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AIDS in focus in Nicaragua
Source: Norwegian Church Aid - Norway
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Norwegian Church Aid was present at the conference, held in Nicaragua, both through its partner organisations and as financial backer. The Crown Princess participated in a meeting for women leaders who are affected by HIV and AIDS, and spoke at length with several of them. She also met with different groups who are particularly at risk of infection with the HIV virus.
One of the key reasons for Mette-Marit's participation was to help reduce stigma and discrimination. On Tuesday the Princess met with president Daniel Ortega and representatives from four Norwegian development organisations – including Norwegian Church Aid – that run HIV and AIDS projects in Nicaragua.
Bishops present
As part of the conference programme, Norwegian Church Aid organised a meeting for the bishops of the Catholic, Lutheran, Episcopalian and Moravian churches to discuss issues related to HIV and AIDS. Norwegian Church Aid also provided over US$ 36,000 towards financing the conference though its partner organisation in El Salvador ATLACATL, that leads the Central American Network for People Living with HIV and AIDS.
As well as being the site of the Central American Conference for People Living With Aids, Nicaragua has also played host to the AIDS congress CONCASIDA from November 4 – 9 this week. Around 2000 delegates gathered from Central and Latin America to take part in various activities including a round-table meeting to discuss how churches can better deal with problems related to HIV and AIDS.
Last weekend, the first regional meeting to gather the partner organisations of Norwegian Church Aid, CAFOD, Christian AID and DIAKONIA to discuss and share their experiences in working with HIV and AIDS. Six bishops from different churches in the region have also been invited to the meeting to share their experiences.
For more information:
- Erik Berge, Programme Coordinator for Latin America, tel.: (+47) 932 42 431, e-mail: erb@nca.no
- CONCASIDAs website (in Spanish only)
Related articles:
- HIV and AIDS Forum in Mexico (10.11.2006)
- United against HIV and AIDS (22.11.2005)
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
