wfn.org | ABCUSA: Day of Prayer for People Living With and Affected by HIV/AIDS Set for Nov. 28

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Rich.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (Valley Forge, Pa. 11/12/04)--A day of fasting,
prayer and reflection for all people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS in
Africa and around the world will be observed Sunday, Nov. 28.

Last year the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) designated the last
Sunday of November "as a day dedicated to fasting and prayer for the rapid
end of HIV and AIDS related stigma, discrimination, denial, inaction and
misaction."

AACC and Church World Service, the relief and development agency and partner
of American Baptist Churches USA, has extended an invitation to Christians
everywhere to join in this observance.

Every day HIV/AIDS claims the lives of 8,000 men, women and children around
the world.  Of the 4.8 million people newly infected with HIV in 2003,
630,000 were children under the age of 15. Worldwide nearly 40 million people
are infected with HIV/AIDS, and 70% of all HIV positive people live in
Africa. Tragically, less than 2% of medically eligible people in Africa have
access to life-saving treatment.  

On Nov. 28 Christians are being asked to:

reflect on the resilience, courage, strength and faith of people living with
and affected by HIV/AIDS in Africa and around the world;

pray for access to comprehensive care, support and treatment for people
living with HIV/AIDS and those caring for them;

reflect on the role of people of faith to create an environment of compassion
and acceptance of people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS to overcome
stigma and discrimination;

pray to alleviate conditions of hunger, poverty and gender inequities that
spread HIV/AIDS in Africa and around the world.

K/2004ABNS/04ABN123

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (800)ABC-3USA x2077
/ (610)768-2077; fax: (610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org;
richard.schramm@abc-usa.org