[ACNS] The Archbishop of Canterbury has given his strong support to the work of community-based responses to the global Aids epidemic ahead of next month’s UN High Level Meeting on Ending Aids in New York.

In a video message released in ahead of the 8 – 10 June meeting, Archbishop Justin Welby celebrates the great progress that has been made to eliminate Aids as a threatening global disease by 2030, and calls for a “great further step” the mobilisation of “political, financial, technical and clinical resources through communities” to make this a reality.

He praises the role of communities, and particularly faith-based communities, in providing treatment for the poor and marginalised. In particular, the Archbishop highlights the role that the Anglican Communion has played for many years in offering community-based treatment, “enabling communities to . . . support the victims of Aids, their families and others affected directly and indirectly.”

Yesterday, ACNS reported how the United Society was supporting UN secretary general Ban Ki-moon’s plan to abolish Aids as a global health threat by 2030. “Faith-based organisations have always played a key role in the response to HIV and Aids,” the Anglican mission agency’s Evie Vernon said. “This includes the United society; we continue to support programmes to combat the impact of HIV and Aids run by Anglican Churches around the world.”