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Faith and AIDS: Faith plays a crucial role when working with AIDS

© Heine Pedersen

Faith and AIDS-response

Faith is a key element of communities, their values and the social structures. Faith shapes peoples perception of themselves, of others and it conditions how we live and communicate with each other. Organisations delivering information and services relating to HIV and AIDS will therefore be more effective if they understand how religious beliefs and practices affect community response and attitudes towards the disease.

Lack of understanding

The role of faith is crucial but in no way simple. Questions such as sin and morality are complicating factors but can not be ignored in an effective response. Secular and faith-based organisations need to work together to secure a broad and more effective response. But, in spite of goodwill and commitment to working together in joint actions, there is often a huge gap between intentions and effective joint efforts. Often a lack of understanding of faith communities and how to engage with faith-based organisations constitute the biggest obstacles for joint efforts.

New guide to bridge the gap

One of DanChurchAids partners, The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance, has together with a number of other internationals NGOs produced a new guide on the religious response to HIV and AIDS. The guide provides background information, dispels myths and gives practical guidance for governmental and civil society organisations who wants to collaborate with faith-based organisations in joint initiatives related to HIV and AIDS.

The guide gives example of the already many successful partnerships and will hopefully help more organisations overcoming obstacles and build strength for a much needed collaborative and more effective response to HIV and AIDS.

Read more: The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance

Download the book: