Training on prevention for church leaders on HIV and AIDS

Two-day training for church leaders on prevention and care of HIV and AIDS commenced here at Centre for Community Transformation, Walford colony Dimapur. The training programme is organised by North East India Committee on Relief and Development (NEICORD), Shillong in partnership with Nagaland Development Outreach (NBCC). Altogether 43 church leaders from various churches in Dimapur are attending the programme. Resource persons include Dr. P. Ngully and Rev. Dr. Banner Makan.
Though prevention of HIV and AIDS were controlled up to some extend in the state through various methods, spread of HIV and AIDS through sexual route had not come down, rather it had gone up, Dr. P. Ngully said. He lamented that though various programmes for youth like ‘True Love Waits’ were organised where youth pledged to abstain from sex before marriage, many were not able to live up to the pledge of programme.
Citing the example of AIDS scenario in South Africa, where extramarital affairs were reported to be one of the main causes of the spread of HIV and AIDS, Dr. P. Ngully pointed out the fact that within 10 years time, children in Africa below the age of 15 years would be dying of AIDS. However, underlining some of the successful steps in preventing AIDS in the state through drop-in and ART centres in various districts Dr. P. Ngully even suggested for coming up with some methods which could be implemented in South Africa to prevent the dreaded disease.
Rev. Dr. Banner Makan spoke on prevention and Church Response to HIV and AIDS. The training programme which concludes August 29 will deliberate on stigma, discrimination and church action, value education as preventive measures and will be followed by group discussions and findings.
Meanwhile, two day training for Church leaders in Nagaland on HIV and AIDS, Preventive and Care was also conducted on August 25 at Longkumer Kilem, Mokokchung.
Resource person Dr. P. Ngully, briefing the basic facts about HIV and AIDS said the prevalence of HIV and AIDS was a challenge to Naga society and was high time for everyone to ponder on how to response to such challenges.
He said that in the past, Church leaders all over the world were not actively involved in the campaign against HIV and AIDS. However, today Church leaders had more responsibilities above all others to be instrumental in educating people about the danger of HIV and AIDS and to create awareness amongst the people so as to prevent the increasing rate of HIV and AIDS in the society. Around 50 trainees from different parts of the state attended the training.