Callista wants compassion for Aids patients

Former First Lady Madam Callista Mutharika who is also President Peter Mutharika special Advisor on HIV and Aids and Safe Motherhood, on Sunday  called for more compassion and love to people living with HIV and Aids, saying shame and stigma  prevent many people from getting help and “from protecting themselves in the first place.”

Callista: Compassion can help defeat AIDS
Callista: Compassion can help defeat AIDS

The former first lady was speaking during this year’s Catholic Church’s All- Africa Conference of Sister to Sister (AACSS) in the Capital City Lilongwe.

“Show compassion for those with HIV,” said Callista.

This year’s AACSS theme is ‘HIV and Aids a call to compassion and love’

The meeting started from 1 August and will finish on 8 August this year.

The meeting aims at bringing awareness to the religious women of the three countries of Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

The meeting has drawn sisters from the three countries in helping bringing sisters together in addressing challenges and empower each other to become compassionate.

Callista said “These concepts of peace, love and liberation are not foreign to the Catholic experience, but rather define the very essence of our faith.”

She said religious leaders should not turn blind eye to the realities of the world, saying access to treatment and care are issues of justice.

Others conference speakers agreed.

Speaking earlier, His Grace Bishop Montfort Sitima said HIV and Aids has affected all the human being regarded of whatever status.

Bishop Sitima said Sisters have great role in achieving HIV and Aids free status.

Sister Juliet Ching’amba of Sister of Child Jesus from Zambia said:”The number of orphans is growing, the number of widows is growing, and HIV and Aids is driving a lot of women into prostitution.”

Families can help turn the AIDS epidemic around, Ching’amba said, simply by supporting their children. Young people who feel accepted and respected are more likely to form healthy relationships, said Ching’amba.

During the meeting there will be a number of presentations from well known HIV and Aids experts.

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Concerned Malawian
Concerned Malawian
8 years ago

There is so much stigma in Malawi that’s why some do not want to go for HIV test.They would rather live blindly pretending to have a clean bill of healthy.People are paraded openly at the Light House with no privacy.Monied people would prefer to go to private hospitals for private sake.Callista is right on this issue.

anadimba
anadimba
8 years ago

anthu anachotsedwa ntchito ku napham pano ndi malova chifukwa global fund inachita withdraw funding ku nac chifukwa cha mai woipayo getu ,ati mai wafuko. Fuko lake liti?osauka alibe mawu. Awatenge anthu amenewa awalembe ku beam.

Patriot
Patriot
8 years ago

What is this Gold Digger up to?
Mxiew

Professor Mwanaveka-Cypress University
Professor Mwanaveka-Cypress University
8 years ago

That message should be directed to Gertrude who apart herself showing signs of kudwala, was first NOT TO SHOW COMPASSION TO FELLOW PATIENTS BY PLUNDERING NAC FUNDS. SHAME TO STATEHOUSE. SHAME TO YOU AND SHAME TO MAPWEVU PWEVU GOVERNMENT

Lhwomwe Belt
Lhwomwe Belt
8 years ago

Give this message to Getrude who shamefully plundered HIV Donor Funds!..,iwenso ngwakuba… Expectant mothers are dying like flies …Melinda Gates spoke out against your under performance .., Former First Lady my Foot!

Nancholi
Nancholi
8 years ago

Diverting money from Global Fund to Beam is not being compassionate. Tell Grrtrude Maseko that.

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