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Clergyman condemns anti-ARVs preaching
2005-09-27 07:18:44
By Lusekelo Philemon
Church leaders in Southern and Eastern Africa have condemned some religious leaders in the region who discourage people living with HIV/Aids from using ARVs.
’Some church leaders in some African countries preach that those who take ARVs do not have enough faith,’ said Dr Rev Veikko Munyika.
Dr Munyika made the condemnation when giving a joint church leaders’ message to President Benjamin Mkapa in the general meeting of Churches United Against HIV&AIDS in Southern Africa (CUAHA) in Dar es Salaam on Sunday.
’The news about such preaching worries us very much as some of our sisters and brothers have already died because of AIDS,’ Dr Munyika said.
He said such preaching goes against the key roles expected of church leaders who are made-up to serve and help all people equally regardless of their weaknesses.
’We have trained various ways of helping with HIV/AIDS as well as in offering medication to people who are living with HIV. So, where does this policy come from?’ he queried.
He said that such policy slows down the established initiatives of helping people living with HIV and remove the on going stigmatisation in the society.
’We urged you to publicly condemn this kind of preaching and support initiatives where church leaders are being trained in all aspects of HIV and AIDS including issues of medication,’ was Dr Munyika advice to African political leaders.
He said proper medication to those people living with HIV (PLWH) would slow down the increasing rate of orphans in Africa.
’Treating parents can further limit children being orphaned… millions of children in Africa will grow up with this trauma that will affect their future and the future of the continent,’ he said.
He said that churches were in a position to influence many practices that have an impact on how children are treated in societies.
’CUAHA is developing strategies to ensure the full realisation of children’s rights through stressing rights-based approaches and ethics,’ he added.
’Theology-based contradictions have hindered the cooperation between Christian churches and their ability to work towards the common goal of preventing HIV transmission, care and support those living with and affected by HIV,’ he said.
He said it is a high time now for church leaders not to regard HIV as a sin or demonising it but rather relate it with other ordinary diseases, so as to reduce stigmatization.
He commended that for the church to become competent in the AIDS wart, dialogue, sharing and learning from and working with other networks that reach the masses is very vital.
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