SINCE the first cases of Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) were reported in 1981, experts say infection with human immune deficiency virus (HIV) has grown to pandemic proportions.
Studies also show that no country has been spared by this scourge which has resulted in an estimated 65 million infections and 25 million deaths.
Zambia has not been spared by the HIV/AIDS pandemic which has claimed thousands if not millions of lives.
Successive governments in Zambia have long realised the socio economic impact of this pandemic hence their decision to put in place measures to deal with it before it reached catastrophic proportions.
These measures which include sensitisation programmes seem to be yielding results and this can be evidenced by the drop in infection rates in some parts of the country.
The provision of antiretroviral drugs is another mitigatory measure that the Government has put in place to help those who are already infected with HIV virus.
Research shows that the drugs improve the health and prolong life of those who are infected, in fact  a study done in 2008 showed that ARVs can extend life expectancy by 35 years.
It is, however, sad to note this well intentioned programme that is being spearheaded by the Government has been facing resistance from certain sections of the Church where some pastors are discouraging people from taking the life-saving drugs in the belief that they can only be healed through prayers.
We,therefore, welcome the wise counsel by Health Minister Chitalu Chilufya for the clergy to stop this retrogressive practice.
The minister observed in an interview that ARVs prolonged life and that clerics who were encouraging people living with HIV or AIDS to stop treatment were endangering lives.
It is unfair for some members of the clergy to discourage their congregants from taking  ARVs, in fact the ideal situation would be for the Church and the health practitioners to work together in the fight against the disease.
We would like to see a situation where health practitioners are invited to churches so that they teach the people about how they can avoid catching HIV.
To tell people not take their medication is in our view tantamount to murder and we urge the authorities to move in on such men of God before more lives are lost.
What is even more frightening is that over 1 million people in Zambia are said to be living with HIV and if the ‘no adherence’ messages are allowed to reach these people this could spell disaster for the country.
Our church leaders should take a leaf from renowned Zimbabwean pastor Paul Sanyangore who was quoted last year as having counseled fellow pastors as follows:
“We also need to be responsible as pastors and ensure that we tell the congregants the truth.
“Medicines are a gift from God, hence we should allow health workers to do their job as we deal with the spiritual side.”