Yaounde, Cameroon ? Leaders of the All Africa Conference of Churches, gathered for an assembly they hold every five years, pledged to make AIDS prevention and care a priority in their ministries.

The conference leaders adopted a 10-point plan that includes lobbying for affordable drugs, fighting discrimination against people infected with HIV, conducting education programs to stem the spread of the virus, and promoting abstinence before marriage and monogamy for married couples.

To emphasize the importance of HIV screening, the assembly offered free, voluntary testing at the assembly. About 800 people were tested before supplies ran out.

“As far as we are concerned, this is war,” said the Rev. Dr. Mvume Dandala, the conference’s general secretary.