The Church and HIV AIDS

People’s perception towards people living with HIV/AIDS is a major challenge in the community. There is a need to mitigate understanding, compassion and dignity. Through this people living with HIV will be able to disclose their status and receive the support and respect that all people deserve. Many people experience discrimination because they have HIV/AIDS. This has become an impediment especially to testing, treatment, quality of life and social and economic responses to HIV/AIDS. Discrimination and stigma often comes as a result of the fear and perceptions that the people living with HIV are immoral or living dead. They often suffer from rejection at school, work, medical centers, at home and more worse in the church. People Living with HIV feel shame and rejection. This stigma leads to depression. At this juncture, they are not ready to disclose their status. This suggests that the church efforts in dealing with the vice have proven remarkable success in behavioral and attitudinal change. It is of vital importance that stigma reduction programs involve People living with HIV Aids (PLWHA), the leaders of the church community, and both infected and affected.