African Pastor to Raise Awareness of HIV in Scotland

An African pastor who suffers from HIV will be visiting Scotland from 24 November to 8 December for a series of events to raise awareness of the plight of Africans affected by HIV.

Patricia Sawo is visiting the country following the invitation of the Church of Scotland HIV/AIDS Project and Waverley Care, Scotland's leading HIV care organisation. She will be speaking at services and meetings in Aberdeen, Dundee, Edinburgh and Glasgow.

Sawo's visit will culminate in a major African Faith Conference at Glasgow Royal Concert Hall on Thursday 7 December.

The Moderator of the Church of Scotland, the Rt Rev Alan McDonald said, "At the General Assembly this year, the Kirk recognised that HIV stigma and discrimination continue to act as barriers to effective HIV prevention and care. We called on all Christians in Scotland to work to overcome ignorance and prejudice about people living with HIV wherever they may be."

Rev Sawo echoes that challenge: "I call on you to be in partnership and support to reach black sisters and brothers in your midst who may be living with HIV in fear and ignorance."

David Johnson, Director of Waverley Care said, "Discrimination, borne out of fear and ignorance, has an immense impact on the lives of people living with HIV. Not being able to talk openly about an illness adds an intolerable extra burden to lives already shattered by an HIV diagnosis.

"Patricia's visit will play an important part in helping to break down some of the barriers which still exist, both in faith groups and in the wider community."