MESSAGE OF ENCOURAGEMENT FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY DURING THE 2015 WORLD AIDS DAY
1st DECEMBER 2015
Receive warm Calvary greetings from the National Council of Churches of Kenya.
I am delighted to join you today in marking this year’s World AIDSDay under the theme ‘Getting to Zero: Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Stigma and Discrimination and Zero AIDS Related Deaths’.This is a day for all of us to think about what we need to do to reduce the number of people who are infected by the HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) and those who die from AIDS (Acquired Immuno Deficiency Syndrome).
My brothers and sisters, Kenya has approximately 1.6 million people who are living with HIV. It is however unfortunate that 29% of all new HIV infections are among the youth aged 10 to 24 years. Information from the government shows that in 2013, 9,720 adolescents died from AIDS related infections.
We all must join hands to reduce the infections and protect ourselves and our people. Towards this, I encourage you to consider the following:
- Go for VCT (Voluntary Counseling and Testing) once in a while and encourage other people to also go. Thereafter,protect yourself and other people by avoiding risky behavioursthat expose you and other people to HIV infection. It is sinful to deliberately infect yourself or others.
- Do not allow people who are living with HIV to suffer from stigma and discrimination. As believers, we must stop equating HIV with sin. We are all sinners before God, just as the Bible says in Romans 3: 23 – “For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God”.
- Form health clubs so that youths who choose to live positively can support each other
Brothers and sisters, let us all join hands to resolve this HIV and AIDS crisis just as we have worked to eradicate other diseases. This will enable all of us to live productive lives as we serve God.
As we come to the end of the Year, I take this opportunity to wish you a Blessed Christmas and a Prosperous New Year 2016.
God Bless You All.
Rev.CanonPeter Karanja
GENERAL SECRETARY
