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Religion and HIV
Abbie Van Sickle. Republished courtesy of Health-e News Service.
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There is a growing momentum for churches to become involved in the fight agains HIV/AIDS. Essentially they have no choice as increasing numbers congregants or their loved ones die and nowadays, according to one pastor, ?“you see more people at the cemeteries than at the soccer stadiums.?”
Says Debbie Mathew, director of the AIDS Foundation of South Africa; ?“I think the churches are becoming more comfortable because it?’s such a common thing now. You also find now they?’re having to bury so many people who?’ve died of AIDS in their own congregations.?”
Last month, members of the South African Council of Churches pledged to work diligently to stop the spread of the disease at a national conference hosted by the Nelson Mandela Foundation last month.
Faith-based organisations are also starting to meet regularly under the auspices of the University of KwaZulu-Natal?’s Centre for HIV/AIDS Networking to discuss how they are going to address HIV/AIDS.
?“When you compare our faith-based efforts with those of other African countries that have been more vocal and taken a more proactive approach, I think you can say we?’ve been slow to catch on with faith-based groups and prevention,?” says Professor Suzanne Leclerc-Madlala, an anthropologist at the University of KwaZulu-Natal.
?“There is a real misunderstanding with the idea of the ABC [abstain, be faithful, condomise] message,?” she said. ?“It seems to be seen as an ?‘either or?’ campaign ?– either you promote condoms or abstinence as the answer. That approach derails us right away. That simply limits our options. We can use both.?”
Although not all faith organisations are combining those prevention options, several organisations in KwaZulu-Natal are working to combat the spread of HIV, including evangelical churches, the Shembe Church and the Catholic Church.
Using methods ranging from traditional ceremonies to medical clinics to training community members to educate others, the organisations are taking the first steps in faith-based prevention efforts.
?“A lot of (faith-based organizations) have come a long way in understanding they can preach abstinence but that a lot of women in South Africa are not in a position to make informed and healthy lifestyle decisions,?” Mathew said.
?“People might try and deny it, but our youth are sexually active,?” she said. ?“There are many people, particularly men, who have more than one sexual partner. This is not going to go away over night.?”
One of the churches that has pledged to work to prevent the spread of HIV is the evangelical Durban Christian Centre.
Down a corridor, deep within the church, is the Help our People Everywhere (HOPE) Centre Clinic. Smelling faintly of disinfectant, the small waiting room is filled with people. A young woman sits, holding a sleeping infant on her lap. An older, tired-looking woman tries to entertain a toddler with a shiny green bag of Simba chips. The clinic offers free HIV test, information about her AIDS medication and counselling.
?“The people who come to us need someone to speak life to them rather than condemning them,?” said Pastor Vusi Dube, who runs the centre with his wife, Taki, a medical doctor. ?“They know they?’ll not be cured of HIV, they just need to be loved.?”
Dr Taki Dube exudes efficiency. Brimming with enthusiasm, she rails off a list of the centre?’s accomplishments. Started in 2001, the clinic has a staff of eight nurses, four doctors, a social worker and 15 counselors who serve on a rotating schedule six days a week. Working as volunteers, they provide free HIV testing, counseling, primary care, hospice care, orphan placement, education, morality promotion and support groups from their office.
Taki says the centre?’s strong focus on prevention also sets it apart from most other faith organizations. ?“Most churches are focusing on home-based care and not prevention and support groups,?” Taki said. ?“Every organization must focus on where they can do the most good. Many people who come to us are not dead yet; they?’re not dying. They?’re living with HIV and we try to help.?”
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