Anglican Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane on Thursday appealed to Southern African people to redouble their efforts to educate themselves and others about HIV/Aids.
”Aids in Southern Africa seems to be stigmatised mainly because of its association with promiscuity, homosexuality, drug abuse and death, as well as [a] lack of education about the means of infection,” the Archbishop said in a statement.
He said worry about blame and discrimination discourages testing and disclosure.
Ndungane said the United Nations Aids statistics for 2006 show that 2,8-million infections and 2,1-million deaths were reported in sub-Saharan Africa.
”They show very clearly that we cannot afford to sit back, fondly imagining that the disease is under control or that it does not affect us,” Ndungane said.
He said all South Africans are affected by Aids and said everyone should take responsibility for it.
”By ignoring it or stigmatising those who are infected, we are paving the way for even more frightening statistics.”
He said the blaming, shaming and excluding of people living with HIV/Aids among most communities, including the church, is still a major challenge.
However, signs that the South African government and civil society organisations are beginning to work together are encouraging, said Ndungane.
”Little has been gained through past conflict, and unity can only be of benefit to the millions of South Africans infected with or affected by the disease,” he said. — Sapa