Church leaders engage in HIV and AIDS issues in Armenia
“The Church is an institution with access to a wide public and its impact will be visible soon. World Vision has well recognised the capability of the Church to find its own approach and solutions to this global issue,” said Father Vahan Azaryan, an attendee at the workshop in Tsakhkadzor, a town in northeast Armenia.
Observers from World Vision worldwide were invited to monitor the workshop conducted within the “Channels of Hope” framework used by World Vision. The first case of HIV in Armenia was registered in 1988. It is estimated there are now 3,600 HIV carriers. World Vision has well recognised the capability of the Church to find its own approach to this global issue.
“Armenia is still at the stage where we could do something, now and not later,” said Reverend Christo Greyling, the Channels of Hope programme director. When whe started activating the church in in South Africa 15 years ago, HIV prevalence was low. However, the church was reluctant. Now South Africa is confronted with a prevalence. "If the churches and communities had acted earlier we could have prevented the epidemic,” said Greyling.
“In Armenia people living with HIV and AIDS face discrimination mostly in healthcare institutions where doctors refuse to treat them,” said Hovhaness Madoyan, manager of Real World Real People, an NGO, engaged in networking among people living with HIV and AIDS. “In public they just try to keep their HIV status in secret out of fear of negative attitudes. The reason is widespread ignorance and fear over the virus.”
The workshop assisted the dioceses in developing action plans for their response to the impact of HIV and AIDS. “The influence of the church could lead to remarkable success in overcoming stigma and discrimination as the priests are respected and trusted in our society,” said Karine Harutyunyan, World Vision Armenia church and government relations manager.
Participants were educated about ways of transmission and methods of preventing HIV and AIDS. They shared ideas and views and showed willingness to break the silence around HIV and AIDS in their communities.
A lot of work is to be done to assist the church leaders... to change their language into a language of compassion.
“A lot of work is to be done to assist the church leaders to understand HIV better and change their language into a language of compassion. I feel it’s important to enable them to become people who can spread a message and provide information. The church needs to be the channel of hope,” said Greyling.
In 2003 World Vision initiated the “Channels of Hope” programme in Africa to empower church and faith communities with the knowledge and skills to develop their own strategies to combat HIV & AIDS. Based on the lessons learned in Africa, teh programme is now enrolled in otehr regions as well.
Observers from World Vision worldwide were invited to monitor the workshop conducted within the “Channels of Hope” framework used by World Vision. The first case of HIV in Armenia was registered in 1988. It is estimated there are now 3,600 HIV carriers. World Vision has well recognised the capability of the Church to find its own approach to this global issue.
“Armenia is still at the stage where we could do something, now and not later,” said Reverend Christo Greyling, the Channels of Hope programme director. When whe started activating the church in in South Africa 15 years ago, HIV prevalence was low. However, the church was reluctant. Now South Africa is confronted with a prevalence. "If the churches and communities had acted earlier we could have prevented the epidemic,” said Greyling.
“In Armenia people living with HIV and AIDS face discrimination mostly in healthcare institutions where doctors refuse to treat them,” said Hovhaness Madoyan, manager of Real World Real People, an NGO, engaged in networking among people living with HIV and AIDS. “In public they just try to keep their HIV status in secret out of fear of negative attitudes. The reason is widespread ignorance and fear over the virus.”
The workshop assisted the dioceses in developing action plans for their response to the impact of HIV and AIDS. “The influence of the church could lead to remarkable success in overcoming stigma and discrimination as the priests are respected and trusted in our society,” said Karine Harutyunyan, World Vision Armenia church and government relations manager.
Participants were educated about ways of transmission and methods of preventing HIV and AIDS. They shared ideas and views and showed willingness to break the silence around HIV and AIDS in their communities.
A lot of work is to be done to assist the church leaders... to change their language into a language of compassion.
“A lot of work is to be done to assist the church leaders to understand HIV better and change their language into a language of compassion. I feel it’s important to enable them to become people who can spread a message and provide information. The church needs to be the channel of hope,” said Greyling.
In 2003 World Vision initiated the “Channels of Hope” programme in Africa to empower church and faith communities with the knowledge and skills to develop their own strategies to combat HIV & AIDS. Based on the lessons learned in Africa, teh programme is now enrolled in otehr regions as well.
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