Anglican Communion News Service

Archbishop Njongonkulu Ndungane

At the recent meeting of primates (archbishops representing the worldwide Anglican Communion) it was resolved that the church’s first priority is to adopt a holistic and effective approach to HIV/AIDS. I was commissioned to facilitate a workshop in order that a strategic plan for sub-Saharan Africa may be developed.

To this end, we have established a working group and the workshop will take place in Gauteng from August 13-16, this year.

Our objectives in developing an integrated strategic plan, include:

1. For people to be equipped with skills to make responsible decisions about their (sexual) behaviour. This includes information and access and skills training on human sexuality, life skills, empowerment of women, involvement of men.
2. To establish local resource and service teams who can give advice information, training and delivery of home based care;
3. To have ready access to ordained and lay leadership to minister to (counsel) HIV infected and affected people;
4. To establish local info and resource centres in our communities;
5. Linking HIV/AIDS to spiritual and ethical issues;
6. To establish active inter-denominational, interfaith, inter-sectorial networking relationships;
7. To establish advocacy and lobbying framework
8. To establish an Sub-Saharan, Provincial or Diocesan funding mechanism.

All of the above objectives have specifics attached to them.