Christian groups are in the Darfur region of Sudan as they continue to work against the spread of HIV and AIDS.

The situation is acute as rape and sexual assault occur on a daily basis and many of the HIV-positive in the region cannot afford the pricey antiretroviral drugs.

|PIC1|Obtaining precise data on the scale of the epidemic in the region has been made difficult by the last three years of intense conflict.

But Action by Churches Together (ACT) International reported that 11 per cent out of 180 people were found to be HIV-positive in recent months, according to tests at a Federal Ministry of Health voluntary counselling and testing clinic in Nyala, the capital of South Darfur state.

ACT has been working with the Sudan Council of Churches (SCC) and Caritas Internationalis, a Catholic relief group, to try to prevent the spread of HIV in Darfur.

"People may have heard of HIV/AIDS, but they do not know what it is or how to protect themselves or care for the infected," Charlotte Brudenell, ACT information officer in Darfur, said.

In addition, Darfurnet, a local group that addresses gender issues, has established committees to help fight the spread of the epidemic.

The SCC, using health ministry information, has also trained 375 people to educate others about HIV care, prevention and counselling, PlusNews reported.

The 17 September will see Christian Aid and other organisations including churches, mosques and synagogues across the UK pray for the people of Darfur.

Christian Aid is calling on the government to meet its promises of ‘never again’ with the corresponding actions that will ensure a lasting peace to what it called “this catastrophe” in the region.