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WASHINGTON, DC, Nov. 19, 2004 — PSI is facilitating religious leaders from 10 French-speaking countries in West and Central Africa as they prepare to mobilize their congregations against AIDS in a training seminar to be held in the Democratic Republic of Congo next week. The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) and PSI will work together to train church leaders to develop policies and programs regarding HIV/AIDS prevention, care, support and stigma reduction for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) in the summit to be held Nov. 22-25 in Kinshasa. The event follows the HIV/AIDS summit of heads of denominations held earlier this year in Nairobi, Kenya. Participants include leaders from AACC member churches and the Organization of African Indigenous Churches. The seminar is funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and will be facilitated by HIV/AIDS experts and theologians associated with MAP International, World Council of Churches, African Network of Religious Leaders Living with HIV/AIDS, the World Health Organization and PSI. "The AACC and its partners recognize that the struggle against HIV/AIDS is not only a physical, social and economic struggle, but also involves spiritual warfare that demands a non-judgmental, spiritual response," says Bishop Mvume Dandala, the general secretary of the AACC. The AACC leadership represents over 120 million Christians in 39 countries. For many, the church is a source of information, services, support and direction, but PLWHA continue to be excluded and stigmatized within their faith communities, contributing to their isolation, rejection, infection and death. The AACC and PSI are mobilizing the leaders to strengthen their congregations and renew their moral and spiritual commitment to halt the spread of HIV. "We shall remember, proclaim and act on the fact that the Lord God created all people and created life very good (Genesis1:1). We shall, therefore, seriously and effectively undertake HIV/AIDS prevention for all people…. for this disease destroys life and its goodness, thus violating God's creation and will," states the AACC covenant document on HIV/AIDS ratified at the 2003 AACC General Assembly. Many churches are actively grappling to align their traditions and teachings with the social issues at the root of the disease - gender discrimination and violence, poverty, cross-generational sex, ignorance, fidelity and the many facets of human sexuality - all of which will be addressed during the seminar. PSI is accompanying member churches of the AACC on their journey to integrate HIV/AIDS prevention education in their faith traditions, and to support people living with HIV and AIDS. PSI works sensitively with faith-based organizations, helping them to adopt communication strategies within the context of their doctrines and beliefs, and offering them current information and best practices for battling this pandemic. PSI has a history of enlisting religious leaders and groups in its HIV/AIDS prevention efforts, including Buddhist monks in Southeast Asia, Muslim imams in West Africa and Christian leaders in East and Southern Africa.
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