Religious Sector Releases Healthy Living Policy
The Jamaica Council of Churches (JCC) on Thursday launched a policy statement on healthy living and HIV. The policy statement of the religious sector (churches and other religious organisations) represents the key strategic directions and related objectives and strategies for the response to the epidemic of chronic non-communicable diseases and HIV in Jamaica, and is aimed towards ending HIV- and AIDS-related stigma and discrimination, and gender-based violence (GBV).
The JCC has partnered with the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and the Ministry of Health and Wellness, through the National Family Planning Board, with funding from the Global Fund, in its efforts towards ending AIDS and GBV. The campaign to end AIDS and GBV is an important area of ministry for the JCC, as the organisation is of the view that religious leaders are key partners in the HIV response, especially with regard to promoting positive values, healthy living and respect for all.
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General Secretary of the JCC, Rev Gary Harriott, noted in his welcome the significant milestone of their response to HIV and AIDS. He stated that a research was conducted to determine what religious communities were doing in response to HIV/AIDS across Jamaica, and the results of the research confirmed that these communities were indeed responding to HIV/AIDS. Rev Harriott noted that “based on the research, it alerted us to some gaps, one of which had to do with policy, as a number of religious communities had no policies that guided their response to HIV/AIDS. We also learnt the need for training of religious leaders … and so today, what we have before us that we will sign, is a statement representing the religious communities’ commitment to the engagement of the HIV response”.
Contributed; Jamaica Gleaner
Read the full Healthy Lifestyle & HIV Policy statement on the JCC’s website (external link).
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