Ethiopia’s Christian and Muslim leaders have joined to form a common front against the HIV/AIDS pandemic on the African continent.

|TOP|The leaders from the two faith communities expressed their determination to collaborate in all aspects to prevent and control the spread of the disease in a joint statement following a week-long training programme on the role of religious leaders in combating HIV/AIDS.

The programme organised by the Catholic Eparchy brought together more than 30 religious leaders from the Ethiopia Orthodox Tewahido Church, the Catholic Church and the Muslim community of Ethiopia, reports AllAfrica.

Bishop Abuna Tesfaselasie Medhin of Adigrat echoed the expressed desire of the Catholic Church for greater ecumenical work and interfaith dialogue in fighting HIV/AIDS.

“All of us are born as beloved sons and daughters of the Almighty God," he told the gathering. "It is later in the process of the social evolution of the world that we have adopted diversified religious identities. But we have a common God-given humanity that we all have to respect."

|AD|The secretary general of Adigrat Diocesan Catholic Secretariat, Abba Tesfay Lemlem, said that training and consultation among religious leaders was part of the secretariat's integrated programme on HIV/AIDS.

According to the secretary general, other activities include financial support for more than 250 orphans and about 100 persons living with HIV/AIDS.

Gebregziabiher Berhe of the Ethiopian Orthodox Tewahido Church welcomed the efforts of the Catholic Church to take the initiative in developing a united front of religions against the virus.

He added that the training had also provided an opportunity to learn from the Catholic Church’s experience of care and support for persons living with HIV.