India takes part in the Five–Day Asia AIDS Conference in Sri Lanka

Some 2500 delegates from more than 40 countries are attending a five–day AIDS conference in Sri Lanka to spread awareness and urge a comprehensive approach to tackling AIDS in Asia. Asia has more than 8.6 million people affected with the HIV virus. The Asia–Pacific region has the world’s second largest number of people living with HIV after the sub–Saharan Africa where 25.8 million people are infected with the virus.

Sri Lanka has one of the lowest rates of HIV in Asia, with an estimated 5000 infected people of a population of around 20 million. India by comparison has around 2.5 million people living with the virus, and the country is world's third highest HIV caseload after South Africa and Nigeria.

"We have 8.6 million HIV infected people in Asia, (this is) too many," said Professor Myung Hwan Cho, president of the AIDS society of the Asia and the Pacific in his opening remarks to the 8th International Congress on AIDS in Asia and the Pacific.

Churches and Christian NGOs are participating largely in Asia to eradicate the disease and to prevent it from spreading. Institutions and educational centers have been opened in India and other Asian countries to educate the people of preventing AIDS and to live a safer life in the society.

It is high time that the worldwide churches participate in fighting against the global giants of spiritual darkness and strive to restore health and peace in the people's life.