PHOTO: Liberian Religious leaders who participated in the training
By Augustine Octavius, augustineoctavius@gmail.com
Monrovia- The Liberia Council of Churches (LCC) is collaboration with the United Nations Aids has ended a two-day training here aimed at educating religious leaders in combating the spread of HIV/AIDS, in the wake of the outbreak of Coronavirus pandemic.
Health Scientists say HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. If HIV is not treated, it can lead to AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). There is currently no effective cure. Once people get HIV, they have it for life.
Liberia currently has 43,000 people living HIV, the disease that causes AIDS. And out of this number 26,000 are women, with 17,000 being men while children under 14 years are about 4,000.
Speaking at the ceremony marking the end of the recent religious leaders training, LCC’s Secretary General, Reverend Christopher Toe, disclosed that the training of religious leaders and church workers is intended for them to develop a roadmap for combating the spread of HIV/AIDS in Liberia.
According to him, the roadmap, when adopted, will be presented to partners as a yard stick through which the religious community will combat the spread of HIV AIDS
“We need to put our feet on the ground as the stakeholders in the HIV AIDS sector are looking up to use our sermons to educate not only our congregation but to those we are evangelizing,” Reverend Toe said.
Speaking on behalf of the LCC’s President, Bishop Kortu Brown, Rev. Toe encouraged member churches and other affiliate organizations to take advantage of the training and ensure that their recommendations are forwarded on time.
The Council of Churches Secretary General re-affirmed the LCC’s commitment to assisting the National AIDS Commission in combating the HIV virus in Liberia.
Delivering the keynote speech at the end of the training, the Chairperson of the National AIDs Commission, Theodosia Kolee, said that Liberia is challenged by the presence of Coronavirus pandemic, which has shown to the world that during a pandemic no one is safe until everyone is safe.
The National AIDS Commission Chairperson called on religious leaders to take the lead in fighting against HIV/AIDS, because they are best suited in buttressing the country’s effort to change people’s behaviors towards the prevention of the disease.
Madam Kolee’s call was contained in a speech delivered on her behalf by the Director of Partnership of the National AIDS Commission, Zubah Mulbah, at the opening of a two-day on HI/AIDS raining for religious leaders by the Liberia Council of Churches
According to her, ending the AIDS in Liberia and flattering corona virus infection required all Liberians to act jointly with combined effort and make a sincere pledge that living people behind is not an option if Liberia defeat AIDS and corona virus.
LCC’s Secretary General, Rev. Toe, said the religious leaders will endeavor to use their platforms to fight AIDS and Coronavirus.