…religious leaders urged to scale up fight against HIV/AIDS

FAITH leaders across Guyana have been urged to “scale up” the fight against HIV/AIDS by removing barriers of stigma and discrimination that hinder elimination of the disease.
The call came from Minister within the Ministry of Public Health, Dr Karen Cummings, at the opening of a two-day Guyana National Faith Leaders Consultation being hosted by the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV/AIDS (PANCAP).

The function was held at the Marriott Hotel on Thursday, and forms part of PANCAP’s goal to harness the resources of government and non-governmental and donor organisations to end the AIDS epidemic.

Dr Cummings told attendees that there are still major gaps in the response to HIV-AIDS, and that those gaps are discouraging persons afflicted with the disease from accessing quality prevention and treatment services.

And one of those gaps has to do with associating the disease with religious beliefs such as “moral failings and sinful behaviours”, along with a morbid fear that it can be spread by close contact.

Said Dr Cummings, “We need to recognise, acknowledge and embrace all people, regardless of their beliefs, race, political persuasion and sexual orientation.
“Please remember that persons living with HIV-AIDS, like everyone else in society, need love, respect and care.

“As leaders, let the facts of the disease be known to all your respective constituencies; do not let your congregations and the communities you serve fall prey to the epidemic of fear and spread falsities about the disease that cannot be verified.

“It is unfair, unprofessional and unethical to behave in such a negative manner.”
She also urged healthcare providers not to be “blinded by prejudice and insular judgement”, and to be truly determined to fight the epidemic.

STAKEHOLDER ENGAGEMENT
Fears and prejudices aside, Dr Cummings acknowledged that much of the advance Guyana has made is due to increased stakeholder engagement, which, in turn, has seen a reduction in the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Through the National AIDS Programme Secretariat (NAPS), the Health Ministry has conducted numerous activities, teaching Guyanese of all ages how to protect and treat themselves from and for the disease.

Dr Cummings said, what was once considered a “death sentence” is now viewed as a “chronic-manageable disease”, as antiviral medication and healthy lifestyles can now see persons living with HIV-AIDS for decades rather than a few years.
And as the government continues work on eliminating the disease countrywide, Dr Cummings is calling for increased stakeholder involvement and multi-sectoral cooperation to aid in the fight.

“Addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic requires involvement of all concerned stakeholders,” she said, adding:
“As faith leaders, we all play a pivotal role in society through the work we do and through the extensive influence we have. As a consequence, we must continue to do our part in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Guyana with unshakeable resolve.

“We must work to improve advocacy and service delivery for young people by leveraging the inter-linkages between HIV and the broader development agenda.”

She also reaffirmed the government’s dedication to the cause, stating:
“Let me assure you that we are committed to providing an equitable and sustainable response to HIV and AIDS; we must ensure that we scale up high-impact HIV prevention measures that can significantly mitigate the spread of HIV within the Guyanese society.
“Through sustained commitment, vision and leadership, we can make a greater impact in the fight against HIV and AIDS.”

According to PANCAP Director Mr Dereck Springer, who presented on the aim of the consultation, previous regional consultations and the role of faith leaders in fighting the epidemic:
“We have quite a lot of work to do over the next few years, but we recognise the critical role that everyone must play in ensuring that we reach those targets.
“From its inception, PANCAP recognised the critical role faith leaders must play in responding to HIV and has sought to engage faith leaders from day one.”
The ongoing consultation is a follow-up to a series of engagements involving faith leaders in Guyana and the Caribbean under the PANCAP ‘Justice For All’ programme.