Some 24 religious leaders in Ghana have been trained to use their platforms to encourage people who test HIV positive to disclose their status and also to address the challenges they face from stigmatization.

They have also been equipped with the right skills to provide services in prevention, care, and treatment of the disease. The three-day training, was organized by INERELA + Ghana, a chapter of the international interfaith network of religious leaders- both lay and ordained, women and men- who are living with or are personally affected by HIV.

The participants, who included queen mothers, were trained with a comprehensive tool that talks about how to reduce Stigma and Discrimination of HIV (SAVE). The SAVE tool kit, unlike most materials on HIV prevention, highlights the impact of Stigma, Shame, Denial, Discrimination, Inaction and Mis-action (SSDDM) in the fight against HIV.

The National Coordinator of INERELA+Ghana, Mrs Mercy Acquah-Hayford, noted that religious leaders had a unique authority in providing moral and ethical guidance within their communities and influence on public opinion. This is because Ghanaians are highly religious and many assign spiritual motives to the challenges they face.

“It is unfortunate that serious health issues such as HIV and AIDS are also considered as purely spiritual diseases and instead of visiting a health facility for treatment, care and support, victims resort to prayer camps,” she said.

The National Coordinator urged religious leaders with this mindset to encourage their followers to go in for professional health care while seeking spiritual growth and protection.

“It is, therefore, prudent to empower these religious leaders with knowledge on HIV and AIDS and other Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and to discuss issues on sex and gender, which faith leaders find difficult to talk about,” she said.

Mrs Acquah-Hayford expressed concern about the struggle faith communities go through to overcome the inhibition of talking about sex and assisting young people to understand safer sex in views of the fact that more 90% of new HIV infections are contracted through unprotected sex.