Religious leaders urged to fulfil responsibilities in HIV prevention efforts

Addis Ababa, September 22, 2020 (FBC) –Minister of Health, Dr Lia Tadesse, has urged religious leaders to fulfil their responsibilities in the efforts to prevent HIV/AIDS.

Religious leaders have a key role to play in the efforts to control the virus and promote the use of HIV medicines given their spiritual leadership and influence over the society, she said.

The Minister was speaking at a consultative forum organized today to boost the involvement of religious institutions in HIV prevention and control activities.

As a result of works done by religious institutions, associations, partners and artists during the past two decades, AIDS related deaths have been reduced by 90% and new infections by 70%, she said.

Though the result achieved at a national level is better than other African countries, the involvement of stakeholders in HIV containment efforts have declined now, she stated.

Ethiopia’s national HIV prevalence rate currently stands at 0.8%, while the prevalent rate in Gambella is 4.3%, Addis Ababa 3.2% and Dire Dawa 2.9%, it was stated.

Indicating that the virus is causing a significant harm on the country, the religious fathers called on all people to take precautions to prevent themselves becoming infected with the virus.

They further urged people with HIV to take HIV treatment and medicines.

At the end, the Federal HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Office, the Inter-Religious Council of Ethiopia and the Ministry of Health signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to join efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 32 million people have died of HIV since the beginning of the epidemic.