Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, November 29 2009:
Manipur AIDS Control Society (MACS) in consultation with Manipur Baptist Convention (MBC) organised a one-day consultation-cum-media campaign for interdenomination faith based organisations on November 28 at MACS conference hall.
The meeting was attended by 57 religious leaders.
The consultation campaign resolved to support the vision of NACO-Halt and reverse the HIV/AIDS epidemic by 2012 .
It also decided to form separate ministry/wing for health care and HIV/AIDS by every church.
Apart from ensuring to observe World AIDS Day every year, the consultation also resolved to earmark certain amount and incorporate in the annual budget of the churches for HIV/AIDS.
It also resolved to give special exemption to all CLWHAs and children orphaned by HIV/AIDS in all mission schools.
Earlier, speaking in the first session of the campaign, MACS Project Director (Technical) Dr Kh Pramod Kumar explained in detail about the situation of HIV/AIDS in Manipur and the role of religious leaders in combating the menace.
He also focused on the universal access to care and human rights which is the theme of World AIDS Day 2009 .
He said that access to care and support and treatment services and protection of basic rights for the people living with HIV/AIDS are extremely crucial in fighting the epidemic.
He further pointed out that since HIV/AIDS prevalence rate is higher in the hill areas where majority of the population are Christians, religious leaders have vital role to play in these areas in overcoming stigma and discrimination.
In the second session, MACS Consultant, Mainstreaming, SK Victor spoke on the importance of mainstreaming and action review.
He said that mainstreaming is one of the most important focus areas under NACP-III which precisely refers to multisectoral/concerted response to HIV/AIDS.
He said that it was the third consultation meeting with the MBC and they have mainstreamed other denominations like Presbyterian, Independent Church, Kuki Baptist Convention, Evangelical Baptist Convention, Union Pentecostal Church, Meitei Church in the concerted effort towards prevention and control of HIV/AIDS in the State.