Faith leaders commit to confronting TB and HIV stigma

Nearly 80 religious leaders and faith healers from KwaZulu-Natal Province - which has the highest rate of tuberculosis (TB) and the highest incidence of TB-HIV co-infection in South Africa – met in Durban, South Africa, on 15 July to learn more about disease transmission, diagnostics and care, and to discuss what they, as trusted members of the community, can do to reduce stigma, encourage testing and treatment, and spread awareness and positive messaging about TB and HIV within their congregations.

This meeting is the second in a series of information-gathering sessions from The Union to learn more about harnessing religious groups and leaders to reach rural populations who often suffer higher rates of disease. Led by Reverend Nicholas Bhengu, a religious leader from KwaZulu-Natal, the all-day meeting consisted of information sessions on TB, followed by break-out discussions in which the participants shared ideas on how best to reach their communities.

The Union and partners Desmond Tutu HIV Centre and the Department of Health of KwaZulu-Natal Province facilitated the sessions, which were conducted both in English and in ‘isiZulu’.

Using feedback from the meeting, The Union presented its ideas to the International AIDS Conference (AIDS2016) in Durban on 18 July where it hosted a discussion session in the Global Village, calling on delegates to share their experiences working through faith communities. The session was well attended and many delegates signed up to collaborate as a result.

The Union will use the information to continue with outreach efforts and to design a programme model to reach the citizens of KwaZulu-Natal Province.