Religious leaders strengthen resolve to intervene in AIDS prevention

[Guest guest]

Religious leaders strengthen resolve to intervene in AIDS prevention

Special Correspondent

Faith-based organisations needed at district level: former Chief

Election Commissioner

CHENNAI: Leaders of different religious groups met on Saturday to

consider ways by which an inter-faith task force could impact the

battle against HIV/AIDS.

At the inaugural session of the second international inter-faith

conference on prevention and control of HIV/AIDS at the Indian

Institute of Technology here, representatives of various faiths

strengthened their resolve to intervene in HIV/AIDS prevention.

Anand Tiwari, of UNAIDS, highlighted the positive role that faith-

based organisations had played in Uganda. Akhtarul Wasey, secretary,

South Asia Inter Religious Council, reiterated the commitment made at the first

inter-faith conference held in Delhi in December 2004 and called for the

formation of an inter-faith task force to develop a faith-based perspective on

HIV/AIDS and promote collective action.

Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali said Islam and Christianity

advocated loyalty and abstinence. Advancing the moral argument over

the condom campaign, the Nawab said it was time to return to the

cultural traditions of the country.

Swami Agnivesh of Arya Samaj also dealt with the question of values

and the " over-emphasis " on condoms. Unless sacredness was associated

with values, it would be difficult to overcome problems such as

HIV/AIDS. Faith-based organisations, he said, were like a parallel

establishment with good influence on people.

Bishop D.K. Sahu, secretary, National Council of Churches of India,

called for a move from the macro to the micro level in handling

HIV/AIDS.

Deikun, Mission Director, USAID, released a handbook on faith-

based organisations involvement in combating HIV/AIDS, brought out by VHS-APAC.

He said the epidemic continued to spread to rural areas, and pockets were

emerging in North India where HIV prevalence was two per cent or higher. He,

however, advocated a comprehensive approach, covering vulnerable groups and

people with different sexual orientation.

Suneeta Singh, of the World Bank, said religions should find ways of

reaching their followers.

T.S. Krishnamoorthy, former Chief Election Commissioner, said the

country provided paths for religions to walk in where politicians and

bureaucrats had failed. He suggested that faith-based organisations be set up at

the district level.

http://www.hindu.com/2006/01/08/stories/2006010803750500.htm