Translate Experiences to Action, Akinola Urges Church’s Provincial HIV Coordinators
CONN/811205
Abuja, December 13, 2005- The Most Rev Peter Akinola has urged Provincial HIV/AIDS Coordinators of the Church, who attended the just concluded International Conference on Aids and Other Sexual Transmitted Diseases in Africa (ICASA 2005) to translate their experiences into action when they return to their various dioceses.
Receiving the delegates at the Episcopal House Abuja, the Primate said given the amount of resources dissipated in organizing the conference, the Church must blaze the trail in tackling the issues at hand which is to bring succor to those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.
Akinola, who was represented by the General Secretary of the Church Venerable Oluranti Odubogun said in spite of the awareness already generated on HIV/AIDS more needs to be done for those living with the disease.
“Quite a lot of resources are spent on people coming together, training, conferencing and discussing the issue, he said, and alleged that a “significant proportion of resources that is not enough to combat the scourge is being spent on traveling, hotel accommodation and others.”
The General Secretary also questioned the rationale of organizing ‘unending’ international symposia on HIV/AID while the main issue of caring and supporting persons living with the virus receives little attention.
Let the movement of people be geared towards actually tackling the problems,” he said.
Earlier, the Director of Social Welfare of the Church, Ven. Christian Ebisike stressed that one good thing the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) has achieved is to further break the silence on the reality of HIV/AIDS.
The sizable representation of the Anglican Church at this international conference should covey the seriousness we as a church attach to this scourge, said Ven. Ebisike.
The list of Anglican delegates to ICASA include: Ven Dr Christian Ebisike (National Officer) , Mr. Emmanuel Olatunji (National Officer), Rev Sam Akale (National Officer), Mr. Pita-Pita Akparnata (Kubwa -Abuja Province), Rev Gabriel Hundu (Makurdi-Abuja Province), Mrs. Ojapa (Lokoja-Abuja Province ), Rev. Ferdinand Mbalisi (Owerri Province ), Rev Nelson Adewole (Ekiti-Oke- Ondo Province), and Rev Cyprian Nwankwo (Awka-Province on the Niger).
Others are Mrs. Wankasi Helen (Niger-Delta West- Niger-Delta Province), Rev Timothy Adeleye (Igbomina- Ibadan Province), Ven. G.O.A. Akinyele ( Ibadan North – Ibadan Province), Rev John Danbaba (Kebbi- Kaduna Province), Ven. Gospel Umukoro (Ughelli-Bendel Province), Rev Engr. Jeffery (Ideato-Owerri Province), Rev. Emmanuel Adekoya (Lagos Province) and Rev Noel Bewarang (Jos Province)
CONN/811205
Abuja, December 13, 2005- The Most Rev Peter Akinola has urged Provincial HIV/AIDS Coordinators of the Church, who attended the just concluded International Conference on Aids and Other Sexual Transmitted Diseases in Africa (ICASA 2005) to translate their experiences into action when they return to their various dioceses.
Receiving the delegates at the Episcopal House Abuja, the Primate said given the amount of resources dissipated in organizing the conference, the Church must blaze the trail in tackling the issues at hand which is to bring succor to those infected and affected with HIV/AIDS.
Akinola, who was represented by the General Secretary of the Church Venerable Oluranti Odubogun said in spite of the awareness already generated on HIV/AIDS more needs to be done for those living with the disease.
“Quite a lot of resources are spent on people coming together, training, conferencing and discussing the issue, he said, and alleged that a “significant proportion of resources that is not enough to combat the scourge is being spent on traveling, hotel accommodation and others.”
The General Secretary also questioned the rationale of organizing ‘unending’ international symposia on HIV/AID while the main issue of caring and supporting persons living with the virus receives little attention.
Let the movement of people be geared towards actually tackling the problems,” he said.
Earlier, the Director of Social Welfare of the Church, Ven. Christian Ebisike stressed that one good thing the International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa (ICASA) has achieved is to further break the silence on the reality of HIV/AIDS.
The sizable representation of the Anglican Church at this international conference should covey the seriousness we as a church attach to this scourge, said Ven. Ebisike.
The list of Anglican delegates to ICASA include: Ven Dr Christian Ebisike (National Officer) , Mr. Emmanuel Olatunji (National Officer), Rev Sam Akale (National Officer), Mr. Pita-Pita Akparnata (Kubwa -Abuja Province), Rev Gabriel Hundu (Makurdi-Abuja Province), Mrs. Ojapa (Lokoja-Abuja Province ), Rev. Ferdinand Mbalisi (Owerri Province ), Rev Nelson Adewole (Ekiti-Oke- Ondo Province), and Rev Cyprian Nwankwo (Awka-Province on the Niger).
Others are Mrs. Wankasi Helen (Niger-Delta West- Niger-Delta Province), Rev Timothy Adeleye (Igbomina- Ibadan Province), Ven. G.O.A. Akinyele ( Ibadan North – Ibadan Province), Rev John Danbaba (Kebbi- Kaduna Province), Ven. Gospel Umukoro (Ughelli-Bendel Province), Rev Engr. Jeffery (Ideato-Owerri Province), Rev. Emmanuel Adekoya (Lagos Province) and Rev Noel Bewarang (Jos Province)
