April 25, 2012

First Religious Leader With HIV Speaks Out in Zimbabwe

For several years, the Reverend Maxwell Kapachawo has been the only religious leader in Zimbabwe to openly speak about his HIV status, All Africa reports. If others would disclose their status, he said, “things would start to change.” After testing positive in 2004, Kapachawo was dismissed from his Anglican ministry and spent two years fighting opportunistic infections. After recovering and joining a network of religious leaders living with or affected by HIV, he started a network in Zimbabwe and returned to Christian ministry work. Kapachawo is now speaking out and hoping that other religious leaders will join him and help fight stigma and discrimination.

To read the All Africa story, click here.

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