Channels of Hope and Infectious Disease
Channels of Hope HIV & AIDS
The Role of Faith in the HIV & AIDS Response
Faith leaders hold significant influence over attitudes and beliefs about health, sexuality, and morality. In the context of HIV, that influence can either perpetuate stigma or promote healing and inclusion.
Overview
CoH HIV & AIDS works to improve health outcomes for people living with HIV, reduce stigma, and increase care-seeking behaviors such as testing, treatment, and prevention. While barriers like stigma, harmful interpretations of the Bible (for Christians) and other faith texts, (for people of other religions) and taboos around sexuality often prevent access to services, faith communities offer powerful solutions. Faith leaders can model positive behaviors, challenge misconceptions, and use their trusted influence to promote compassion and accurate information.
Outcomes
- Contribute to improved health outcomes for people living with HIV
- Reduce stigma and encourage support for people impacted by HIV
- Increase care-seeking behaviour, voluntary testing and prevention behaviour
To learn more about the specific root causes and assets leveraged in CoH HIV & AIDS click here.
Other Adaptations of Channels of Hope Include:
Channels of Hope Ebola and Channel of Hope Covid-19
Focused strengthening community resilience by ensuring faith leaders actively promote accurate health information and life-saving behaviours. Church and faith leaders can build trust and reduce fear, enabling communities to seek care early and follow prevention measures during health crisis.
