacy groups did not effectively address problems caused by the spread of the disease.

He believed the real fight was to gather those living with HIV and encourage them to live positively and aim higher, just like unaffected people. PLWHA, established six months ago, has set up many sites in Madang. It has encouraged career professionals to volunteer in the fight against the spread of the disease.

Click here for more information about HIV/AIDS, awareness, and ways to get involved in Papua New Guinea

The article is from The National

*** Mr. Egu is right in pointing out this because I've seen this on numerous occasions in Mount Hagen last year when I was there for two months. Young girls just don't care where they end up when they see these old men mostly in their 6os in their flashy cars just picking up girls prearranged by so called friends known to themselves in various isolated spots.

Our lives are short and we got to enjoy our lives to the fullest. Contracting HIV/AIDS and dying at an early age is terrible and agonizing for our families, friends, communities, and the nation at large. In this modern age and time, we need to be careful with our lives not to engage our lives with immoral practices which will ruin our lives and ultimately lead us to death.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, that "Money is not the answer to all our problems". We have a brighter future ahead of us. Say no to sex and drugs and we should be on a right path and our dealings in life would be prosperous. Today is the time to SAY NO TO SEX AND DRUGS.

‘Beware affected rich people’

Affluent people who are HIV positive and undergoing treatment still look healthy and can lure uninfected people, particularly women, into promiscuous sex and, thus, pass on the deadly virus.The warning came from none other than the deputy chairman of the National AIDS Council board, Joseph Egu, a well-known person who has the virus and the head of People Living With Higher Aims Inc (PLWHA), an NGO for HIV-positive people who are involved in advocating care and awareness.

Mr Egu was speaking last Friday during a guest lecture to final-year health management degree students at Divine Word University.He told the students to be careful, particularly with affluent affected people undergoing treatment who could use their wealth to lure innocent young people, such as students, into promiscuous sex and pass on the deadly virus.

Karen Dunaway Gonzalez, a 13-year-old activist living with HIV, speaking at the 2008 International AIDS Conference in Mexico City. She is a prominent AIDS activist in her native Honduras.

“Can anyone tell that I have the HIV in me?” he said. “No, you can’t. “I can walk out of here and convince the next woman for sex and she will not refuse.“When I drive down the road in a flashy car, flick out a het blong somare (K50) note and ask a girl to jump in the car, using the most convincing language, she is not going to refuse.“These (treated HIV-positive) people are out there at a nightclub and hotel (names withheld) in Madang – do not be fooled by their looks.”

Mr Egu said some of those undergoing treatment “were out there in the community, still engaged in promiscuous relationship”. He called on the students to refrain from sex until after marriage as a sure protection against HIV infection. He urged them to give priority to their studies, pointing out that their parents and relatives spent a lot of money on them to succeed and be better people.

Class captain Belinda Kabia applauded Mr Egu for his sincerity and hard work in his campaign against HIV/AIDS. Ms Kabia said it was the first time for her class to hear someone of Mr Egu’s status to come out and speak frankly, advising the students on ways to avoid getting the deadly disease. She said the students appreciated Mr Egu’s advice.

PLWHA was started by Mr Egu, who saw that the awareness campaign trends carried out by different advocacy groups did not effectively address problems caused by the spread of the disease.

He believed the real fight was to gather those living with HIV and encourage them to live positively and aim higher, just like unaffected people. PLWHA, established six months ago, has set up many sites in Madang. It has encouraged career professionals to volunteer in the fight against the spread of the disease.

Click here for more information about HIV/AIDS, awareness, and ways to get involved in Papua New Guinea

The article is from The National

*** Mr. Egu is right in pointing out this because I've seen this on numerous occasions in Mount Hagen last year when I was there for two months. Young girls just don't care where they end up when they see these old men mostly in their 6os in their flashy cars just picking up girls prearranged by so called friends known to themselves in various isolated spots.

Our lives are short and we got to enjoy our lives to the fullest. Contracting HIV/AIDS and dying at an early age is terrible and agonizing for our families, friends, communities, and the nation at large. In this modern age and time, we need to be careful with our lives not to engage our lives with immoral practices which will ruin our lives and ultimately lead us to death.

ALWAYS REMEMBER, that "Money is not the answer to all our problems". We have a brighter future ahead of us. Say no to sex and drugs and we should be on a right path and our dealings in life would be prosperous. Today is the time to SAY NO TO SEX AND DRUGS.

From Isolated Actions to a Global Partnership

LWF AIDS Strategy Group Commends Bold Church Initiatives Despite Great Challenges

Some of the contexts are strikingly different, the needs and target groups vary, but the objectives are similar. Whether working with traditional birth attendants to end harmful cultural practices in rural Liberia, raising awareness through youth drama groups among India’s tribal communities in Orissa, or preparing weekly nutritious lunches in the Greater Manchester area in Connecticut, USA, it is a partnership that enables churches to increasingly seek to embrace care, grace and justice in their response to the global HIV and AIDS pandemic.

"Most KELC (Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church) parishes have working groups for mothers and orphans. Training groups in the church have resulted in open discussion without discrimination about sensitive issues such as sexuality," said KELC Bishop Zachariah W. Kahuthu, reporting on the church's AIDS response initiatives at the bi-annual meeting of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) HIV and AIDS strategy group.

At the 9 to 11 February meeting in Geneva, the ten-person group comprising church leaders, regional AIDS desk coordinators and representatives of partner churches affirmed the need to continue with the objectives of the global LWF campaign and action plan under the title "Compassion, Conversion, Care – Responding as Churches to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic." Launched in 2002, the initiative promotes active and courageous AIDS response by the LWF churches within an ecumenical context. Its focus, participants noted, should be sharpened to reflect the changing contexts.

Kahuthu cited other important steps including prevention by confronting harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriages that increase vulnerability to HIV transmission. Stigma reduction and awareness-raising on living positively with HIV have become permanent features of the church's ministry, with pastors preparing an AIDS-related sermon each month to advocate behavior change and inclusivity of all, he explained.

In his welcoming remarks, Rev. Dr Kjell Nordstokke, director of the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD), commended the member churches and their partners for the long-standing accompaniment of people affected by HIV, in some regions, since the early 1980s.

"We are encouraged that since the launch of the campaign, more churches have taken major steps in their response to the pandemic and its impact," he said. "HIV and AIDS is an issue of justice, thus churches have to play a unique role. Our strategy in the first place is to empower churches, lifting up the justice and rights issues," he stressed.

The strategy group's meetings, organized by DMD's AIDS desk, provide a forum to share experiences, exchange views on best practices and challenges, with a view to reviewing and shaping the overall focus of the organization's AIDS work at the global and regional levels.

Prevention, Information Sharing

This year's meeting agreed on the need to increase support to and collaboration among the member churches in order to enhance prevention; scale up the focus on women, youth, and people living with HIV as important target groups and resource persons; extend theological training on AIDS; enhance coordination between the global and regional AIDS response efforts; increase peer group communication; and improve information sharing especially from leadership level to the grassroots.

Participants representing churches in Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America and the Caribbean pointed out that stigma and discrimination in churches and communities remained a major impediment to an effective response. Also attending were representatives from the Anglican Communion, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, World Council of Churches Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa -EHAIA, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), and staff from other LWF units.

"Bishops are seen as key people in communities, and the church leaders and their pastors have to use that key. One facilitates and supports the other. Church leaders should explicitly say to pastors: 'I support your efforts," remarked one participant.

The pandemic, they argued, while a health issue requiring urgent attention from governments and other service providers remained for the church a deeply theological matter. "It is not about the virus, it is about the people; and focus should not be maintained on the disease but rather on the discrimination and stigmatization," remarked Argentine Lutheran pastor Lisandro Orlov, the Latin American region coordinator for the LWF AIDS response initiatives.

"The duty of the church is to deal with the subject through theology, not to keep quiet because we feel unsure," stated Rev. Erik Berggren, Church of Sweden.
LWF Assembly Theme, Resources
The strategy group members said they considered the July 2010 LWF Eleventh Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany, as an opportunity to provide greater visibility to the AIDS campaign, especially through the event’s theme "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread."

Appreciation was expressed for the LWF handbook, "Grace, Care and Justice," a guide on Lutheran theological and pastoral understandings on accompanying persons affected by HIV and AIDS, also incorporating information on medical aspects, prevention, home-based care, gender concerns and advocacy. DMD has facilitated its translation into French and Spanish, and the respective LWF member churches have produced Amharic, Estonian, Georgian, Malagasy, Oromifa, Russian and Kiswahili language versions, with more translations in progress.

Malagasy medical doctor Mamy Ranaivoson, based in Nairobi, Kenya, as a program assistant for health ministries with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), urged the LWF to ensure "such available resources get down to the people" as the pandemic still threatens millions of lives and livelihoods especially among the poor.

The regional or national needs are quite different, thus requiring contextual approaches for any meaningful response, noted Ms Venah Mzezewa, coordinator of the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) AIDS Action Program incorporating the work of 17 churches. She pointed out that in 2007, Southern Africa accounted for almost one third or 32 percent of all new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths globally.

DMD AIDS desk coordinator Rev. Dr Veikko Munyika underscored the churches' efforts, saying, "The global AIDS statistics paint a grim picture of the overwhelming challenges ahead. But we must acknowledge the significant gains that have been made because the church has spoken."

The LWF supports several AIDS response projects among its member churches whose focus includes, among others, theological education, communication, prevention, home-based care, and awareness raising about the rights of people living with HIV.

According to UNAIDS, an estimated 33 million people were living with HIV globally in 2007. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most heavily affected region, accounting for 67 percent of the global figure, and for 72 percent of the estimated 2 million AIDS-related deaths. (1,084 words)

From Isolated Actions to a Global Partnership

LWF AIDS Strategy Group Commends Bold Church Initiatives Despite Great Challenges

Some of the contexts are strikingly different, the needs and target groups vary, but the objectives are similar. Whether working with traditional birth attendants to end harmful cultural practices in rural Liberia, raising awareness through youth drama groups among India’s tribal communities in Orissa, or preparing weekly nutritious lunches in the Greater Manchester area in Connecticut, USA, it is a partnership that enables churches to increasingly seek to embrace care, grace and justice in their response to the global HIV and AIDS pandemic.

"Most KELC (Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church) parishes have working groups for mothers and orphans. Training groups in the church have resulted in open discussion without discrimination about sensitive issues such as sexuality," said KELC Bishop Zachariah W. Kahuthu, reporting on the church's AIDS response initiatives at the bi-annual meeting of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) HIV and AIDS strategy group.

At the 9 to 11 February meeting in Geneva, the ten-person group comprising church leaders, regional AIDS desk coordinators and representatives of partner churches affirmed the need to continue with the objectives of the global LWF campaign and action plan under the title "Compassion, Conversion, Care – Responding as Churches to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic." Launched in 2002, the initiative promotes active and courageous AIDS response by the LWF churches within an ecumenical context. Its focus, participants noted, should be sharpened to reflect the changing contexts.

Kahuthu cited other important steps including prevention by confronting harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriages that increase vulnerability to HIV transmission. Stigma reduction and awareness-raising on living positively with HIV have become permanent features of the church's ministry, with pastors preparing an AIDS-related sermon each month to advocate behavior change and inclusivity of all, he explained.

In his welcoming remarks, Rev. Dr Kjell Nordstokke, director of the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD), commended the member churches and their partners for the long-standing accompaniment of people affected by HIV, in some regions, since the early 1980s.

"We are encouraged that since the launch of the campaign, more churches have taken major steps in their response to the pandemic and its impact," he said. "HIV and AIDS is an issue of justice, thus churches have to play a unique role. Our strategy in the first place is to empower churches, lifting up the justice and rights issues," he stressed.

The strategy group's meetings, organized by DMD's AIDS desk, provide a forum to share experiences, exchange views on best practices and challenges, with a view to reviewing and shaping the overall focus of the organization's AIDS work at the global and regional levels.

Prevention, Information Sharing

This year's meeting agreed on the need to increase support to and collaboration among the member churches in order to enhance prevention; scale up the focus on women, youth, and people living with HIV as important target groups and resource persons; extend theological training on AIDS; enhance coordination between the global and regional AIDS response efforts; increase peer group communication; and improve information sharing especially from leadership level to the grassroots.

Participants representing churches in Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America and the Caribbean pointed out that stigma and discrimination in churches and communities remained a major impediment to an effective response. Also attending were representatives from the Anglican Communion, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, World Council of Churches Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa -EHAIA, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), and staff from other LWF units.

"Bishops are seen as key people in communities, and the church leaders and their pastors have to use that key. One facilitates and supports the other. Church leaders should explicitly say to pastors: 'I support your efforts," remarked one participant.

The pandemic, they argued, while a health issue requiring urgent attention from governments and other service providers remained for the church a deeply theological matter. "It is not about the virus, it is about the people; and focus should not be maintained on the disease but rather on the discrimination and stigmatization," remarked Argentine Lutheran pastor Lisandro Orlov, the Latin American region coordinator for the LWF AIDS response initiatives.

"The duty of the church is to deal with the subject through theology, not to keep quiet because we feel unsure," stated Rev. Erik Berggren, Church of Sweden.
LWF Assembly Theme, Resources
The strategy group members said they considered the July 2010 LWF Eleventh Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany, as an opportunity to provide greater visibility to the AIDS campaign, especially through the event’s theme "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread."

Appreciation was expressed for the LWF handbook, "Grace, Care and Justice," a guide on Lutheran theological and pastoral understandings on accompanying persons affected by HIV and AIDS, also incorporating information on medical aspects, prevention, home-based care, gender concerns and advocacy. DMD has facilitated its translation into French and Spanish, and the respective LWF member churches have produced Amharic, Estonian, Georgian, Malagasy, Oromifa, Russian and Kiswahili language versions, with more translations in progress.

Malagasy medical doctor Mamy Ranaivoson, based in Nairobi, Kenya, as a program assistant for health ministries with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), urged the LWF to ensure "such available resources get down to the people" as the pandemic still threatens millions of lives and livelihoods especially among the poor.

The regional or national needs are quite different, thus requiring contextual approaches for any meaningful response, noted Ms Venah Mzezewa, coordinator of the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) AIDS Action Program incorporating the work of 17 churches. She pointed out that in 2007, Southern Africa accounted for almost one third or 32 percent of all new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths globally.

DMD AIDS desk coordinator Rev. Dr Veikko Munyika underscored the churches' efforts, saying, "The global AIDS statistics paint a grim picture of the overwhelming challenges ahead. But we must acknowledge the significant gains that have been made because the church has spoken."

The LWF supports several AIDS response projects among its member churches whose focus includes, among others, theological education, communication, prevention, home-based care, and awareness raising about the rights of people living with HIV.

According to UNAIDS, an estimated 33 million people were living with HIV globally in 2007. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most heavily affected region, accounting for 67 percent of the global figure, and for 72 percent of the estimated 2 million AIDS-related deaths. (1,084 words)

From Isolated Actions to a Global Partnership

LWF AIDS Strategy Group Commends Bold Church Initiatives Despite Great Challenges

Some of the contexts are strikingly different, the needs and target groups vary, but the objectives are similar. Whether working with traditional birth attendants to end harmful cultural practices in rural Liberia, raising awareness through youth drama groups among India’s tribal communities in Orissa, or preparing weekly nutritious lunches in the Greater Manchester area in Connecticut, USA, it is a partnership that enables churches to increasingly seek to embrace care, grace and justice in their response to the global HIV and AIDS pandemic.

"Most KELC (Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church) parishes have working groups for mothers and orphans. Training groups in the church have resulted in open discussion without discrimination about sensitive issues such as sexuality," said KELC Bishop Zachariah W. Kahuthu, reporting on the church's AIDS response initiatives at the bi-annual meeting of the Lutheran World Federation (LWF) HIV and AIDS strategy group.

At the 9 to 11 February meeting in Geneva, the ten-person group comprising church leaders, regional AIDS desk coordinators and representatives of partner churches affirmed the need to continue with the objectives of the global LWF campaign and action plan under the title "Compassion, Conversion, Care – Responding as Churches to the HIV/AIDS Pandemic." Launched in 2002, the initiative promotes active and courageous AIDS response by the LWF churches within an ecumenical context. Its focus, participants noted, should be sharpened to reflect the changing contexts.

Kahuthu cited other important steps including prevention by confronting harmful cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and early marriages that increase vulnerability to HIV transmission. Stigma reduction and awareness-raising on living positively with HIV have become permanent features of the church's ministry, with pastors preparing an AIDS-related sermon each month to advocate behavior change and inclusivity of all, he explained.

In his welcoming remarks, Rev. Dr Kjell Nordstokke, director of the LWF Department for Mission and Development (DMD), commended the member churches and their partners for the long-standing accompaniment of people affected by HIV, in some regions, since the early 1980s.

"We are encouraged that since the launch of the campaign, more churches have taken major steps in their response to the pandemic and its impact," he said. "HIV and AIDS is an issue of justice, thus churches have to play a unique role. Our strategy in the first place is to empower churches, lifting up the justice and rights issues," he stressed.

The strategy group's meetings, organized by DMD's AIDS desk, provide a forum to share experiences, exchange views on best practices and challenges, with a view to reviewing and shaping the overall focus of the organization's AIDS work at the global and regional levels.

Prevention, Information Sharing

This year's meeting agreed on the need to increase support to and collaboration among the member churches in order to enhance prevention; scale up the focus on women, youth, and people living with HIV as important target groups and resource persons; extend theological training on AIDS; enhance coordination between the global and regional AIDS response efforts; increase peer group communication; and improve information sharing especially from leadership level to the grassroots.

Participants representing churches in Africa, Europe, North America and Latin America and the Caribbean pointed out that stigma and discrimination in churches and communities remained a major impediment to an effective response. Also attending were representatives from the Anglican Communion, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, World Council of Churches Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiative in Africa -EHAIA, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), and staff from other LWF units.

"Bishops are seen as key people in communities, and the church leaders and their pastors have to use that key. One facilitates and supports the other. Church leaders should explicitly say to pastors: 'I support your efforts," remarked one participant.

The pandemic, they argued, while a health issue requiring urgent attention from governments and other service providers remained for the church a deeply theological matter. "It is not about the virus, it is about the people; and focus should not be maintained on the disease but rather on the discrimination and stigmatization," remarked Argentine Lutheran pastor Lisandro Orlov, the Latin American region coordinator for the LWF AIDS response initiatives.

"The duty of the church is to deal with the subject through theology, not to keep quiet because we feel unsure," stated Rev. Erik Berggren, Church of Sweden.
LWF Assembly Theme, Resources
The strategy group members said they considered the July 2010 LWF Eleventh Assembly in Stuttgart, Germany, as an opportunity to provide greater visibility to the AIDS campaign, especially through the event’s theme "Give Us Today Our Daily Bread."

Appreciation was expressed for the LWF handbook, "Grace, Care and Justice," a guide on Lutheran theological and pastoral understandings on accompanying persons affected by HIV and AIDS, also incorporating information on medical aspects, prevention, home-based care, gender concerns and advocacy. DMD has facilitated its translation into French and Spanish, and the respective LWF member churches have produced Amharic, Estonian, Georgian, Malagasy, Oromifa, Russian and Kiswahili language versions, with more translations in progress.

Malagasy medical doctor Mamy Ranaivoson, based in Nairobi, Kenya, as a program assistant for health ministries with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), urged the LWF to ensure "such available resources get down to the people" as the pandemic still threatens millions of lives and livelihoods especially among the poor.

The regional or national needs are quite different, thus requiring contextual approaches for any meaningful response, noted Ms Venah Mzezewa, coordinator of the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) AIDS Action Program incorporating the work of 17 churches. She pointed out that in 2007, Southern Africa accounted for almost one third or 32 percent of all new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths globally.

DMD AIDS desk coordinator Rev. Dr Veikko Munyika underscored the churches' efforts, saying, "The global AIDS statistics paint a grim picture of the overwhelming challenges ahead. But we must acknowledge the significant gains that have been made because the church has spoken."

The LWF supports several AIDS response projects among its member churches whose focus includes, among others, theological education, communication, prevention, home-based care, and awareness raising about the rights of people living with HIV.

According to UNAIDS, an estimated 33 million people were living with HIV globally in 2007. Sub-Saharan Africa remains the most heavily affected region, accounting for 67 percent of the global figure, and for 72 percent of the estimated 2 million AIDS-related deaths. (1,084 words)

Call for Recognition of Leadership Capacity of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Call for Recognition of Leadership Capacity of People Living with HIV Panel Discussion on Religious Leaders’ Response to HIV andAIDS MEXICO CITY, Mexico/GENEVA, 15 August 2008 (LWI)
"To live alife centered in Christ means that I will find myself with peopleat the margins," said Bishop Mark S. Hanson, President of theLutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), at an interfaithpanel discussion at the 17th International AIDS Conference (IAC) which concluded last week in Mexico. Hanson underscored the importance of standing with marginalized people in the struggle for justice and full inclusion. "I am veryweary of Christian leaders saying 'I am called to be the voice ofthe voiceless.' If we would be quiet, those we deem voiceless,could find their voice, exercise their voice, and cease to be so marginalized," he said. He noted this would mean that religious leaders urge their communities to do the hard work of introspection and not just outward compassion, asking within their communities, "How do we perpetuate and contribute to patriarchal societal structures that continue to marginalize others?" Affirming his support for interfaith work, the LWF presidentsaid the church has the capacity to change structures in society,and should use its potential to change discriminating policies and practices that continue to stigmatize. This means "that we must be willing to create tension within our own faith communities and in the relationship with each other for the sakeof changing power structures," he emphasized. The Wounded Healer Baptist pastor Rev. Charles King from New York, voiced criticism that time and time again, the church would reach for the mainstream instead of going toward the margins. "That's exactly the opposite of what we were called to do," said King, who ispresident of Housing Works, an organization providing housing,treatment and employment for homeless people living with HIV. The capacity and potential for leadership of people living with HIV should be respected. "They know best what’' good for them and they can guide us in how we can best work in partnership with them," said King. He proposed that churches develop a new positive theology, which includes a highly important notion: "The notion of the wounded healer: You have to be open to the possibility that the people who you are serving are going to offer you healing. In order to be open for that you need to know that you are in need of healing, too," he said. Voices from Islam and Hinduism Mr Ehsan Matlabi, program assistant at Mashhad Positive Club in Iran explained that religious leaders and scientists in his country were working together to set up a comprehensive HIV prevention program. Religious leaders play an important role in education, he said. "We ask them the questions: 'What does Islam say about people living with HIV? What does Islam teach about condom use as a way of prevention?'" Dr Richa Chopra, a representative of the Art of Living International Center in Bangalore India, introduced a yoga breathing technique as a means of preventing HIV and AIDS. The"Sudarshan Kriya" technique, explained Chopra, was revealed to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the center's founder. It's application is aimed at increasing energy and well-being, and bringing about behavioral change in people. "Religion is starting with us. So we first need to work on ourselves, before we can help others better," she stressed. Faith Leaders' Involvement Essential During the panel discussion, Bishop emeritus Dr Gunnar Stalsettfrom Norway, insisted on the need to involve all faith leaders inthe AIDS response. "Unless we bring in the imams, sheikhs, bishops and gurus, the efforts won’t be sustained in the longterm," said Stalsett, who served as LWF General Secretary from 1985 to 1994. He noted that while changes would mainly come from the informal leadership at grassroots level, the involvement of the formal faith leaders would make it a coherent struggle, "astruggle where we see convergence across dividing lines and countries and religions," he added. According to conference organizers, over 20,000 scientists, government officials and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, churches and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as community activists attended the biennial IAC, held in Mexico City, 3-8 August. It was preceded by an ecumenical pre-conference, "Faith in Action Now!" organized by the Geneva-based Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, of which the LWF is amember. (736 words) (A contribution by LWI correspondent Julia Heyde) For more information on the ecumenical pre-conference theme"Faith in Action Now!” or ecumenical involvement at the 2008IAC, visit: http://iac.e-alliance.ch/

Call for Recognition of Leadership Capacity of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Call for Recognition of Leadership Capacity of People Living with HIV Panel Discussion on Religious Leaders’ Response to HIV andAIDS MEXICO CITY, Mexico/GENEVA, 15 August 2008 (LWI)
"To live alife centered in Christ means that I will find myself with peopleat the margins," said Bishop Mark S. Hanson, President of theLutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), at an interfaithpanel discussion at the 17th International AIDS Conference (IAC) which concluded last week in Mexico. Hanson underscored the importance of standing with marginalized people in the struggle for justice and full inclusion. "I am veryweary of Christian leaders saying 'I am called to be the voice ofthe voiceless.' If we would be quiet, those we deem voiceless,could find their voice, exercise their voice, and cease to be so marginalized," he said. He noted this would mean that religious leaders urge their communities to do the hard work of introspection and not just outward compassion, asking within their communities, "How do we perpetuate and contribute to patriarchal societal structures that continue to marginalize others?" Affirming his support for interfaith work, the LWF presidentsaid the church has the capacity to change structures in society,and should use its potential to change discriminating policies and practices that continue to stigmatize. This means "that we must be willing to create tension within our own faith communities and in the relationship with each other for the sakeof changing power structures," he emphasized. The Wounded Healer Baptist pastor Rev. Charles King from New York, voiced criticism that time and time again, the church would reach for the mainstream instead of going toward the margins. "That's exactly the opposite of what we were called to do," said King, who ispresident of Housing Works, an organization providing housing,treatment and employment for homeless people living with HIV. The capacity and potential for leadership of people living with HIV should be respected. "They know best what’' good for them and they can guide us in how we can best work in partnership with them," said King. He proposed that churches develop a new positive theology, which includes a highly important notion: "The notion of the wounded healer: You have to be open to the possibility that the people who you are serving are going to offer you healing. In order to be open for that you need to know that you are in need of healing, too," he said. Voices from Islam and Hinduism Mr Ehsan Matlabi, program assistant at Mashhad Positive Club in Iran explained that religious leaders and scientists in his country were working together to set up a comprehensive HIV prevention program. Religious leaders play an important role in education, he said. "We ask them the questions: 'What does Islam say about people living with HIV? What does Islam teach about condom use as a way of prevention?'" Dr Richa Chopra, a representative of the Art of Living International Center in Bangalore India, introduced a yoga breathing technique as a means of preventing HIV and AIDS. The"Sudarshan Kriya" technique, explained Chopra, was revealed to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the center's founder. It's application is aimed at increasing energy and well-being, and bringing about behavioral change in people. "Religion is starting with us. So we first need to work on ourselves, before we can help others better," she stressed. Faith Leaders' Involvement Essential During the panel discussion, Bishop emeritus Dr Gunnar Stalsettfrom Norway, insisted on the need to involve all faith leaders inthe AIDS response. "Unless we bring in the imams, sheikhs, bishops and gurus, the efforts won’t be sustained in the longterm," said Stalsett, who served as LWF General Secretary from 1985 to 1994. He noted that while changes would mainly come from the informal leadership at grassroots level, the involvement of the formal faith leaders would make it a coherent struggle, "astruggle where we see convergence across dividing lines and countries and religions," he added. According to conference organizers, over 20,000 scientists, government officials and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, churches and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as community activists attended the biennial IAC, held in Mexico City, 3-8 August. It was preceded by an ecumenical pre-conference, "Faith in Action Now!" organized by the Geneva-based Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, of which the LWF is amember. (736 words) (A contribution by LWI correspondent Julia Heyde) For more information on the ecumenical pre-conference theme"Faith in Action Now!” or ecumenical involvement at the 2008IAC, visit: http://iac.e-alliance.ch/

Call for Recognition of Leadership Capacity of People Living with HIV/AIDS

Call for Recognition of Leadership Capacity of People Living with HIV Panel Discussion on Religious Leaders’ Response to HIV andAIDS MEXICO CITY, Mexico/GENEVA, 15 August 2008 (LWI)
"To live alife centered in Christ means that I will find myself with peopleat the margins," said Bishop Mark S. Hanson, President of theLutheran World Federation (LWF) and presiding bishop of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), at an interfaithpanel discussion at the 17th International AIDS Conference (IAC) which concluded last week in Mexico. Hanson underscored the importance of standing with marginalized people in the struggle for justice and full inclusion. "I am veryweary of Christian leaders saying 'I am called to be the voice ofthe voiceless.' If we would be quiet, those we deem voiceless,could find their voice, exercise their voice, and cease to be so marginalized," he said. He noted this would mean that religious leaders urge their communities to do the hard work of introspection and not just outward compassion, asking within their communities, "How do we perpetuate and contribute to patriarchal societal structures that continue to marginalize others?" Affirming his support for interfaith work, the LWF presidentsaid the church has the capacity to change structures in society,and should use its potential to change discriminating policies and practices that continue to stigmatize. This means "that we must be willing to create tension within our own faith communities and in the relationship with each other for the sakeof changing power structures," he emphasized. The Wounded Healer Baptist pastor Rev. Charles King from New York, voiced criticism that time and time again, the church would reach for the mainstream instead of going toward the margins. "That's exactly the opposite of what we were called to do," said King, who ispresident of Housing Works, an organization providing housing,treatment and employment for homeless people living with HIV. The capacity and potential for leadership of people living with HIV should be respected. "They know best what’' good for them and they can guide us in how we can best work in partnership with them," said King. He proposed that churches develop a new positive theology, which includes a highly important notion: "The notion of the wounded healer: You have to be open to the possibility that the people who you are serving are going to offer you healing. In order to be open for that you need to know that you are in need of healing, too," he said. Voices from Islam and Hinduism Mr Ehsan Matlabi, program assistant at Mashhad Positive Club in Iran explained that religious leaders and scientists in his country were working together to set up a comprehensive HIV prevention program. Religious leaders play an important role in education, he said. "We ask them the questions: 'What does Islam say about people living with HIV? What does Islam teach about condom use as a way of prevention?'" Dr Richa Chopra, a representative of the Art of Living International Center in Bangalore India, introduced a yoga breathing technique as a means of preventing HIV and AIDS. The"Sudarshan Kriya" technique, explained Chopra, was revealed to His Holiness Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the center's founder. It's application is aimed at increasing energy and well-being, and bringing about behavioral change in people. "Religion is starting with us. So we first need to work on ourselves, before we can help others better," she stressed. Faith Leaders' Involvement Essential During the panel discussion, Bishop emeritus Dr Gunnar Stalsettfrom Norway, insisted on the need to involve all faith leaders inthe AIDS response. "Unless we bring in the imams, sheikhs, bishops and gurus, the efforts won’t be sustained in the longterm," said Stalsett, who served as LWF General Secretary from 1985 to 1994. He noted that while changes would mainly come from the informal leadership at grassroots level, the involvement of the formal faith leaders would make it a coherent struggle, "astruggle where we see convergence across dividing lines and countries and religions," he added. According to conference organizers, over 20,000 scientists, government officials and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, churches and non-governmental organizations (NGOs) as well as community activists attended the biennial IAC, held in Mexico City, 3-8 August. It was preceded by an ecumenical pre-conference, "Faith in Action Now!" organized by the Geneva-based Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, of which the LWF is amember. (736 words) (A contribution by LWI correspondent Julia Heyde) For more information on the ecumenical pre-conference theme"Faith in Action Now!” or ecumenical involvement at the 2008IAC, visit: http://iac.e-alliance.ch/