Catholic Archdiocese of Suva counsellor Brother Fergus Garrett said they had been very much part of preparation of two documents, “Fiji Inter-Faith Strategy on HIV/AIDS” and “Pacific Guide to HIV for Christian Ministers, Pastors and Communities”, from the beginning to the final stage. The documents were launched in Suva last Thursday by the President of Read more
The Bishops’ Conference of Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands has announced its “conscientious objection” to an education ministry directive that requires high schools to distribute condoms to students. “Even if the document issued by the Ministry of Education has many positive points, we cannot be forced to follow a policy which contradicts with Read more
Africa’s future focused Pope Benedict’s attention on his second trip to the continent. In his final homily the Pope told some 50,000 packed into a stadium at Contonou and another 30,000 watching on giant screens from outside that corruption is not acceptable, AIDS is mainly an ethical problem and to seek reconciliation in the face of Read more
The UN has put out the word that the population of the world reached 7 billion on 31 October 2011. according to the 2010 Revision of World Population Prospects. It admits the date is symbolic and its calculations could be out by 6 months in either direction. In the press release, issued on 3 May Read more
Sister Luzia Wetzel, the coordinator of the Zambia’a youth Alive HIV/Aids prevention programme, said, “Condoms are not the solution to Aids.” Sister Wetzel has had 40 years experience working in Africa and believes that rather than emphasizing the use of condoms, behaviour change is the key to tackling the problem. The Youth Alive programme, which has Read more
A pregnant teenager is questioning why students are being taught about sex when they are so young, especially given sex isn’t legal until the age of 16. Amber-Leigh Erasmus, who is now 17, is due to give birth to her first child on Saturday, a result of having unprotected sex during New Year celebrations. Amber-Leigh Read more
Pilgrims will not be likely to forget the 2011 Madrid World Youth Day in a hurry. Any event that gathers 1.5 – 2 million young people together to celebrate their faith is a huge success, and whether it be the intense heat, untimely rain and wind or the growth in faith, the atmosphere of the Read more
AIDS experts from around the world gathered in Rome to attend a Vatican conference on AIDS HIV. The a two-day conference, organized by the Pontifical Council for Health Care Workers, looked at the role the Church plays in treating the disease and discussed ways of preventing the spread of HIV and caring for people with AIDS. Read more
A health expert last week praised the Church in the Philippines for the way in which it is helping patients with HIV/AIDS, but criticized its stand on preventing the disease’s spread. “The Church, especially the nuns, has been especially supportive,” said Dr. Ofelia Monzon, founding president of the AIDS Society of the Philippines, adding that Read more
Fiji reproductive health practitioners have taken part in a one-day training program on reproductive health. Program’s director, Joanne Cohen says Fiji has a high rate of sexually transmitted diseases. Cohen told Radio Australia’s Pacific Beat program that condoms are not widely used or accepted and the prgram was part of a plan to merge counselling Read more