The Hope For Future Generation (HFFG) in collaboration with the Ghana AIDS Commission, the Adventist Development Relief Agency (ADRA) and the Global Fund, have taken HIV/AIDS and Voluntary Counseling Testing education into local Churches.
"We are targeting churches including Pentecost Church because it is not easy talking about HIV, Condom use and sex education in some of our churches," Mrs Cecelia Lodonu-Senoo, Executive Director of the Foundation said on Sunday.
Speaking at the Mount Olive Assembly of the Pentecost Church in Kasoa, in the Central Region she said: "It is our hope that through this outreach programmes to the churches, many people will be reached with the anti-stigma and anti-HIV messages and the promotion of Voluntary Counseling Testing in the congregations."
She said with time, these messages would permeate the entire society, stressing that the Church is an important social change agent.
Mrs Lodonu-Senoo said when people adhered to HIV prevention measures such as abstinence, use of condom and being faithful to ones partner could bring about a dramatic change.
"It is our hope that the Pentecost Church in Kasoa having embraced the anti HIV sigma crusade and the enthusiasm shown by the congregation in the VCT, when sustained will augur well for the national fight against the HIV
pandemic."
We want everybody to know their status and this is the vision of Ghana AIDS Commission, National AIDS Control Programme and the whole of the national responses to make sure Ghanaians know their status, and that is the entry point to treatment.
The Presiding Elder of the Church, Emmanuel Ackom, also the Internal Auditor of the Ghana AIDS Commission, said he has come to realize that
Church members needed knowledge in HIV.
"So I took it upon myself to engage the Hope For Future Generation to give the members the opportunity to understand issues of HIV which is becoming a critical area in human life.
"I think I have never regretted because members were so interested in the topics that were discussed and their contributions confirmed that every member in church of Pentecost need this kind of service. I will recommend the church leaders work even harder in this area."
Elder Ackom said VCT, which is now refers to as Counseling and Testing (CT), has become very critical in the fight against HIV.
He said abstinence, is very difficult to follow by the youth and that some were eager and out of curiosity fell prey to peer pressure, which could lead them to engage in unhealthy sex.
"The best thing apart from the biblical teachings is to expose them to Counseling and Testing, which can also give them knowledge in HIV and other STIs prevention techniques to guarantee them healthier life."
He urged Churches to open their doors so that the HIV messages could be preached in the congregation for every member to benefit from.
Two persons living with the HIV shared their testimonies to the Church members.