National 8 (Spotlight Weekly)

Call For Religious Leaders

Religious leaders express that they can support the program to fight against HIV\AIDS

By KESHAB POUDEL

Every Friday at the end of the weekly Namaz or praying, the Muslim prayers at the Nepal Jame Masjid are taught about the HIV/AIDS and the need to care and rehabilitate the HIV infected patients.

Victims : Fighting the disease

Similarly, Pundit Narayan Pokharel, well-known Hindu preacher, has already started discussing the issue of HIV/AIDS after the day-break during the time of Saptaha - a seven-day-long holy preaching ritual.

Furthermore, a Catholic Charity has been curing HIV/AIDS patients at Karuna Bhawan in the capital. With the initiative of its president Rajiv Kafle, Nava Kiran Plus, an organization of People Living With HIV/AIDS, has already established Kirtamala Ashrama at Budhanilkantha, a rehabilitation center for HIV/AIDS patients. Along with providing other care, the center allows the patients of HIV/AIDS to perform Puja and other religious works everyday.

“Our experiences at the center show that religion can provide healing for those who are in a desperate situation struggling for life and death,” said Rajiv Kafle. "Religious organizations can help to care the patients and rehabilitate them in society. After listening to the week long Saptaha at Pokhara performed by Pundit Narayan Pokharel, I realized that we can reduce the stigma in society, mobilize resources and take care of HIV/AIDS patients.”

Pundit Narayan Pokharel has already raised about 4 million rupees preaching weekly story or Saptaha. Karuna Bhawan, a Catholic charity is already taking care of more than 100 HIV/AIDS patients.

“We have very limited resources and our capacity is very small. What we are trying to do is to provide care to those needy patients of HIV/AIDS,” said Sister Deepa, director of Karuna Bhawan.

Other religious and faith based organizations have also shown interest to initiate the programs to fight against HIV/AIDS. Nepal Jain Niketan, Gurudawar Guru Nanak Satsang, Buddhist Community, Bishwo Hindu Mahasangh, Kirat Yakthumba Chamlung and many other organizations have expressed commitment to work on HIV/AIDS.

For the first time in a decade, Nepal’s religious organizations have agreed to work along with other civil society organizations and international organizations against HIV/AIDS. Although few religious organizations have already started to work against the epidemic, many others are yet to practice it.

After a decade of efforts on awareness generation through various organizations, the country has finally mobilized a new area to battle the disease.

“The government will support any effort to widen the role of different civic society against HIV/AIDS. This epidemic requires multi-sectoral approach,” said Mohan Bahadur Karki, Secretary at the Ministry of Health.

In a traditional society with low literacy rates, religious and faith based organizations can play important role to combat against HIV/AIDS. From prevention to caring and rehabilitation, these organizations have important roles.

“The mobilization of religious and faith based organization will expand the area to launch the successful fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Kenichi Ohashi, country director of the World Bank’s Nepal Country Office.

Since religious and faith based organizations have wider reach in society, they can generate awareness among people about the infections of HIV/AIDS as well as support the rehabilitation of victims.

“Jainism teaches non-violence and respect for human being. Our religion also protects the right to life of insects. Our organization is happy to launch programs generating awareness against HIV/AIDS," said a representative of Bhagawan Mahabir Jain Niketan.

Since AIDS was first seen in Nepal in 1988, the National Center for AIDS and STD Control now reports that there are more than 775 confirmed AIDS cases and over 4000 confirmed HIV-Positive people till the 28th of November this year.

“The disease is a part of bad practices of modernization caused by eroding values and social practices. The religions always warn not to break social and religious values,” said Dr. Imran Ansari, member of Nepal Jame Masjid. “Qoran has warned that giving up the religious values and practices will cause great pain. We have to hate the virus not the people infected with it.”

At a program organized by the World Bank, Nepal Country office, religious leaders, policy makers and PLWHA talked about the role of religious organizations in Nepal for the Prevention of HIV\AIDS and reduction of Stigma and Discrimination.

On the eve of the World AIDS Day 2004, the unanimous commitment expressed by the religious and faith based organizations are exemplary. Addressed by the religious groups representing Hindu, Buddhist, Jain, Christian, Sikh along with policy makers, donors and people living with HIV/AIDS, this was a first of its kind program where all participating organizations openly put forth their point of views.

At a time when Nepal is heading towards general epidemic, religious and faith based organizations will have important role in rehabilitation and caring of HIV/AIDS. “Despite our intervention efforts, the situation in Nepal is alarming. The number of recorded cases of HIV/AIDS is very low but the epidemic is gradually moving to general population,” said Dr. R.P. Shrestha, director of National Center of AIDS and STD Control and member secretary of the Management Committee, World AIDS Day 2004.

According to WHO/UNAIDS, it is estimated that 62,000 people in the country are living with HIV/AIDS.

“If we cannot launch effective interventions, we will move towards a generalized epidemic by the end of decade,” said Dr. Shrestha. “Some of our intervention programs like the increase the accessibility of condom to the commercial sex workers and truck drivers among the highway has increased awareness. This is a good sign.”

In many places around the world the Religious Organizations (RLs) and Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) have already risen to the challenges of HIV\AIDS. Yet more work is urgently needed to stop the spread and alleviate the suffering caused by AIDS, using compassion, leadership and a sense of moral responsibility that people of all faith and religions embrace.

At the program, whi

ch was facilitated by Rishi Raj Ojha, Chairman of Nepal Harm Reduction Council and Member of the Management Committee, World AIDS Day 2004, Dr. Mangal Man Maharjan, pastor of Patan Church, also spoke the role of religious organizations.

“We are ready to do something to fight against HIV/AIDS,” said Pritam Singh, president of Gurudwar Guru Nanak Satsang. "This is for the first time I am taking part in the talk program against HIV/AIDS,” said Bishnu Prasad Humagain, acting general secretary, Bishwa Hindu Mahasangh.

“South Asia is home to 5.2 million with AIDS and one fourth of them under 25 years. Globally, there are nearly 40 million HIV/AIDS patients. Their number in Nepal is estimated at 62,000. We need a holistic and comprehensive resources,” said Dr. Tirtha Rana, task leader HIV/AIDS at Workplace, the World Bank, Nepal Country Office and a member of the management committee of World AIDS Day 2004 presenting on the theme of sharing global experiences on the role of religious organizations for prevention of HIV/AIDS and to reduce the stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS.

“Religious and faith based organizations are important since they are based in communities, respected and trusted. They are the first contact during pain and sorrow. They are highly influential to shape attitude, behavior and own effective communication strategy and programs that are in-built in the core principle of religion - Sadbhvana, Karuna, Sraddha, Gyan and Seva,” Dr. Rana said.

As the number of HIV/AIDS patients increase, the areas of prevention, too, have expanded. The first South Asia Inter-Religious Council on HIV\AIDS was organized in December 4-6, 2003 and second SAIRC meeting was concluded on November 19-21, 2004 New Delhi, India.

“RLs and FBOs work and are noted to achieve setting an example for breaking the silence and fighting against AIDS related fear, guilt, stigma, shame, denial, discrimination, inaction and miss-action,” said Dr.Rana. “They bring healing and hope by ending fear, ignorance and prejudice. They promote reconciliation between individuals, families and communities. They promote safe caring behaviors.”

As the country needs diverse programs against the HIV/AIDS, the first gathering of local based religious sects and faith based organizations is a good sign to initiate the broad based campaign.