13TH WORLD AIDS DAY 2000: A WORD FROM THE U.S. NATIONAL COUNCIL OF CHURCHES
We call on people of faith, in the U.S., and around the world, to join us in prayer for those who are affected by HIV/AIDS. We remember those who have lost their lives to AIDS and we embrace the hope awakened in the international and U.S. consciousness to respond.
We encourage people of faith not to turn away from this issue. Answer the call to respond to this international health crisis, and to learn more about it and what you can do to help. We suggest that you use our recent educational resource, "AIDS in Africa: A Generation At Risk" for study and reflection.
According to statistics recently released by the United Nations AIDS Programme, 3 million people died from HIV/AIDS last year -- the highest global total reported since the pandemic began. The number of children orphaned as a result of HIV/AIDS is estimated to be more than 13.2 million. Because the spread of HIV has reached catastrophic proportions in many areas of our global community, the U.S. government designated AIDS as a national and international security threat earlier this year.
The world’s faith communities play a tremendously important role in preventing the spread of HIV and in caring for those affected by HIV. In some places around the world care and treatment programs operated by religious-based organizations provide the only available source of care. In response to this crisis, the Immigration and Refugee Program of Church World Service is facilitating the resettlement of HIV positive refugees in the U.S. Overseas, CWS is providing assistance to partners in Africa, Asia, the Caribbean and Latin America. We have named the AIDS crisis, especially in Africa, as one of our top advocacy priorities, and have been active in efforts to support meaningful national and global AIDS-response initiatives.
As the world marks the 13th World AIDS Day, we also encourage everyone to participate in appropriate commemorative programs and, and urge that throughout the year, everyone reach out to protect and educate our people, and to provide hope and help to all who are living with HIV and AIDS.
Backgrounder on AIDS Crisis in Africa
AIDS in Africa Worship Resources