Faith group helped my in-law deal with HIV

Her personal disclosure came as she addressed the opening ceremony of the Faith Leaders Consultation yesterday at the Hyatt Regency, Wrightson Road, Portof- Spain. The consultation was hosted by the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS (PANCAP), the Global Fund to Fight AIDS and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation.

The consultation mulled the role of faith leaders in seeking to end the epidemic by 2030, in accordance with a goal set by the United Nations.

“I’ve often said that meaningful social change cannot happen with only the involvement of Government, but requires consultation and collaboration and a whole-of-society approach,” she said.

“The hosting of this consultation demonstrates that there is an understanding of the overarching influence of faith and the important role of faith communities in the scale-up of HIV prevention, treatment, care and advocacy.” She said in the Caribbean, people’s health-relevant behaviour is defined by factors including religion and cultural norms and values.

“It is recognised that faith organisations are a vital part of civil society which often reach out to vulnerable populations living under austere conditions.” She hailed faith groups for their work in peer education, community outreach, prevention and provision of psycho-social and financial support. “I want to share a personal story. When a close member of my family was diagnosed with HIV, it was a faith-based organisation which had given our family the courage to support my relative to go back to living a meaningful life in the small island community of Tobago.” She said faith organisations can help reduce stigma and discrimination.

Welcoming the inclusion of gender- based violence (GBV) on the conference agenda, she said studies have shown that physical sexual violence makes women more vulnerable to HIV/AIDS such as by reducing their space for negotiating safe-sex practices with their male partner. GBV also increases the engagement in high-risk behaviours and causes a low uptake in HIV screening, amongst other problems. She said her ministry welcomes suggestions on how to end the scourge of GBV in all its forms in this society.

“Your voice is very important, to bring about transformation in TT and the wider Caribbean.” PANCAP head, Derek Springer, noted that public health issues like AIDS/HIV do not undermine faith leaders, in an atmosphere of mutual respect.

A forum statement said ways to respond to AIDS included enhancing family life, increasing access to treatment, promoting prevention, reducing gender inequality, and legislating to repeal discriminatory laws. UN special envoy for HIV in the Caribbean, Dr Edward Greene, said FBOs had once contributed to “fear, stigma and discrimination” over AIDS/HIV, but since that time much has happened different.