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Volume 4 Journal of HIV & Retro Virus STD 2018
December 03-04, 2018
Page 16
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
December 03-04, 2018 Toronto, Canada
2nd International Conference on
Fred Annin, J HIV Retrovirus 2018, Volume 4
DOI: 10.21767/2471-9676-C2-004
Take Action Now
The church is the rightful place to organize effective HIV interventions because it is the right place where people go to find
love and comfort however the lack of understanding about sexual health issues such as HIV due to the negative traditional
religious interpretations of the HIV condition has given room for stigma and discrimination to operate in the church therefore
making it difficult for the church to entertain HIV interventions that give support to people who are living with HIV and their
families. “Take Action Now” is a module developed to challenge the unfortunate attitude of stigma and discrimination being
practiced in the church against people who are living with HIV. First of all, Pastors and leaders are consulted because they
hold the keys to the doors of the church. This enables discussions about HIV and sexual health issues in the church to flow
positively without much difficulty. After they have bought into the importance of addressing HIV intervention in the church,
then direct training for leaders in the church can then be organized. This training is necessary because it enables the leadership
of the churches to acquire the knowledge about HIV in its rightful context and helps them to also acquire the skills to counsel
members of their congregation with facts. Secondly, Pastors and church leaders are taught how to use key bits of scriptures that
demonstrate compassion as an alternative to those that are used against people who are HIV positive. Through the Take Action
Now module free and confidential HIV testing centers are being opened in churches for the first time in Africa and across the
UK saving many lives and giving thousands of those diagnosed as having HIV the needed treatment, care and support.
Biography
Fred Osei Annin is the Founder and CEO of Action Plus Foundation, UK and has been working in the Pastoral Ministry since 1982. He handedly founded Action Plus
Foundation, UK in 1997 to combat the unfortunate attitude of stigma and prejudice which prevents HIV intervention. His action was to reduce the spread of HIV infection
within the African communities.
Fred Annin
Actionplus Foundation, UK