WCC NEWS: WCC, Council of Churches in Zambia host workshops on HIV treatment adherence

The World Council of Churches (WCC) Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy programme, in partnership with the Council of Churches in Zambia, successfully hosted two PEPFAR-UNAIDS workshops on HIV treatment adherence from 18-20 March. Demonstratation on how to use a blood-sample based self-test. Photo: Albin Hillert/WCC 25 March 2021 Two workshops took place simultaneously in Chipata and Lusaka, drawing participants from WCC member churches, faith communities, people living with HIV, adolescents and youth, and people with disabilities for a highly interactive training. The core objective of the training workshops was to reflect on the impact of exclusive claims to faith healing on HIV treatment adherence. Speaking on behalf of the National AIDS Council of Zambia, Ellen Chanda expressed appreciation that faith leaders had once again demonstrated high levels of commitment towards responding to HIV. “Faith leaders play a critical role in the overall response to HIV,” she noted. The workshops examined how the faith community can address the challenges brought by some faith leaders who discourage people living with HIV from utilizing antiretroviral therapy, thereby compromising their adherence and health at large. Approaching the theme from a human dignity and human rights framework, participants came up with concrete proposals on how to embrace more holistic and life-giving theologies in the context of HIV. Having emerged with concrete plans of action, the participants undertook to become change agents in their respective communities in enabling HIV adherence. WCC Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Initiatives and Advocacy Southern Africa regional coordinator Prof. Ezra Chitando said: “We have lived long enough with HIV to know that only joint action can guarantee us success.” WCC, Council of Churches in Zambia to host HIV treatment consultation See more

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 350 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 550 million Christians in over 120 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC acting general secretary is Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, from the Orthodox Church in Romania. Media contact: +41 79 507 6363; www.oikoumene.org/press Our visiting address is: World Council of Churches 150 route de Ferney Geneve 2 1211 Switzerland