wfn.org | ACNS3669 AIDS planning workshop opens in Abuja

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3669     |     NIGERIA	|     10 NOVEMBER 2003 

AIDS planning workshop opens in Abuja

by Justus Waimiri in Abuja, Nigeria

[ACNS source: Council of Anglican Provinces in Africa] The Most Revd
Peter Akinola, Metropolitan and Primate of All Nigeria, today opened a
Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion) national workshop on HIV/AIDS
strategic planning and policy development in Abuja, Nigeria.

Archbishop Akinola said the church had a critical role to play in HIV
prevention and care for those affected by AIDS. However, the church can
only go so far and called for a radical change in moral behaviour as the
only way to fully eradicate HIV/AIDS.

"Brothers and sisters, if we do what God says in His word - turn from
our wicked ways - we can change the tide around HIV/AIDS and stop new
infections," he told the participants who are drawn from the 81 dioceses
of the Church of Nigeria.

Archbishop Akinola, who is also the chairman of Council of Anglican
Provinces of Africa (CAPA), said the continent of Africa was most
affected by the pandemic and needed to move in the same direction.

He challenged participants to come up with clear policies and actions
that will guide the church in addressing HIV/AIDS and promised that the
national office would continue to actively support AIDS initiatives
throughout the 17 million member church.

On collaboration, the primate said the church cannot afford to plan and
implement interventions without involving other denominations, the
government, non-governmental organisations and agencies that are already
involved in the work.

"Our aim must not be to go solo by putting undue pressure on scanty
resources trying to do what others can do very well," he said.

The four-day meeting is sponsored by a grant from the Anglican
Consultative Council and the Compass Rose Society. Action Aid, Christian
Aid and Policy Project have also supported the meeting and are
participating at the consultations.

Addressing the workshop on the response of the Anglican Communion in
Africa on AIDS, CAPA HIV/AIDS Co-ordinator, Mrs Nema Aluku, said
Provinces in Africa were already sharing and replicating best practices.

She said five of the 12 African Provinces have already conducted
strategic planning and were implementing various activities that are
touching their communities. These include Kenya, Tanzania, Southern
Africa, Indian Ocean and Uganda. Nigeria, Burundi, DR Congo, Rwanda,
Sudan, West and Central Africa and the Diocese of Egypt are at various
stages of planning and implementation.

___________________________________________________________________
ACNSlist, published by Anglican Communion News Service, London, is
distributed to more than 7,000 journalists and other readers around
the world.  For subscription information please go to:
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/acnslist.html