News / National
Church leaders urged not to lie to congregants
20 Sep 2015 at 18:01hrs | Views
File photo: Prophe - Prophet Makandiwa prophesying to a woman
Religious leaders have been chastised to desist from giving false hope to their congregants by misrepresenting to them that healing sessions free them from HIV and AIDS.
This emerged at a workshop for pentecostal leaders organised by the National AIDS Council (NAC) in Chinhoyi where it was noted that some church leaders declare people HIV negative even before medical experts certify them using appropriate methods.
Coordinator of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTC) and Pediatric HIV Care programme with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Angela Mushavi said it is possible for people on ARV treatment to test HIV negative if the rapid testing method is employed.
"ARVs help depress the viral load and HIV can reach undetectable levels despite the virus being there in the human body," said Dr Mushavi.
The workshop was an eye opener on HIV and AIDS related issues, including the contentious issue of condom use among Christians, according to some church leaders who spoke to the ZBC News.
NAC CEO, Dr Tapiwa Mugure noted that church leaders are key stakeholders in the national response to HIV and AIDS given the large following they command.
The workshop was officially opened by the Minister of State for Mashonaland West Province, Faber Chidarikire.
Zimbabwe is one of the countries with the best national HIV and AIDS response strategies among the HIV burdened nations of Sub-Saharan Africa.
This emerged at a workshop for pentecostal leaders organised by the National AIDS Council (NAC) in Chinhoyi where it was noted that some church leaders declare people HIV negative even before medical experts certify them using appropriate methods.
Coordinator of the Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission (PMTC) and Pediatric HIV Care programme with the Ministry of Health and Child Care, Dr Angela Mushavi said it is possible for people on ARV treatment to test HIV negative if the rapid testing method is employed.
"ARVs help depress the viral load and HIV can reach undetectable levels despite the virus being there in the human body," said Dr Mushavi.
NAC CEO, Dr Tapiwa Mugure noted that church leaders are key stakeholders in the national response to HIV and AIDS given the large following they command.
The workshop was officially opened by the Minister of State for Mashonaland West Province, Faber Chidarikire.
Zimbabwe is one of the countries with the best national HIV and AIDS response strategies among the HIV burdened nations of Sub-Saharan Africa.
Source - zbc
