ACET DR Congo has received local government support for its work to involve churches in the fight against HIV and AIDS.

At a recent educators' meeting in Kinshasa in March 2009, attended by over 90 volunteer ACET educators together with church leaders and representatives of government departments, Dr Voulu from the DRC AIDS Commission commended the work of ACET in training and equipping churches to meet the challenge of HIV.

Current statistics show that nearly 5% of DR Congo's population are HIV positive although the actual figure is likely to be higher as many people are reluctant to be tested.  Under the leadership of Yvonne Kavuo, ACET has trained church members as volunteer educators, offering education in HIV prevention to thousands of young people in schools and Sunday Schools.  Their work also involves HIV testing, counselling and a twice weekly radio broadcast to over 2 million people.

Sheila Dixon, visiting with other ACET International Alliance members, said,

'It was enormously encouraging to listen to so many volunteers committed to taking the message of HIV prevention to their congregations and communities.  The DR Congo is only now emerging from a long period of unrest and Yvonne and her team are achieving amazing things in very difficult circumstances.'

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