People of African origin who go to church in the UK could be afraid to get HIV testing in case they are thrown out of their congregations, a charity has claimed.

So now, to combat the stigma, the Church of Pentecost UK in Green Lane, Dagenham, is among four churches in the capital to launch a HIV testing clinic with the help of ActionPlus Foundation.

The charity believes people with African heritage living in the UK with HIV are afraid to be tested or admit to infection because of social stigma and the risk of being thrown out of their churches. It is offering medical testing in church-based clinics with trained health specialists and a training programme for church leaders.

The founder of ActionPlus, Pentecostal minister Rev Fred Annin, launched the campaign to involve churches in London on National HIV day last year. He said: “The Bible does not condemn people with HIV as cursed. It shouldn’t be taboo to discuss it in churches. It’s a medical condition and people need medical help. Prayer cannot bring our health back when we ignore medicine.

“Our vision is a world where people affected by HIV do not experience poverty, ill health and prejudice. We support people living with HIV/AIDS to play a central role in improving their own lives, leading to permanent and lasting solutions.”

Latest Health Protection Agency figures show that 2.8 people in every 1000 in the UK have HIV (aged 15 to 59) – yet the HIV prevalence rate among black-African heterosexuals is 56 per 1,000 population aged 15-59 years (41 per 1,000 men and 71 per 1,000 women). Almost two in five (38 per cent) black-African men and one in three (31 per cent) black-African women living with HIV remained unaware of their infection.