YANGON (UCAN) -- A workshop on HIV and AIDS drew 46 people from nine dioceses to the Catholic Bishops' Conference of Myanmar center in Yangon.

It also drew three representatives of the Baptist convention of Myanmar who heard of the event and were keen to participate.

Bishop Paul Zinghtung Grawng of Myitkyina was the local convener and organizer of the Oct. 31-Nov. 4 workshop and participated in all sessions.

Requirements for those attending the workshop were that they represent their dioceses and be prepared to develop follow-up plans there. The 46 people from Myanmar's nine dioceses were a fairly even mix of priests and laypeople.

Ann Smith of the AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) section of the Catholic Fund for Overseas Development of the Bishops' Conference of England and Wales and Father Robert Vitillo of Caritas Internationalis facilitated.

The workshop covered basic factual and medical information on HIV (human immuno-deficiency virus), which leads to AIDS.

It also covered socio-economic considerations and issues particular to Myanmar, psychological aspects and the role of counseling, ethical and moral questions posed by HIV, pastoral considerations and models of Church response.

Plans for the future were also discussed.

Usanee Nansilp of the Thai bishops' Catholic Commission for Health Promotion described the HIV-related work of the commission and the work of the Fountain of Life Center in Pattaya, Thailand, which helps women in the sex trade.

The lay participants were mostly active medical personnel or catechists.

The three Baptist participants are involved in their convention's HIV education program, whose activities they explained during the session on models of Church response to HIV and AIDS.

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