Meeting in Entebbe, Uganda, earlier this month, Christians committed to responding to HIV and Aids were challenged to work together to beat the disease in the next 20 years.

In his keynote address at the ACET Global Forum, Dr Patrick Dixon, founder of ACET, told 170 delegates gathered from 33 countries that there was now enough knowledge about HIV and Aids to overcome them but that what was needed was the passion and commitment to do so.

He went on to say that churches were uniquely placed to help overcome this global pandemic.

Over 30 million people are currently infected with HIV and millions more are affected by the disease. However, Dr Dixon told his audience that huge strides had already been made in prevention and treatment, citing Uganda as a example.

ACET now works in 23 countries bringing its care, education and training programmes to well over one million people. Working through local churches allows it to reach communities directly with care for those infected and affected by Aids, education and training to prevent further spread.

Dr Dixon went on to commend especially the leaders of individual ACET country programmes for their commitment and vision, often in difficult local circumstances, but warned them not to become complacent.

He told them, "You are wild Christians, but we need wild people, prepared to take risks and answer the call of God, to tackle this disease."

The two-day Global Forum, held every three years, brought together leaders from all 23 of ACET's programmes from countries in Africa, Europe and Asia to share best practice and to plan for the future. Delegates from 10 other countries also attended.

Other speakers included representatives from Tearfund and Samaritans Purse as well as leaders of ACET programmes from the DR Congo, Uganda and South Africa.