The South African Council of Churches, mindful of the government's massive national anti-retroviral rollout programme, today calls on all stakeholders, including churches and other faith-based communities, to work together to build capacity in their fight against HIV/AIDS.

"As the South African Council of Churches we want to congratulate the government for their bold decision in tackling the HIV/AIDS pandemic by giving notice that they will engage in programmes that will ensure that people living with HIV/AIDS have access to the life-giving drugs.

"But as the Council we would also urge the government to speed up the process and to ensure that the bottle-necks that may hinder this process are eliminated. We think that in this regard, it would be sensible to urge a partnership between all stakeholders so that we can all contribute towards creating capacity for the anti-retroviral roll-out process," said the Head of the SACC Health Directorate, Fr Gary Thompson in a statement today.

"The government has made a commitment to provide anti-retrovirals, and related to this commitment, the Health Ministry has communicated a positive message urging the 'unaffected to remain unaffected'. Together with the envisaged roll-out process, we think this will go a long way towards contributing to the alleviation of what seems a hopeless situation.

"But we have to caution that for all this to happen, we all need to build capacity. The government will have ensure that it expands health facilities to build capacity, and churches and other faith-based communities will have to confront the issue of HIV/AIDS head-on, educating church goers about it in a manner that helps them understand the issues," said Thompson.

Thompson also said a call which was made by President Thabo Mbeki for a comprehensive job creation programme would become an important element in helping people living with HIV/AIDS to enjoy a better life "as they too will have a meal on the table, and therefore derive the benefits of a healthy life style".

"As the entire world focuses on World Aids Day, we hope that the churches will become the vehicle of hope through which we can engender a compassionate attitude to all people infected and affected people with HIV/AIDS.

"As the churches prepare to celebrate Christmas we must use the opportunity to raise the plight of orphans, vulnerable and infected children.

"We must also be alive to the plight of children, especially those affected at birth, and all those who are destitute, homeless, hungry, and unclothed because their parents died of AIDS related diseases."

Issued on behalf of the South African Council of Churches by
Fr Joe Mdhlela
Director: Communications Unit

For more details contact Fr Gary Thompson at 072 415 7758