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ENI-08-0431 By Anto Akkara
Bangalore, India, 2 June (ENI)--The leader of the Christian Conference of Asia has told Hindu religious leaders, meeting to discuss HIV/AIDS, that the pandemic is a challenge to faith groups to put their beliefs into practice.
"HIV/AIDS continues to be a critical test of our religious faith and practice," said Prawate Khid-arn, chairperson of the Asian Interfaith Network on HIV/AIDS, and general secretary of the Asian Christian conference.
Prawate was addressing the 1 June inaugural session in Bangalore of "'Faith in Action", said to be the largest-ever gathering of Hindu religious leaders to discuss HIV/AIDS.
"We must recognise that in many instances there is a gap between religious teaching and practice. The main challenge is how to bridge this gap," the Asian Christian leader told the meeting, organized by the Art of Living Foundation with the Asian interfaith network, and UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS.
"Health is the biggest wealth of the society. If we have no health, we are poor," Ravi Shankar, the founding director of the Art of Living Foundation, said in his address to more than 200 Hindu delegates, including 70 prominent Hindu sages, all drawn from across India.
Shankar later told Ecumenical News International that the conference was part of his foundation's attempt to involve Hindu leaders in the fight against HIV and AIDS. "Religious leaders have lot of say, and they have lot to do about this," he said.
In a 2 June statement released at the end of the two-day gathering, the Hindu leaders said they were committed to ensuring, "that the Hindu faith leadership at all levels is equipped with relevant information to help them guide the community to reduce HIV infections, and fight stigma and discrimination."
Sujatha Rao, director general of India's National AIDS Control Organization, told the religious leaders, "The challenges posed by HIV/AIDS are far beyond the reach of the government, doctors and counsellors." He added, "Along with being a medical and social problem, it is also a behavioural and moral issue. It is here that religious and spiritual leaders have the power to change the thoughts of people."
India is estimated to have nearly 3.5 million people living with HIV, many of whom face social stigma and discrimination.
"The stigma is so strong that women are expelled from houses, and children are prevented from going to school," said Denis Broun, UNAIDS country director in India. He urged the faith leaders to use the goodwill they command with India's Hindu majority to generate support for people with HIV to lead normal lives. [440 words]
[COURTESY TO ENI AS SOURCE]
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