LUCSA facilitated a TB & HIV Treatment Literacy workshop in northwestern South Africa 5-9 September.

This workshop focused on informing pastors in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa-Western Diocese on the current approaches to managing TB and HIV infections. The importance of treatment adherence for both TB and HIV was an over-arching theme.

The group spent the week discussing their pastoral responsibilities in helping their congregants and local communities to respond to these infections. The goal was to motivate them to get more involved in the response, knowing that pastors have a very wide reach within their communities that can spawn positive results.

It is hoped that through their abilities to influence local communities, pastors can play a greater role in advocating for early HIV testing in order for people to be able to access treatment as soon as possible. Through this process pastors are not only educated, but are empowered to play a significant role in encouraging safe practices and de-stigmatization of HIV and TB within their communities.