Churches could play big role in HIV/AIDS programmes

Kumasi, Jan 10, GNA- Mr Alexis Dery Danikuu, HIV/AIDS Programme Co-ordinator of the Assemblies of God Church in Kumasi has said that the church could do a lot in the anti-AIDS campaign since the pulpit remains a most formidable platform for spiritual and practical leadership in reaching many Ghanaians.

He was addressing the closing ceremony of a five-day national trainers workshop on the disease, organised for women leaders of the church in Kumasi on Friday.

It aimed at capacity building and to motivate, equip and mobilise the participants to become educators and care givers. Forty participants drawn from the Southern Zone of the country comprising Ashanti, Greater Accra, Eastern, Western and Volta regions attended the workshop.

Mr Danikuu said with encouragement and support, "The church can make a difference in the fight against the spread of the HIV/AIDS". We need to tackle the issue of stigmatisation and discrimination against those living with the disease.

He said to respond to the challenges posed by the disease, it was important that the church was transformed so that it would become a force of transformation bringing healing and hope to victims of the disease.

Reverend Paul Frempong-Manso, Ashanti Regional Superintendent of the Church, spoke of the need to show compassion for people living with the disease and to share with them their pain and suffering. He said the church has the ability to change the lives of the people and that it was only through change of behaviour that could curb the spread of the HIV/AIDS.

The participants appealed to the Information Ministry and the National Media Commission to take a critical look at the showing and printing of sex pictures in the print and electronic media since it had a negative effect on the youth.