CHURCHES TAKING OWNERSHIP OF AIDS AWARENESS

National World AIDS Day The National newspaper 1 December 2015

The HIV and AIDS working group is one of the three sectors in the Church Partnership Programme (CPP) in consultation with the CCP Church Leaders Program. The following statement is released:

World AIDS Day is an opportunity for us all to stop and reflect on the impact that HIV has had on the people of Papua New Guinea.

In the years since it was first diagnosed here, thousands of people have succumbed to the effects of HIV.

Today, there are still thousand more who continue to suffer from the disease. There have been tremendous developments.

The introduction of saving anti-retroviral therapy (ART) enables HIV positive people to live full and productive lives.

ART is also the most effective means of preventing the transmission of new HIV infections.

Unlike some other countries, the Government of PNG pays for ART enabling all people to access the medication free of charge.

This is a wonderful blessing.

So it is with deep concern that we hear stories of some Christians encouraging HIV positive people to go off their medications.

Give up your ART, pray to God. If you are faithful enough you will be cured, they say.

By all means we encourage people to pray and worship God. But under no circumstances should they go off their ART.

Interrupting ART will quickly result in deteriorating health. It has nothing to do with a person’s faith in God.

The interruption of ART has wider implications as there is a very real risk that a resistant strain of HIV will develop, making the current ARV less effective.

The impact of this will not just be on the HIV positive people but on the whole community through loss of productivity and increased pressure on health services.

No good will come from a HIV positive person giving up their medication. To encourage HIV positive people to go off their medication is anti-life and anti-Christian.

The whole World AIDS Day lets us take up the challenge of Deuteronomy 30:15.  I put before you life and death. Choose life.

Australian Aid

Baptist Union PNG

Salvation Army

Seventh Day Adventist

Anglican Church

United Pentecostal Church

ELC of PNG

Papua New Guinea Government