Catholic church targets HIV positive children in GRAIL project

TARGETED at engendering early diagnosis and treatment of HIV-positive children, the Catholic Church, through Caritas Nigeria, has unveiled the GRAIL project.

The project which aims to galvanise religious leaders and faith-based organisations for accelerated identification and engagement in pediatric anti-retroviral and HIV response was brought to bare at a workshop which ended in Ibadan, on Thursday.

Deputy Executive Secretary, Caritas Nigeria, Reverend Father Uche Obodoechina, who gave a load down of the project at the workshop, said clergy were being enlisted as advocates to sensitise the grassroots on the imperativeness of HIV testing and treatment.

Obodoechina noted that the project will see special groups, comprising the clergy and religious, government representatives, faith-based organisations, embark on HIV sensitisation campaigns in local diocese and rural communities across the country.

Speaking on the importance of pastoral healthcare, Director, Justice Development and Peace Commission, Dr Ibe Chiwuba said the clergy must give a special place in their ministry to defenceless children suffering diseases like HIV, the terminally ill, the sick, elderly and victims of drug abuse.

According to Chiwuba, pastoral theology without the clergy mingling with the miserable, lowly, suffering children was a waste.

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He emphasized that the clergy must preach sermons of hope, empathy and speak against discrimination and stigmatisation.

Noting that about half of persons living with HIV were children, Chiwuba added that pastoral healthcare must sustain hope, restore life, be compassionate and people-centred.

On stemming HIV among children, Deputy Programme Manager, Oyo State Agency for the Control of Aids (OYSACA), Mrs Olusola Jimoh stressed that mothers must have access to HIV counselling and testing and intensify early infant diagnosis.

She also urged the church to work with traditional birth attendants on the importance of positive living and collaborate with the government on speaking against stigmatization and discrimination.

Jimoh urged religious leaders to cash in on their views being respected to sensitise their flock that HIV is not a death sentence.

On his part, Focal Point for Health and HIV Caritas Internationalis, Stefano Nobile emphasized the importance of value-based prevention education especially to persons in need and living in remote settings.

Nobile, represented by Dr Olawale Fadare, also charged heads of religious bodies, government agencies and well-meaning individuals to support the families of persons living with HIV.