Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2008. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies - December 4, 2008
Rishani Wijesinghe in Sri Lanka
In line with this years theme of 'Leadership for HIV Prevention', the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society brought together leaders from the Christian, Hindu, Buddhist and Muslim faiths to discuss the challenges of tackling the stigma and discrimination surrounding HIV.
The religious leaders addressed an audience of youth, the police force, the Sri Lankan army, health workers and members of the International Red Cross and Red Cress Movement. They explored themes focused around acceptance of people living with HIV and the need for society to act together to overcome prejudice.
Protect people
Akram Moulavi, a representative from the Jumma Mosque in Mattakuliya, just outside Colombo, encouraged the public to use World Aids Day as an opportunity to accept and protect people living with HIV in a country where discrimination is rife.
"This is a good day to talk about compassion and equality, and more so in a time where people are driven apart by the social stigma of HIV/AIDS," he says.
All four religious leaders stressed that the vulnerable should be protected and highlighted the need to show compassion to those considered widely regarded as different.
Show empathy
"We cannot just rely on one day of the year to show our empathy towards the victims of HIV/AIDS. In Buddhism, we believe we must accept people for who they are," says Rev. Uduwe Dhammaloka, a Buddhist priest from Asapuwa, adding that, "as humans, we tend to treat people differently, but from today, we must all try to teach others to accept that victims of HIV/AIDS are humans too".
Despite the low incidence of HIV amongst Sri Lanka's population, more than 4,000 people are now living with the disease and infection rates are rising. According to Jagath Abeysinghe, Honorary President of the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society, engaging religious leaders in discussions about HIV is a vital step to boost people's awareness and stem the spread of the disease.
"There are many myths and misconceptions about HIV, not just in Sri Lanka but throughout the world," says Abeysinghe. "Religious leaders can be very influential in the fight against the disease. They can play an important role in educating communities in every corner of the country."
Preventing infections
At the event, the Sri Lanka Red Cross Society also pledged to increase its HIV programming in the country by joining the Red Cross Red Crescent Global Alliance on HIV - a partnership committed to preventing further HIV infections, expanding care, treatment and reducing the stigma and discrimination associated with the disease. In joining the alliance, the Sri Lanka Red Cross aims to double the outreach and impact of its HIV awareness and prevention programmes by 2010.
Currently the Sri Lanka Red Cross is focusing its prevention efforts at high risk groups including more than 18,000 workers in Sri Lanka's highland tea estates in the districts of Badulla and Nuwara Eliya. During 2008, HIV awareness sessions have also been held with 70,000 truck drivers, textile workers, school based youth, prisoners, the police and migrant workers. Plans are in place to extend the programme in 2009 to also cover hotel workers in Sri Lanka's tourist industry as well as members of the armed forces.
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