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Interfaith service aims to eliminate denialism
Emily Goligoski. Cape Times. 27 May 2005. Republished courtesy of Independent Newspapers (Pty) Ltd.
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Hundreds of Capetonians turned out for an interfaith service in the city on Thursday aimed at halting HIV/AIDS denialism. The "Food, Anti-retrovirals and Healthcare for All" service drew speeches by political and church leaders on drug rollout, inter-denominational commitments and the importance of good nutrition in delaying the disease's onset.
Participants sang and held signs to "treat 200 000 by 2006" as people poured into St George's Cathedral, which canon Walter Brownridge said was honoured to be a supporter in the struggle for healthcare before reading the opening prayer.
Treatment Action Campaign (TAC) representative Mark Heywood welcomed participants, including seven taxis full of people from Atlantis, traditional healers, residents from Gugulethu and Khayelitsha, and church and trade union members.
The service was held during a break from the TAC's defamation lawsuit at the Cape High Court against Matthias Rath, who the TAC says has accused it of being a front for pharmaceutical companies.
Lorenzo Fortuin told the audience that he would be dead if it were not for the ARVs he started taking after being diagnosed HIV-positive last year. "I was living in denial, but someone took me to a clinic and ARVs are the best thing that could have happened to me," said Fortuin, who said his CD4 cell count was 73 before he went on the drugs and is now 184.
"I admit that I made some wrong choices, but I'm still willing to go on with my life.
"I'm proud of my family for accepting me, and the TAC has had a tremendous impact on my life," Fortuin said.
He spoke about living with the virus at a youth camp in February to motivate others to learn their status.
Reverend Roger Roman of the Western Cape Council of Churches was joined by Father Bruce Jenniker from the South African Council of Churches in discussing the importance of faith-based organisations speaking out.
"We fear people will make life-changing decisions as a result of hearing that vitamins are an alternative to HIV," said Jenniker. Roman also said that churches needed to get more involved in HIV/AIDS education to raise awareness.
Cosatu representative Tony Ehrenreich repeated "we believe that an injury to one is an injury to all" along with the audience during his speech. He said HIV/AIDS could not be separated from other issues affecting working families, including unemployment, housing and income grants. |
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