MALAWI: Catholic Health Commission calls for HIV/AIDs Mainstream interventions in the Church
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| Group Photo of the Participants |
The Catholic
Health Commission (CHC) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has
challenged Lay Movements in the Catholic Church to take a deliberate effort in
mainstreaming HIV/AIDs related issues in their day to day activities as one way
of overcoming the pandemic within the Church and nation at large.
Health Commission (CHC) of the Episcopal Conference of Malawi (ECM) has
challenged Lay Movements in the Catholic Church to take a deliberate effort in
mainstreaming HIV/AIDs related issues in their day to day activities as one way
of overcoming the pandemic within the Church and nation at large.
National
Secretary for Catholic Health Commission, Bertha Magomero was speaking on Wednesday
9th March 2016 in Salima during a one-day advocacy meeting with
national lay movements leaders drawn from various movements groups under ECM.
Secretary for Catholic Health Commission, Bertha Magomero was speaking on Wednesday
9th March 2016 in Salima during a one-day advocacy meeting with
national lay movements leaders drawn from various movements groups under ECM.
“Our main objective
is to mobilize Church organizations to mainstream HIV and AIDS in their
activities through advocacy meetings, to coordinate and provide leadership on
HIV and AIDS program implementation by the Catholic Church and to improve
quality of HIV and AIDS program delivery by the Catholic Church,” said
Magomero.
is to mobilize Church organizations to mainstream HIV and AIDS in their
activities through advocacy meetings, to coordinate and provide leadership on
HIV and AIDS program implementation by the Catholic Church and to improve
quality of HIV and AIDS program delivery by the Catholic Church,” said
Magomero.
According to
her, many Church movements especially youth movements are mainly focusing on
Spiritual aspects during the meetings, while they should as well consider
discussing social issues such as HIV and AIDS affecting the majority of people.
her, many Church movements especially youth movements are mainly focusing on
Spiritual aspects during the meetings, while they should as well consider
discussing social issues such as HIV and AIDS affecting the majority of people.
Alinafe
Kondwani, a second year journalism student at Polytechnic, a constituent
college of the University of Malawi challenged elderly movements within the
Church to take an initiative in counseling the youth on various issues that
affect them including that of HIV/AIDS.
Kondwani, a second year journalism student at Polytechnic, a constituent
college of the University of Malawi challenged elderly movements within the
Church to take an initiative in counseling the youth on various issues that
affect them including that of HIV/AIDS.
“As youths
in the Church we need moral and spiritual support from all stakeholders within
including the elderly so that we grow holistically. The problem is that there
is information gap between us the youths and the elders including our parents
so that we are able to make informed decisions,” said Kondwani who is the
national secretary for Young Christian Students (YCS).
in the Church we need moral and spiritual support from all stakeholders within
including the elderly so that we grow holistically. The problem is that there
is information gap between us the youths and the elders including our parents
so that we are able to make informed decisions,” said Kondwani who is the
national secretary for Young Christian Students (YCS).
Her
sentiments were echoed by the National President for Young Christian Workers,
Mike Chibwana who said that youths in the country are facing numerous
challenges ranging from unemployment which leads to idleness hence the
temptation to indulge in ill behaviors which contributes to increase in cases
of HIV/AIDS amongst the youth.
sentiments were echoed by the National President for Young Christian Workers,
Mike Chibwana who said that youths in the country are facing numerous
challenges ranging from unemployment which leads to idleness hence the
temptation to indulge in ill behaviors which contributes to increase in cases
of HIV/AIDS amongst the youth.
National
Director for Pontifical Missionaries Society of the ECM, Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa in
whose docket falls all Catholic Lay Movements in the country said the workshop
was crucial as it gives an opportunity to all stakeholders within the Church to
ensure that there is proper response to HIV/AIDS.
Director for Pontifical Missionaries Society of the ECM, Fr. Vincent Mwakhwawa in
whose docket falls all Catholic Lay Movements in the country said the workshop
was crucial as it gives an opportunity to all stakeholders within the Church to
ensure that there is proper response to HIV/AIDS.
“Our
Christians especially the youths are facing many challenges because of the
social change today. So, there is need for the Church leaders and parents to
listen and be available hence accompany with humble and compassionate heart to
the youth and children in a family,” said Fr. Mwakhwawa.
Christians especially the youths are facing many challenges because of the
social change today. So, there is need for the Church leaders and parents to
listen and be available hence accompany with humble and compassionate heart to
the youth and children in a family,” said Fr. Mwakhwawa.
Among the
participants to the workshop included; Catholic Women Organisation (CWO),Young
Christian Workers (YCW), Young Christian Students (YCS), National Movement for
Catholic Students (NMCS), Worldwide Marriage Encounter and Christian Family
Movement.
participants to the workshop included; Catholic Women Organisation (CWO),Young
Christian Workers (YCW), Young Christian Students (YCS), National Movement for
Catholic Students (NMCS), Worldwide Marriage Encounter and Christian Family
Movement.
Catholic
Health Commission is implementing the “Mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS in the
Catholic Church” project funded by the National Aids Commission (NAC).
Health Commission is implementing the “Mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS in the
Catholic Church” project funded by the National Aids Commission (NAC).
By Prince Henderson, ECM
Communications Officer
Communications Officer
