wfn.org | WCC UPDATE: World AIDS Day: Kobia supports Swiss churches'

["WCC Media" <Media@wcc-coe.org>]

World Council of Churches - Update
Contact: + 41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363 media@wcc-coe.org
For immediate release - 01/12/2005

WCC GENERAL SECRETARY ASKS FOR GREATER EFFORTS TO MAKE HIV/AIDS MEDICINES
AVAILABLE FOR AFRICA

"I have learned to see everyone infected as a brother, a sister, a niece,
a nephew - a close relative," said Samuel Kobia this afternoon in Bern.
The World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary was speaking at an
ecumenical event for World AIDS Day held outside the Swiss parliament.

Emphasizing that "Africa needs medicines. Now!", participants presented
27,000 petitions addressed to the Swiss government, pharmaceutical
industry and churches, calling on them to make a greater effort to ensure
access to anti-retroviral treatment to African populations.

In a public interview that was part of the programme, Kobia explained that
having lost several of his close relatives to the disease, he has learned
to relate "more personally" to people affected by the epidemic. "However,
this epidemic goes way beyond any personal tragedy," he said.

While commending the Swiss government for its current commitments in this
regard, Kobia also expressed his hope and prayer that it will "scale up
its support for action against HIV ands AIDS worldwide".

Regarding the role of the pharmaceutical industry, Kobia recognized that
"profits are a key component that brings more resources for more research," but nevertheless appealed to the industry: "when it comes to HIV and
AIDS, don't put profit before life".

According to Kobia, the epidemic has revealed the "great resilience and
tenacity" of suffering people. They, as well as vulnerable communities
"should not be perceived as passive recipients of handouts and help," but
as "co-workers" in the struggle to overcome the epidemic and "the
fundamental flaws in our societies which make us all vulnerable".

Churches in particular need to "correct the flawed theology and practices
that equate sin with disease" and that put "morality over compassion,"
Kobia said. Although recognizing that "distributing condoms in churches
may not be the best approach," he fully supports "any preventive method
which is scientifically proven to be effective" to avoid HIV transmission.
Kobia also advocates the promotion of dialogue on questions related to
AIDS and sexuality. "One of the greatest difficulties for churches in
dealing with the issue of HIV and AIDS has been our inability to address
sexuality in a frank and forthright manner," he said.

The WCC general secretary expressed "appreciation and gratitude" to the
churches in Switzerland for their support for Africa. "I believe your
initiative today will bring the message - to make treatment more accessible for all - closer to everyone's heart and mind", he said.

Speaking on behalf of the Swiss Federation of Protestant Churches (FEPS),
its president Rev. Thomas Wipf reported on a positive response to the
campaign "Africa needs medicines. Now!" " We are pursuing our commitment
via our programmes," he said.

For his part, Catholic Bishop Amédée Grab stated that Switzerland
"must nevertheless do a great deal more in the prevention and treatment of
pandemics".

The event, which included the lighting of 8000 candles laid out in the
shape of Africa, and the petition campaign were jointly organized by the
Bethlehem Mission Immensee and Swiss Interchurch Aid (EPER).

The full text of Samuel Kobia's comments is available at:
http://wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/mission/ehaia-kobia-interview.html [English]

Additional information:
http://www.eper.ch [French/German]
http://www.bethlehem-mission.ch/aids/en/index.shtml

This material may be reprinted freely.

Additional information: Juan Michel,+41 22 791 6153 +41 79 507 6363
media@wcc-coe.org

Sign up for WCC press releases at
http://onlineservices.wcc-coe.org/pressnames.nsf

The World Council of Churches is a fellowship of churches, now 347, in
more than 120 countries in all continents from virtually all Christian
traditions. The Roman Catholic Church is not a member church but works
cooperatively with the WCC. The highest governing body is the assembly,
which meets approximately every seven years. The WCC was formally
inaugurated in 1948 in Amsterdam, Netherlands. Its staff is headed by
general secretary Samuel Kobia from the Methodist church in Kenya.