Dr. Kole Akinboboye, of the Voice of Adonai Ministries in Nigeria told Reuters, "Until now the church has been aloof. We haven't taken this on as our problem. For the first time in Africa the church is standing up to make this relevant."
Organizers are expecting divine intervention in the forms of a scientific breakthrough or perhaps a behavioral shift that would make it possible for society to value sexual morality; the ultimate miracle being the extinction of the virus
AIDS hits Sub-Saharan Africa the hardest; it accounts for almost two thirds of the 40 million who have been infected worldwide.
However, activists believe that in a continent, which gives clergy, a lot of social influence, the focus on morality may backfire. Many churches encourage abstinence and discourage contraception. Anti-AIDS activists believe that an anti-condom policy goes against the prevention of the disease.
On the other hand, Rev. Moss Nthla, general secretary of the Evangelical Alliance of South Africa says that religious leaders have a role to play in supporting victims who are often stigmatized by AIDS.
Nthla said, "People say what is wrong with Africa is that we pray a lot. Here, we are praying and then saying let's do something about it."
Evelyn Mokoena, 35, is HIV-positive. However, she says she feels healthy as a result of gaining access to the government's free antiretroviral drug programs. She also believes that it is a result of prayer.
Mokoena said, "I've been given a second chance by God."
