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Compendium of Promising Practices of African Faith Community Interventions against Paediatric and Adolescent HIV

Executive Summary

UNAIDS and PEPFAR developed this compendium in 2023. WCC collaborated on translating the Executive Summary into French and Portuguese.

This vital report brings together essential lessons from faith communities’ exceptional leadership in addressing the challenge of HIV in children. It documents evidence from the core roles that faith communities have played in identifying undiagnosed children living with HIV, improving the continuity of treatment, and supporting adherence to care and treatment. It also documents lessons from how faith leaders have driven advocacy to tackle stigma and discrimination and push for targets to be achieved. It will help faith communities and those who support and partner with them to advance a step change in progress towards the goal of ending AIDS in children by 2030.

Churches' challenges in health and healing work highlighted by global panel

The environment doesn't give to us; we provide to the environment, said Rev. Dr Stavros Kofinas, coordinator of the Network of the Ecumenical Patriarchate for Pastoral Health Care. Kofinas, the new moderator of the World Council of Churches (WCC) Commission on Health and Healing, spoke on 5 March, during a discussion by three WCC commissions.

Faith Actors Reflect on Their Role in Reaching HIV Goals at ICASA

From 4 to 9 December 2023, thousands of people convened in Harare, Zimbabwe, for the 22nd International Conference on Aids and STIs in Africa (ICASA). Scientists, medical experts, advocates, people living with HIV, and civil society organizations came together under the theme “AIDS IS NOT OVER: Address inequalities; accelerate inclusion and innovation.” Participants from many faith traditions were a meaningful part of many of these representative groups but also took up a space of their own.

Churches in Africa agree on guidelines for disability inclusion

I have cerebral palsy spastic quadriplegia, meaning all of my limbs are severely affected by my cerebral. However, I am not defined by my cerebral palsy. There's much more to me than my cerebral palsy,” Julius Van Der Wat, a member of the Dutch Reformed Church in Pretoria, South Africa, told a recent churches’ disability conference in South Africa.

Faith leaders in Tanzania vouch for disability health rights and services

As the world marks the 16 Days of Activism on Gender Based Violence, religious leaders, human rights activists, and development partners in Tanzania joined on 5 December to discuss the human rights of girls and women, including those with disabilities, in a forum titled “Wealth of Knowledge and a Wealth of Care.”

WCC to host webinar on Framework for Dialogue, a response to HIV Stigma

Entitled "Changing Hearts and Minds: Uganda and Nigeria in the Fight Against HIV Stigma," the webinar is organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC). This online event, scheduled for 14 November from 15:00 to 17:00 CET, will bring together esteemed voices from both the faith communities and networks of people living with HIV.

WCC guide raises awareness of obstetric fistula

A new guide published by the World Council of Churches (WCC) aims to raise awareness in churches and church communities of the role they can play in the prevention of the catastrophic condition of obstetric fistula, a childbirth injury usually caused by prolonged, obstructed labour without timely medical intervention. 

WCC to organise a webinar in commemoration of World Mental Health Day

To coincide with World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the World Council of Churches' (WCC) announces its 13th Global Ecumenical Health Network Meeting on 11 October. This year's theme stresses, "Mental health is a universal human right," spotlighting the vital role of faith communities in mental wellbeing.

Webinar helps define menstruation as “a matter of our daily lives”

At a webinar organized by the World Council of Churches (WCC), Norwegian Church Aid, and the International Partnership of Religion and Sustainable Development on 30 May, participants brought to light the challenges faced in Menstrual Hygiene Management and the role that religious communities can play to build a world where no one is held back because they menstruate.

WCC hosts 11th Ecumenical Global Health Partners Meeting

The World Council of Churches (WCC) hosted the 11th Ecumenical Global Health Partners Meeting on 26 April. The online meeting gave WCC and its partners an opportunity to share strategic directions on health and healing programmes for the period 2023-2030.