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In a country now counting 100 million inhabitants, and where 2.5 percent are added annually, it is increasingly hard for the government to keep pace with the needs of its people. “In this challenging environment, the work of non-governmental organisations is critical in order to ease the burden on public service institutions”, explains Dr Maged Moussa Yanny, general director of EpiscoCare.

For HIV-infected people in Nairobi, the Eastern Deanery Aids Relief Program makes a difference. By providing a quarter of the antiretroviral therapy care, it helps around 26,000 HIV-infected people in the Kenyan capital to live normal lives.

Ten years ago, while studying to become a nurse, Khadijah Abdullah was confronted at a hospital with a rather difficult patient, a Muslim living with AIDS who was also coping with several other medical issues. When Abdullah realized how isolated and stigmatized this patient was in his own faith community, she became aware of her prejudices and ignorance and she decided to do something about it.

Ours is a world of migration. Yet myths and mystification persist in our understanding of the journey – particularly when it comes to transmittable diseases such as HIV.

On 20-21 February, UNAIDS, the WCC and the International Catholic Migration Commission are hosting a workshop on HIV among migrants and refugees. The aim of the workshop is to identify a roadmap for strengthening faith-based organizations’ engagement in collaboration with other sectors.

“Disability does not mean inability! Human rights for all! Equality and access to good health care! Leave no one behind!” Slogans were plentiful at the 18th International Conference on AIDS and STIs. Some participants felt that the conference venue sadly belied these clarion calls as it was ill-equipped to handle the mobility and access needs of persons with disabilities.

By Peter Kenny (*)

World AIDS Day is a unique moment each year when all of humanity is challenged to reflect on the way that HIV and AIDS affects us and how we can respond to the pandemic.

Dr Peter Piot, Bishop Mark Hanson, Canon Gideon Byamugisha, Rev. Rick Warren and his wife Kay, and Erik Sawyer are among speakers at ecumenical and interfaith pre-conferences taking place on the eve of the world's largest HIV/AIDS conference.

"Keep the promise" is the title of a new teaching resource on advocacy and HIV/AIDS produced by the WCC-related Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) with support from UNAIDS, the World AIDS Campaign and the World Health Organization.

by Stephen Webb (*)

By Hugh McCullum (*)

Photo available - see below

<span style="font-weight: bold; "» Where is the ecumenical movement going in the 21st century?

Over one hundred faith-based organizations from Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Buddhist traditions gathered at the 15th International AIDS Conference in Bangkok to make their voices heard on issues related to HIV/AIDS.

In this issue:

The World Council of Churches (WCC), UNAIDS , the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) and the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA), will gather together for the first time to mark World AIDS Day with a joint event on