By Our Reporter
SHILLONG: Countries designating themselves as ‘religious’ are no exception to the contraction of HIV AIDS epidemic bringing about massive change in the health scenario of the community as a whole.
“HIV AIDS has emerged from the dark ghettos to even the beautiful pews of many worship places”, representative of the North East India Drugs and AIDS Care (NEIDAC) Michael Syngkon said here on Saturday speaking at the State level Convention of ‘Faith Based Organisations of Meghalaya on HIV and Aids’.
Terming a ‘silent organisation’ as a ‘dead organisation’, Syngkon said it is high time to transcend religious fundamentalism and overcome our mistrust of other religious groups and reach out to people in need with humanity and care.
Pointing out the advantages of church organisations and faith based organisations in curbing this disease, Syngkon said “Churches can cater to mass population as they are present in every nook and corner and equal participation of these faith based organisations can bring about a change in the society as far as spreading awareness on HIV AIDS is concerned”.
Expressing the need to respect and remain sensitive to our local culture and traditions, Syngkon said “We need to find a common platform for action” adding that there is a need to formulate a policy frame for engaging as a ‘healing agency’.
“This agency should move beyond conversion to even physical care and support and it should stand as an agent of transformation”, he elaborated.
Stating Meghalaya as a vulnerable state, Syngkon said the flow of migrants to this state is rampant and the movement of trucks along the national highways has become a daily affair.
“As per studies, truck drivers besides others are mostly infected and affected by HIV AIDS and this poses a great threat to the individual’s family members”, Syngkon said adding that it is time to move from judgmental attitude to a more compassionate understanding.
“It is time for the faith based organisations now to respond collectively and restoration of the ‘whole’ individual is the main desire of the Almighty”, he said expressing a need to lend a voice to the voiceless saying “Those infected and affected by this disease will not come forward to express their grievances due to fear of stigmatization and discrimination”.
