Representatives from the three major religions have joined forces with two non-governmental organisations and a United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded group to promote abstinence as a means of staving off HIV/AIDS.
On Wednesday the group, which comprises representatives from the Christian – Love and Faith Outreach Ministries – and the Hindu and Muslim religions, Artistes In Direct Support, the Guyana Responsible Parenthood Association and the USAID/Guyana HIV/AIDS Reduction and Prevention (GHARP) launched an abstinence and `be faithful’ campaign. The campaign will see manuals, posters and a CD being handed out to young people, teaching them about abstinence and being faithful to their married partner.
Osama Abbus Samad said the Muslim community has endorsed the programme as they believe that HIV/AIDS concerns them as well. Samad said that Muslims are commanded by their Prophet to acquire the knowledge and help humanity to prosper. “So it is incumbent on us Muslims to join the fight,” he said.
Pandit Chrishna Persaud said Hindus are taught to remove all defects from their being and joining the fight against the virus could be seen as doing so. He said they are grateful to GHARP for providing the manuals and are happy that it focuses on abstinence, adding that they would bring changes into the homes of Hindus who at one time could not utter certain words. Persaud recalled that an older pandit had initially refused to learn about HIV/AIDS saying that he was old and no longer sexually active so he could not contract the virus. However, they were able to show him how he could be affected if not infected by the virus as his grandchildren could become infected if they are not educated about it.
The pandit said the GHARP training has taught all of the religious leaders a lot and they were also able to learn by exchanging ideas about abstinence, education and behavioural change.
Meanwhile, Pastor Alexander Isaacs, of the Seventh-day Adventist Conference, said that it is a privilege for the Christian community to be involved in the exercise of promoting abstinence which, he says, has been downplayed for some time. Isaacs said abstinence is a positive and a sure way of fighting the virus and as such the Christian community endorses the initiative. He said the group knows that the material will go a long way in fighting HIV/AIDS.
Maikel Henry, a peer educator at the St Sidwells Church, said while working with people he often hears comments about the lack of information promoting abstinence and the abundance of campaigns that promote condom use and being faithful. He said he felt that they were at a disadvantage in this area as abstinence was more important since young people tend to go after things that are popular. Henry said he welcomed the initiative as it would encourage young people to think before making choices.
Early adoption from key personalities within the media fraternity and faith and community based organisations and other stakeholders are among the key goals of the campaign. The group also hopes that the introduction of abstinence as a preventative measure will balance the list of other risk reduction and prevention measures promoted. It hopes the inclusion of local artists in the campaigns will create interest and publicity for the programme. The programme was launched at the Artistes In Direct Support’s North Road location.
