Mokokchung, May 24 (MExN): Church can be the pillar of hope for people affected by HIV and to bring about a change in the scenario of HIV in Nagaland we need the support of the Church said the resource person from Legislators Forum on AIDS (LFA), Nagaland during the one day Church Advocacy Programme being arranged by Care and Support Society in collaboration with Pastor’s Fellowship Mokokchung Town and supported by LFA Nagaland at Artang Baptist Church Mokokchung on May 24.
The resource person lamented that it has been twenty (20) years now that NGOs have taken the steps to control HIV in Nagaland but is still continuing to spread. In this, the speaker added that NGOs alone cannot fight HIV; rather fighting HIV is the responsibility of every right thinking citizens.
Saying that Church is the right platform to fight HIV, the resource person maintained that Church have wider coverage than any other sector, Church is permanent while NGO is not, Church has an authority to which everyone listened to, Church can give spiritual guidance and Church have strong financial resource. Taking all these into consideration, Churches can come forward to create awareness about HIV through Camps and programmes and also help removes stigma/discrimination on those affected by HIV.
During the interaction session, topics on ‘Why Church is silent on the issue of HIV/AIDS’ and ‘What Church can do’ were discussed. Altogether 75 people, Church workers and Care and Support Society members participated in the programme.
