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“I have been tested for HIV,” said Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches (WCC), who received his test while traveling in Oslo, Norway, as a demonstration of his support for the WCC campaign “Leading by Example: Religious Leaders and HIV Testing,” launched at events observing World AIDS Day - 1 December - at the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland.
“I invite all religious leaders to also get tested,” Tveit added, via a video message in connection to the events. “Lead by your example,” Tveit said. “Show that getting tested is responsible and right. Too many people are afraid to be tested for HIV because they fear that they will be judged.”
“Knowing your status is vital. If you are positive, there is treatment that will allow you to live a long and healthy life. If you are negative, you can be better informed about reducing your vulnerabilities for infection.”
Tveit’s video message is available as a resource for churches, organizations and individuals to use to inspire people across the world to seek testing, too. Increasing the number of people receiving HIV testing is vitally important in the effort to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
“For everyone, we need to demonstrate that whether you are young or old, male or female, rich or poor, religious or not, it is important to know about and make informed decisions about your health,” Tveit said. “HIV is a virus. Stigma is a huge problem and affects so many and we as religious leaders can do a lot to overcome it. That is our moral responsibility.”
Speakers at the Ecumenical Centre talked about the importance of leading by example, as well as how churches can lead the way in HIV testing.
A new UNAIDS report, “Get on the Fast-Track: The life-cycle approach to HIV,” released 21 November, shows that 18.2 million people now have access to HIV treatment. “This means the “fast-track” response is working,” said Francesca Merico, HIV campaign coordinator for the WCC Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (WCC-EAA). “However, for about 19 million people, physical and mental health remains a dream when it should be a right.”
But the report also shows no reduction in the global number of new HIV infections among adults in the past five years, and rising numbers of new infections in some regions of the world, Merico noted.
Dr Pradeep Kakkattil, Director in UNAIDS Executive office said, “We see increasingly that people who know their status also get treatment. But a key obstacle is still to get people to know their status. In the stigma around HIV testing, I believe faith leaders, who live and serve people every day, can make a huge difference. By promoting HIV testing, you can be the light that shines in the darkness, giving people an opportunity to live.”
Dr Rachel Baggaley, Coordinator, HIV prevention and testing from the World Health Organization (WHO) said, “We are really excited to see the launch of this new campaign, as we believe it can be a critical tool in overcoming the obstacles we still face. Faith communities can not only help reduce stigma, but also help provide the information, the care, and the love needed every day to support people living with, and affected by, HIV.”
“If we have the leadership to inspire people to follow, then this can be a great resource,” said Dr Mwai Makoka, WCC programme executive for Health and Healing. “And this is our commitment, as the arm of the Church that provides health services.”
“Partnerships are more important than ever if we want to continue to be effective in the global HIV response.” Merico added. “Faith-based organizations, churches and religious leaders are key players not only in providing services related to HIV treatment but also in eliminating stigma and discrimination, in part by scaling up testing.”
“By hearing the word of God, by leading by example, we as faith communities can and will find the energy to eliminate HIV and AIDS,” concluded Stanley Noffsinger, WCC director of the office of the general secretariat.
The campaign “Leading by Example: Religious Leaders and HIV Testing” will continue in social media, under the hashtag #KnowYourStatus. A free poster exhibition of religious leaders standing up to promote HIV testing is also available for download.
Video: WCC general secretary on HIV testing: Leading by example
Lead by example: get HIV tested (WCC press release of 30 November 2016)
