Positive influence for HIV

Participants wave signs, banners, and balloons during the AIDS Treatment March at the Toronto International AIDS Conference 2006 [Melissa Engle/EAA]

Faith-based organisations (FBOs) supporting HIV projects must use their expertise to help shape national policies for fighting the disease, says CAFOD.

CAFOD stresses that governments should be held to account for implementing their HIV strategies, and that faith groups can play a vital role in this.

It is also important to monitor how decisions are made, and how resources and funding are allocated within developing countries.

Although concerns have been raised about a perceived lack of support from HIV networks and funding agencies for FBOs, CAFOD’s HIV corporate strategist Ann Smith says it is more important to be proactive in developing relationships.

Influential role

She says: “Involvement is about more than just getting access to funding. There is an influential role to play by engaging with other sectors of civil society and governments to shape national HIV strategies.”

Funding problems were highlighted in a recent speech by Fr. Robert Vitillo, the Caritas Special Advisor on AIDS, who called for more support of FBOs by networks such as the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

He said: “To meet the challenges of universal access to prevention, treatment, and care posed by HIV and AIDS, we need to match up the funds that already exist with the people who are delivering the services, especially to the poor and marginalised.

“Recently, civil society activists have proposed a dual track system for Global Fund applications – one that would allow direct application to the Global Fund by civil society actors, including faith-based organisations.

“It is my sincere hope that donor governments and all Global Fund Board members will consider this proposal in a favourable manner.”

Greater recognition

A recent report from the World Health Organisation (WHO) now estimates that one-fifth of all organisations engaged in HIV programming are faith-based, providing up to 70 per cent of the total healthcare in many African countries.

It urges the need for greater recognition of the work of FBOs in supporting HIV and AIDS programmes in developing countries.

Religious “assets” are often overlooked by national and international policy makers and there needs to be greater understanding of both the tangible and intangible support provided by CAFOD and our partners.

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