Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Tokyo (Fides Service) - As part of a year long effort to fight AIDS in April 2003 the Church in Japan established an HIV/AIDS desk to succeed the bishops’ ad hoc committee on HIV issues. The desk’s present activities include bimonthly meetings, PR, care for carriers, cooperation with other groups and development of a network of Church-related HIV/AIDS activities.
Some years ago HIV/AIDS issues in Japan were given priority by the media and public attention, but today the disease seems to have been forgotten by many, despite the fact that it continues to affect more people. Recently however the Ministry of Health announced with concern that Japan is the only industrialised country where the number of HIV carriers continues to grow. In 2001 there were 621 new HIV positive cases and 614 in 2002. The Minister said that 87% of the new cases were due to sexual transmission.
In view of the situation the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of Japan set up a special desk in Tokyo coordinate Church activity of various Catholic communities and institutions to fight the scourge of AIDS, to assist carriers and sufferers as well as provide information and promote special initiatives within the Church and in Japanese society at large.
(PA) (Fides Service 23/2/2004 lines 23 words 233)
