The King's House Family Church in Edmonton will tackle HIV-related stigma and discrimination as it takes the lead today in the celebration of International Women's Day.

The non-denominational family church believes faith communities have a crucial role in promoting health and wellbeing and is bringing together members of the north London community to share information about HIV.

"Faith communities cannot afford to ignore the reality of HIV anymore," said senior pastor at King's House, Rev Tony Peters. "So the time has come for us to play a unique role in informing communities, reducing stigma and in bringing comfort and hope to people living with HIV all around us".

Mesfin Ali, Health Services Manager at the Ethiopian Community Centre in the UK added, "HIV affects people living in the UK not just abroad. It is encouraging that the King's House is breaking the silence about HIV by addressing a topic that is not often addressed by faith communities."

The event is supported by The Pan African and Caribbean Sexual Health programme and the African HIV Policy Network.