Religion focuses on HIV/AIDS awareness

A week-long religious HIV/AIDS campaign was launched in Ethiopia on Friday 9 May. The country's Orthodox Church, the Islamic Affairs Supreme Council, and the Evangelical Church said scores of people would benefit from the new approach to HIV/AIDS awareness. "The campaign aims to dispel stigma attached to people living with HIV/AIDS," the country's three main religious groups said in a joint statement. Meanwhile, the head of the National AIDS Secretariat, Negatu Mereke, said more had to be done for HIV/AIDS awareness. "Most Ethiopians have heard of HIV/AIDS but there are many misconceptions, and safe sex is still not practiced," Mereke noted.