United Methodist Global AIDS Committee
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 28, 2020
The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee has announced the panelists for their “COVID-19 and HIV & AIDS” webinar on October 1, 2020 at 1:00 PM CT.
This will serve as the first in a series of webinars planned for the coming months to educate, support and advocate for those affected by HIV/AIDS. The complimentary session will be made available online through Facebook.com/UMCglobalaidsfund and archived on their website.
The inaugural webinar will explore how COVID-19 is impacting the global effort to reduce HIV infections and AIDS deaths. Participants will come to better understand how global lock downs have resulted in malnutrition, missed treatments and lack of access to preventive medicine and testing.
The October 1, 2020 panelists are as follows:
Dr. Donald E. Messer, Moderator - Centennial, CO
Executive Director, Center for Health and Hope, Centennial, Colorado, & member of Executive Committee, United Methodist Global AIDS Committee
Ms. Kathleen Griffith – Atlanta, GA
Interim Lead, Global Health, UM General Board of Global Ministries, & member of the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee
Bishop Catherine Mutua – Meru, Kenya
First woman Bishop in Kenya; supervises extensive AIDS ministry and COVID-19 response as episcopal leader of the Kaaga Synod of The Methodist Church of Kenya
Rev. Dr. Neki A. Soriano – Santiago City, Philippines
Medical Specialist, Southern Isabel General Hospital & Program Coordinator for Davao United Methodist Episcopal Area Health Board focused on HIV and COVID-19
Jerry Mallicoat – Dayton, OH
Public health educator and Project Manager for LGBTQ Heath Initiatives at Public Health Dayton & Montgomery County; survivor of HIV and suspected early COVID-19.
The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee – established by the 2004 General Conference of The United Methodist Church – has sought to strengthen the church’s compassionate response to those affected with HIV/AIDS by helping to stem the tide of the pandemic through education and advocacy. Subsequent free webinars will be held December 1, 2020 and February 1, April 1 and June 1 of 2021.
About the United Methodist Global AIDS Committee
The United Methodist Global AIDS Committee (UMGAC) provides resources and training to annual conferences and local churches, engaging them in HIV and AIDS education and advocacy. This work reduces stigma and provides greater opportunity for welcoming all people into the church. The committee, chaired by Bishop Julius Trimble, is comprised of members from the Council of Bishops, Division on Ministries with Young People, General Board of Church and Society, General Board of Global Ministries, United Methodist Communications and United Methodist Women.
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Media Contact:
Diane Degnan presscenter@umcom.org
615.742.5406 (office) 615.483.1765 (cell)
