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1.5 Decades of Church Responses to HIV & AIDS: Lessons Learned

1.5 Decades of Church Responses to HIV & AIDS: Lessons Learned. By Dr. Peter Okaalet Presented at ACET-Uganda Conference 11-14 January 2005. Outline. Introduction 4 Phases of Church Responses Local Responses National Responses Regional Responses Continental Responses

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1.5 Decades of Church Responses to HIV & AIDS: Lessons Learned

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  1. 1.5 Decades of Church Responses to HIV & AIDS: Lessons Learned By Dr. Peter Okaalet Presented at ACET-Uganda Conference 11-14 January 2005

  2. Outline • Introduction • 4 Phases of Church Responses • Local Responses • National Responses • Regional Responses • Continental Responses • International Responses • Role of MAP International • Lessons Learned • Conclusion “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  3. Introduction • The Waves of the HIV/AIDS Epidemic (In Africa) • The first silent wave of the HIV infection • The second was the destructive phase of the illness • The third wave : The rise and rise of stigma and discrimination • The fourth wave of the vast number of children orphaned and affected by the disease • The fifth wave is that of the ‘New Mothers’ of Africa: “Grandmothers” [Adapted from M.J.Kelly, Luwisha Hse, Lusaka, Zambia, Sept. 04] • And Now, the sixth wave, namely: • The ARVs Wave (PEPFAR,‘3x5’ WHO Goal, National Responses) “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  4. Introduction, Cont…! “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  5. Four Phases of Church Response to HIV & AIDS • Judgmental • Anaemic • Cautious • Wholehearted, Holistic “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  6. Local • Varied • Determined by Context • The earlier the response, the greater the impact on HIV/AIDS • Churches and FBOs lagged behind other Stakeholders “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  7. National – Uganda • The AIDS Support Organization (TASO) • ACET-Uganda • Youth Alive (Catholic Church-Initiated Programme) • Church of Uganda HIV/AIDS Programme (CHUSA) • National AIDS Commission headed by Bishops • All Africa AIDS & the Church Declaration (Kampala, April 1994) “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  8. Eastern Africa Southern Africa Western Africa Central Africa Sub-Regional Responses “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  9. Continental Responses (1) • All Africa AIDS & Church Consultation (Kamapala, Uganda, April 1994) • Churches, NGOs, UNAIDS Consultation on AIDS (Gaborone, Botswana, September 1999) • BOCAIP Conference (Gaborone, Botswana, June 2002) • PACANET is born (June 2002) • ANERELA+ is born (Kamapala, Uganda, October 2003) • Pre-ICASA Church/FBO Conference (Nairobi, Kenya, September 2003) “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  10. Continental Response (2) • All Africa AIDS & Church Consultation (Kampala, Uganda, April 1994) • Preamble • We are from 28 Countries of Africa • We believe the Church is God’s instrument to proclaim and promote life • We believe God is calling us to this unique moment • AIDS makes us ever more aware of our alienation from one another and from God “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  11. Continental Response (3) • All Africa AIDS & Church Conference, Cont…! • Confession • We have not said or done all we could • We are not blameless: More of a Problem than a Solution • Commitment • We appeal to all to engage in the battle for life • We commit to teach and counsel all to adopt responsible and biblical choices • Challenge • We are watchmen standing in the gap • We are stewards of the hope of God offered in Christ

  12. All Africa Conference of Churches: The Covenant Document on HIV/AIDS – 10 Issues: Covenant 1: Life and HIV/AIDS Prevention Covenant 2: Love and HIV/AIDS Care Covenant 3: Treatment and HIV/AIDS Drugs Covenant 4: Compassion, HIV/AIDS Stigma & Discrimination Covenant 5: Poverty and HIV/AIDS Covenant 6: Gender Inequalities and HIV/AIDS Covenant 7: Children and HIV/AIDS Covenant 8: Church, PLWAs and HIV/AIDS Covenant 9: Human Sexuality and HIV/AIDS Covenant 10: Justice and HIV/AIDS Continental Response: AACC 8th General Assembly, Yaounde, Cameroon, November 2003 (4)

  13. International Responses • July 2000, IAC, Durban, RSA – Disjointed and weak Church/FBO response • April 2001, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is borne. (Goals: PLWAs, Prevention, Treatment, Increased Funding) • June 2001, Strong Christian Presence at the UNGASS Conference, New York, USA (WCC, CCIH, WVI, MAP) • February 2000, Prescription for Hope AIDS Conference, Washington, D.C., USA • July 2002, IAC, Barcelona, Spain – First attempt at a United Christian Response • July 2004, Pre-IAC FBO Conference, and IAC, Bangkok, Thailand – Rev. Canon Gideon Byamugisha, First ever Church Leader to speak in a Plenary Session of an IAC.

  14. International Responses • World Bank Mid-Term review of the Multi-Country AIDS Programme (‘WB-MAP’) in six countries: Ghana, Benin, Sierra Leone, Burkina Faso, Malawi and Mozambique • We noted that, in almost all the 6 countries, Churches and FBOs had stronger care and support and counselling responses to AIDS (cf. public sector responses) • Christian NGOs/FBOs represented in the ‘AIDS IN AFRICA: Scenarios for the Future, a UNAIDS-led Project that is looking at responses to HIV/AIDS up to 2025! • Official Launch of findings … slated for February/March 2005 • February 2002: MAP was invited to testify before the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee, in washington, D.C., on ---- ‘The Role of FBOs in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa’.

  15. Lausanne Forum 2004: “Holistic Mission and AIDS”- 11 Issues: HIV/AIDS is a biological issue HIV/AIDS is a behavioral HIV/AIDS is a child and youth issue HIV/AIDS is a gender issue HIV/AIDS is a cultural issue HIV/AIDS is a socio-economic issue HIV/AIDS is a justice issue HIV/AIDS is a deception issue HIV/AIDS is a compassion issue HIV/AIDS is a behavioral HIV/AIDS is a world evangelization issue International Responses

  16. Role of MAP International • Providing Pastoral Counselling Training for Church/FBO Leaders • Promoting and facilitating networking intra- and inter-denominationally, and between faith communities • Producing Christian-based, scientifically accurate, culturally sensitive and value-based HIV/AIDS materials • Facilitating Churches/FBOs to develop Policies on HIV/AIDS • HIV/AIDS Curriculum Development, and promoting the implementation and integration of the same into the syllabi of Theological Institutions and Bible Colleges (11 to date, in 6 African countries) “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  17. MAP Experience (1) • HIV/AIDS Curricula For Theological Institutions • Degree Level Institutions • 11 Theological Institutions • In 7 African countries • MA/Post Graduate Diploma Course – Multiplier Effect: • At St. Paul’s United Theological College • Distance Learning Mode of training • Each of current 58 enrolledstudents is working with at least 20 Base GroupMembersWho, in turn, may be reaching at least 10 other infected, and/or, affected persons…!

  18. MAP Experience (2) • CHOOSING HOPE: 8 Modules designed to be used in Practical Theology Courses and other Educational Ministries of the Church: • Understanding HOPE: By Knowing facts about HIV/AIDS • Discovering HOPE:Through Our Biblical Foundation • Spreading HOPE:By mobilizing the Church to perform HIV/AIDS ministries • Developing HOPE:By Changing Feelings and Attitudes about HIV/AIDS • Sharing HOPE:Through pastoral care to families affected by HIV/AIDS • Offering HOPE:Through HIV/AIDS pastoral counseling • Giving HOPE: To Parents and Youth for AIDS-free living • Ministering HOPE:Through Home Based Care to PLWA

  19. AIDS In Kenya • THE CHURCH’S CHALLENGE AND THE LESSONS LEARNED (See MAP Publication, By Dortzbach, 1996) • Challenge to COMPREHEND • Challenge to CARE • Challenge to COLLABORATE • Challenge to COUNSEL • Challenge to CHANGE • Challenge to COMMITMENT “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  20. Lessons Learned (1) • Churches have a Unique Role • Are institutions always present in communities • Can muster tremendous human resources • Have infrastructures in place • Can influence behaviour, politics and social justice “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  21. Lessons Learned (2) • What Churches do offer • A track record – 2,000 year history of quality care for the sick and the dying. • Integrity • Moral authority • Holistic approach • Advocacy for and on behalf of the voiceless • Responsiveness and long-term commitment • An eternal perspective: HOPE – here, and herein after • Access to a wide audience and community involvement “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  22. Lessons Learned (3) • Church/Denominational Declarations on HIV/AIDS Do Make a Difference. Here are Some Examples: • Anglican Church of Kenya (ACK) Policy on AIDS (Mombasa, June 1999) • All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) Statement (Nairobi, June 2004) • Anglican Primates Letter on AIDS (Canterbury, London, April 2002) • Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA):“Our Vision – A First Step” (Boxburg, Johannesburg, August 2001) • Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance’s (EAA)Plan of Action (Nairobi, Nov. 2001) • Episcopal Conference s’ Declarations on AIDS (Central Africa, South Africa, Papal Letters from the Vatican) • Lutheran World Federation (LWF) (Nairobi, May 2002) • Organization of African Instituted Churches (OAIC) (Pretoria, Sept. 2004) • PMU Interlife (Free Pentecostal Churches, in Sweden and Africa) (Pretoria, September 2004)

  23. Lessons Learned (4) • However • AIDS exposed Churches’ fault lines in theology, ethics and actions (four phases of Church response, above) • Churches were often an obstacle: • Ignored harmful customs and traditions • Created factions over the condom issue • Called PLWHA sinners • Avoided talk of HIV/AIDS in holy places “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  24. Lessons Learned (5) • Key Components Of Lessons Learned • Dissemination of information, per se, does not necessarily effect and affect behavior change. Training does…! • The ‘Messenger’ is as important as the ‘Message’ • Comprehensive Educational Material’s must be provided • Monitoring and Evaluation of past and current programs must be meticulously documented, in order to create data to influence Future Programs • Targeting Church Leadership at Two Levels—Policy Makers (at the Top) & Implementers at the Community Level (Practitioners) is brilliance. “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  25. Lessons Learned (6) • Key Components Of Lessons Learned (cont.) • Networking is Paramount - With FB0’s, NGO’s and Government Sector/Bodies • Pragmatics is Brilliance • Momentum is developed through commitment • Leadership will be motivated and mobilized if they understand the Biblical Mandate for involvement • Being Holistic insures effectiveness • Prayer works - So pray, pray and pray again! “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

  26. Lessons Learned (7) • What Lessons can we learn from Uganda’s response…? • HIV Infection rate (%) : Pregnant Women (ANC), Uganda, 1985-2000

  27. Conclusion • The war against HIV/AIDS is yet to be won in Africa! • The Church has, as yet, to bring out and apply all her arsenal if the said war is to be won…! Thank you! “Health and Hope for a Hurting World”™ Since 1954

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