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Nqobile Tshili/Ngqabutho Moyo  Chronicle Reporters
CHURCHES have been accused of discouraging people living with HIV and Aids from taking their medication by proclaiming them healed due to prayer.National Aids Council (Nac) Matabeleland North provincial Aids coordinator Dingani Ncube said they are having problems with some religious leaders who are stopping their members from taking their anti-retroviral drugs (ARVs) after performing some “miracles.”

Ncube said this during a Matabeleland North provincial Nac meeting held in Bulawayo on Tuesday where many participants expressed similar concerns.

He said a considerable number of HIV-related deaths that are now being recorded resulted from people who would have been misled by religious leaders into delaying taking medication.

“When they go for healing processes in churches they stop taking their medication as they will be told that they have been healed. When they come back for re-treatment, they start having problems because after stopping, there is going to be a relapse in their health,” said Ncube.

He said congregants should not be deceived into believing that there is a cure for HIV and  Aids.

“People should never stop taking anti-retroviral drugs. Issues about spiritual healing are above us but what we know is that what is prescribed by the medical experts should never be stopped. There is no cure for HIV, the cure lies with God and it is yet to come,”  he said.

Ncube blamed some prominent pastors for taking a leading role in this problem.

“There is considerable co-operation from pastors at grassroots level but the challenge comes with the famous pastors at national level. I don’t want to mention names,” said Ncube.

Other participants weighed in saying this was a concern in the province resulting many patients failing to respond positively to their medication.

“We don’t know how best to address this issue,” said one participant.

World Vision southern region health coordinator Sikotshi Sibanda said after realising the extent of dangers posed by such religious leaders, they have started  a programme to engage pastors on the matter.

“Channels of Hope is targeted to the  faith community to create a service  demand for health issues for HIV and nutrition health services. It mobilises the faith community starting with pastors,   faith healers and other cultural leaders,” he said.

Inconsistencies in the uptake of anti-retroviral medication results in viral rebound making it difficult for the drug to effectively help those who are taking it.