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As they discussed the intersections of HIV and faith, they acknowledged that, according to 2023 UNAIDS report, Zambia registers 1.3 million adults and children living with HIV, with 23,000 new infections in 2023.
The training was organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC) in partnership with AFROCAB, Treatment Access Partnership to create a platform for the encounter of religious leaders and people living with HIV, as well as a safe space for honest discussions about the role of faith communities.
Themes included HIV prevention, HIV among youth, HIV and migration, and HIV and mental health. The three-day training also focused on persisting and known challenges in HIV response in Zambia.
A communique released after the gathering noted that there is an urgent need to refocus discussions about HIV because the epidemic is not over.
"There is a large and multifaceted impact of HIV among young people who do not have information or means to protect themselves,” reads the communique. “There is a drastic drop on international cooperation for the HIV response.”
Participants found that persistent challenges remain, including stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV, as well as the intersections of HIV with gender-based violence, which disproportionately affect vulnerable communities.
“The ongoing spread of misleading messages by some religious leaders is undermining the effectiveness of HIV treatment,” reads the communique. “For example, advising people to stop taking their medications can lead to illness and, in some cases, even death.”
The participants affirmed that faith leaders are a great source of support if they have the correct information. “Faith leaders want to work with the communities of people living with HIV, not substituting but rather amplifying their voices,” reads the communique. “As part of the integral response to HIV, religious leaders have a mandate to protect vulnerable communities, advocate for justice, and demonstrate compassionate love and care.”
Participants also note that science provides empirical evidence that offers a real opportunity to end AIDS as a public health threat.
"Long-acting injectable HIV medications help address inequalities in access to treatment for some of the most affected groups, including young women, adolescents, children, and people on the move,” reads the communique. “Every person has inherent dignity because we are created in the image of God, and therefore, each individual deserves the same respect.”
On a local news channel, participants committed to be “on their feet” to implement everything they learned.
Rev. Boston Sika Simumba Livingstone, one of the participant, said that seeing faith leaders across the country coming together was amazing.
“My take-home message is that, as a faith leader, I need to be part of the mobilisation team members to help other interfaith communities in advocating against condemning people living with HIV and against telling people living with HIV to stop talking medicine,” he said. “Love does not condemn anymore no matter their status quo. Scientific medicine is biblical and is part of the gospel of Jesus Christ. I am looking forward to another interaction with faith leaders and stakeholders.”
2024 global AIDS report — The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads | UNAIDS
