HIVAN-WCRP Medical Researchers?’ and Faithleaders?’ Forum - May 2004: The A ?– Z of Anti-retroviral Therapy

In May 2004, interfaith leaders, medical researchers and community members in and around Durban joined together for a one-day workshop to share knowledge about anti-retroviral drug treatment and the roll-out of the ARV treatment programme in KZN. Hosted by partners HIVAN and the World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP), the gathering focused on how religious groups could help people living with HIV and AIDS, the facts about how ARVs work, and how local health structures are targeting the most vulnerable patients for medication.

Psychology Master?’s student Ms Caroline Howlett of the Catholic faith was the first panellist to address the Forum. ?“Many FBOs have prioritised HIV/AIDS on their community agendas,?” she said, ?“and are already deeply involved in helping their members with HIV/AIDS counselling as well as the practice of and training in home-based care for terminally ill patients.?” Drawing on members?’ experiences relayed at two Diakonia conferences, she noted that it was not only congregants needing information, but also faith-leaders themselves. ?“There is so much that is still unknown to the general public about medical research and interventions around HIV/AIDS; for example, many caregivers are confusing vaccines with ARVs and referring to anti-retroviral drugs as ?‘a vaccine?’.?”

She proposed that faith-leaders, healthcare practitioners and community members form working groups in and around clinic facilities in order to support local government efforts to provide HIV/AIDS treatment and care, so as to share the basic facts about ARVs, to reduce stigma, and to encourage people to know their HIV status. As partners, they could also lobby for streamlining access to social grants, be involved in recruiting and training ?“treatment buddies?” who help patients take their drugs safely and effectively, and assist hospitals, clinics and volunteers with the running of ARV services and providing extended care and counselling.

?“It is crucial that everyone in our society becomes involved in Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT), empowering women and families with information, and supporting ongoing prevention and awareness programmes,?” said Ms Howlett. She urged those willing to be volunteers to get involved in various practical ways: handing out information leaflets, putting up posters, talking to friends and neighbours in groups, and putting together food parcels for impoverished patients to support their adherence to the ARV drug regime.

?“If there is any small thing, or even more, you can do,?” she said, ?“do approach your local mother-hospital or clinic and enquire as to what they might need in the way of voluntary assistance.?” She cited the example of a VCT facility in Redhill, Durban, where a church group was providing pre- and post-test counselling, thereby relieving the clinic staff of many hours of draining support work while ensuring that patients received comprehensive and compassionate input.

Dr Shakira Cassim of the Islamic Medical Association, who runs a general family practice, said that paradoxically, while the spread of HIV is devastating our society, the epidemic is also helping to effect social change. ?“Why else would social and behavioural as well as medical academics be linking with faith-leaders in advocacy and practical interventions around HIV/AIDS??” she asked.

?“Knowing one?’s HIV status is now more important than ever, since without this knowledge, those most needing it cannot enrol for ARV treatment. Even doctors in private practice are not adequately trained to handle HIV patient-cases,?” she said. ?“The ARV enrolment waiting lists are already very long, and the authorities are facing the problem of some people wanting to sign up because they have no money to feed themselves, and are hoping that as registered patients they will be assisted with social grants and food parcels. Although this trend highlights the tragic circumstances of many of our people, we cannot allow the efficient roll-out of anti-retroviral treatment to generate complacency in terms of prevention.?”

Dr Cassim felt that novices of all faiths studying in seminaries and theological schools should have HIV/AIDS counselling mainstreamed into their training. She also emphasised that, since gender equality was vital in redressing many of the social challenges which drive the spread of the epidemic, faith-leaders should be trained in this subject so that they could head up educational programmes on gender relations and women?’s rights within their own structures.

?“As for the actual roll-out of ARVs,?” she continued, ?“even from the healthcare practitioners?’ point of view, this treatment programme involves much more than simply handing out tablets: there are complex requirements for dosages, storage, even how to administer the drugs to young children and squeamish adults. Also, helping to ensure patient adherence is a crucial issue, and managing symptoms of toxicity plays a major role in this regard.?”

Dr Cassim confirmed that, as she had been treating men, women and children with ARVs for several years and observed their progress, the triple cocktail of anti-retroviral therapy was very effective for both prolonging and improving the quality of the HIV-positive patient?’s life. ?“However,?” she warned, ?“it is unrealistic to expect that the State can provide treatment for everybody who needs it, especially if the rapid spread of infection is not slowed or halted. So, prevention is even more important now than ever before, and FBOs can help greatly in this area. In observing our various religions, we should all focus on moving from preaching to practice, from stigma to socialising, and from moralising to mobilising.?”

At this point, Paddy Meskin of the WCRP noted that in 2003, the African Council of Religious Leaders had convened to examine its range of policies on HIV/AIDS and were concerned specifically about the plight of children orphaned by AIDS. They had recorded their joint commitment to shifting from a theology of ?“sin and punishment?” to love, compassion, practical intervention and care. Their pledge included providing ongoing support and counselling for people in their congregations living with HIV and AIDS. Similar support would also be provided to religious leaders and their families, some of whom themselves are HIV-positive.

The next speaker was Dr Krista Dong, a medical researcher working with ARV treatment in a project run at St Mary?’s Hospital at Mariannhill near Durban. Her presentation covered a basic introduction to anti-retroviral drugs, how they work against the HI Virus, and the kinds of care and support required to ensure patient adherence to the ARV regime.

The full report, alongwith all the accompanying presentations can be downloaded on the righthand side of this page