NEW DELHI (UCAN) -- Church groups in India have expressed willingness and readiness to work with the government and others to contain the spread of HIV/AIDS in the country.

The Catholic Church in India is "a willing partner and collaborator to combat this menace," Apostolic Nuncio to India Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana declared at an international meeting.

The Health Commission of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India organized the April 12-13 consultation and workshop in New Delhi. It marked the second phase of a Church project that began in 2003.

Approximately 70 participants including officials of U.N. organizations such as UNAIDS, UNICEF (United Nations Children's Fund) and the World Health Organization attended the event. Representatives of the U.S.-based William J. Clinton Foundation, USAIDS and the Catholic Medical Mission Board of the United States also participated, as did Indian government and Church health-care officials.

Archbishop Lopez Quintana told them that besides the specific commitment of "those who occupy positions of responsibility in the field of HIV/AIDS," the fight against the pandemic requires "a more sincere commitment and dedication" from all.

The nuncio wants "greater participation of civil society" and "greater involvement of people of good will from all sectors of life" in the struggle to contain the virus.

Archbishop Bernard Moras of Bangalore, chairperson of the Indian bishops' Health Commission, welcomed the gathering, which he said "reflects the Church's readiness to respond to the signs of time." He described it as "yet another mark of our commitment to our people and our nation."

The goal, he said, was to understand national priorities and programs and ways in which the Church could collaborate in their implementation. Another aim was to foster better understanding and coordination within the Church.

A third objective he cited was searching for ways to broaden the campaign against HIV/AIDS by involving more women, young people, parents and teachers. This, Archbishop Moras added, would help a growing generation.

James Veliath, a Health Commission official, told UCA News on April 14 that the consultation "sought better collaboration and coordination" among people serving those living with HIV/AIDS. It also sought ways to collaborate with government agencies and international groups in sharing resources and expertise, Veliath said.

The commission initiated a move in 2003 to bring together Christian groups working on HIV/AIDS. At that time, Catholic groups worked independently, lacking a common policy, Veliath explained.

In that situation, the commission launched its "HIV/AIDS Policy of the Catholic Church in India" as a guideline for Church people in the field, part of its "Church's Concerted Response to HIV/AIDS in India" project.

Since then, Church groups have increased collaboration, Veliath said. But still "we find our work is somewhat scattered," he added, citing India's geographic size and the issue's "enormity" as major factors.

Infection with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) usually results in AIDS, which almost always is fatal. Government figures estimate the number of HIV-infected people in India at 5.7 million. Volunteers such as Veliath say an average of 68 people are infected with HIV every hour in the country, or about one Indian every minute.

"The problem is huge," and more than 6,000 Church medical facilities in the country need to gear up to work for the affected, Veliath asserted. Those already working in the field, he said, "need more support and collaboration."

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