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More church AIDS involvement urged

    JOHANNESBURG

    An HIV-positive priest has said that churches could be an effective tool to help tackle the stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS in Angola.

    A campaign by the development agency, Christian Aid, was recently stepped up to get more Angolan churches and faith leaders involved in tackling HIV/AIDS.

    Reverend Jape Heath, head of the African Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Affected by HIV/AIDS (ANERELA), told the UN news service, PlusNews: "We in ANERELA believe very strongly that the church is responsible for much of the stigma around HIV/AIDS. It is only from within the church that we can adequately address this stigma."

    Between five percent and seven percent of adult Angolans are living with HIV/AIDS, and Heath said the country had a "unique opportunity" to keep the rate at its current low level.

    This article was produced by IRIN News while it was part of the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Please send queries on copyright or liability to the UN. For more information: https://shop.un.org/rights-permissions

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