Fighting AIDS Stigma

Promoting Communication for Social Change

[Login]

Fighting AIDS Stigma

By Munyaradzi Makoni, South Africa

Christian Council of Ghana’s (CCG) efforts to raise the awareness of its people to eradicate the stigma associated with HIV and Aids is bearing fruit, thanks to WACC, says Joyce Steiner, CCG’s Programme Manager.

“Dying alone is painful, but passing on in respectable dignity is welcome. We want to break major barriers in access to treatment and support,” says Steiner who was representing CCG at a WACC consultation in Cape Town, South Africa, 3 October, just before Congress 2008. WACC partners from 36 countries attended the consultation.

The faith-based CCG runs a human rights, gender and HIV and AIDS programme in several districts in Ghana and has a membership of 17 Protestant churches and two affiliate churches.

Joyce Steiner, CCG’s Programme Manager

“There is a need to arrest the spread of HIV and AIDS, and we have to address the stigma so that more people come and share their stories. Since we started the programme in July this year we have gained overwhelming support,” she adds.

This programme credits its success to WACC’s generous support. “WACC has immensely contributed to the welfare of our organization. They have supported us with funding, technical advice and given us a direction of sustainability. They have also helped us cultivate working relationship with the media,” says Steiner.

The CCG started HIV and AIDS work in 1996, joining hands with WACC in 2003. The two partners have also entered into an arrangement that will see WACC funding a three-year Window of Hope project to fight against stigma.

Steiner says the organization is currently contributing to the National Strategic Framework on HIV and AIDS of Ghana Aids Commission, the umbrella body for regulating AIDS service organizations in Ghana.

“Whatever we do will feed into the larger national component,” says Steiner.

See Congress photos at: www.flickr.com/photos/wacccongress2008

See Congress videos at: www.youtube.com/user/WACCglobal

Add this page to your favorite Social Bookmarking websites

WACC promotes communication for social change. It believes that communication is a basic human right that defines people's common humanity, strengthens cultures, enables participation, creates community and challenges tyranny and oppression.

The World Association for Christian Communication is a UK Registered Charity (number 296073) and a Company registered in England and Wales (number 2082273) with its Registered Office at 71 Lambeth Walk, London SE11 6DX. It is an incorporated Charitable Organisation in Canada (number 83970 9524 RR0001) with its head office at 308 Main Street, Toronto ON, M4C 4X7.