|
|
|
By Pratigya Rachelle Khaling, WV Nepal
Addressing awareness of HIV and AIDS is something of a forbidden subject amongst the people of Nepal. Especially amongst religious leaders, the taint of "sin" in infection methods makes it an issue they scarcely dare to whisper about.
To break down this barrier, World Vision's Naulo Abhas Area Development Programme for the first time recently held a 3-day training session on HIV and AIDS awareness for 14 different religious leaders.
Leaders from Islam, Christianity, Buddhism and Om Shanti (Hinduism) participated, all of whom had similar views on sexual morality and behaviour.
Within the workshop, they broke their silence on issues such as safe sex, the effects of intravenous drugs, symptoms of HIV and AIDS, dealing with HIV- affected people, ideas and practices on sex from their religious/cultural point of view, and their response to/role in reducing discrimination toward people living with HIV.
The main objective of the training was to increase the level of HIV and AIDS- awareness amongst inter- faith communities, to develop a positive attitude towards HIV and AIDS, to reduce stigma and discrimination shown toward people with HIV, and to help the leaders incorporate HIV and AIDS issues into their regular preaching and rituals.
Participant Gobinda Prasad Adhikari from Jyotishi Sadan (House of Astrology), Pokhara, appreciated World Vision's commitment in making the religious community aware of HIV and AIDS, saying, " Most of the leaders do not even like to listen to HIV and AIDS issues because they consider it very, very, sinful, but with this changing world, I now feel it's important that we should also have a knowledge on this. It is very important to make the religious leaders aware, who later in turn will aware their disciples."
Upon completion of the training, Bharat Gurung, a member of Dipjyoti Church, Pokhara and the President of Pokhara Christian Community said, "HIV- awareness training should be given to each and every individual of the society. It should be done in such a way that even religious leaders like us could have a significant role in disseminating the awareness and curbing the epidemic of HIV."
The training was facilitated by Bishnu Ghimire and Santosh Regmi, consultants from Sakriya Sewa Samaj, Kathmandu, a non-government organization which works amongst religious leaders.
World Vision Naulo Abhas ADP plans to continue working with religious leaders and help them to fulfil the plans made at this workshop.
|
