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EHAIA Occasional Newsletter
December 2008

In this issues of our occasional newsletter, you will find information and reports on:

I. GLOBAL PICTURE

  • XVI international AIDS Conference

  • Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Pre-Conference

  • OVC Pre-Conference: Children Now, Children How? 

II. REGIONAL UPDATES

  • Men as Agents of Change: redemptive masculinities

  • Gender based violence

  • Funding and the Churches

  • EHAIA's work with the Churches in Madagascar

  • EHAIA's work with Churches in West Africa

  • EHAIA's work with Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) in Kenya

III. EHAIA STAFF UPDATES

I. GLOBAL PICTURE

XVII International AIDS Conference, August, 2008, in Mexico.

Theme: Universal Action Now!

EHAIA staff members were among approximately 500 faith-based delegates that attended the XVII International AIDS Conference in Mexico City, Mexico, 3 - 8 August, 2008. This year the theme was ‘Universal Access Now!"

EHAIA was represented by Rev. Dr. Nyambura Njoroge, Dr. Sue Parry, Prof. Ezra Chitando and Rev. Dr. Charles Klagba. The staff members attended numerous events including the 5-year anniversary celebration of the African Network of Religious Leaders living with or Personally Affected by HIV (ANERELA+). Launched in 2003, ANERELA+ is an inter-faith network of approximately 3,500 faith leaders living with or affected by HIV. At the anniversary celebration the International Network of Religious Leaders living with or Personally Affected by HIV (INERALA+) was also launched.

For detailed information on HIV prevention, care and treatment trends that emerged from the International AIDS Conference, please visit: http://www.aids2008.org/ or the UNAIDS website: http://www.unaids.org

Ecumenical HIV and AIDS Pre-Conference, 31 July to 2 August, 2008

The Ecumenical Pre-Conference took place in Mexico City, Mexico from 31 July to 2 August, 2008. The theme of the pre-conference was "Faith in Action Now!" and was attended by approximately 480 people from 77 countries. EHAIA staff members were involved in several ways including planning of the actual pre-conference as active participants and presenters.

The aim of the pre-conference was to provide a platform where participants share innovation, reflect on lessons learned and skills building to empower people of faith to continue to lead the way in the global response towards universal access to prevention, care and treatment. The conference featured plenary sessions, workshops, and twice daily worship services. Plenary session topics included Faith in Action Now, HIV and Children, Youth, Gender-Based Violence, Theology for Action, Stigma and Discrimination, Prevention, and Leadership.

Highlights on EHAIA Ecumenical Pre-Conference Involvement

A special session was jointly held by EHAIA, Churches United Against AIDS in Eastern & Southern Africa, (CUAHA) and INERELA+, focused on "HIV competence" in Churches. The aim of the session was to share information about work in progress on resources and tool-kits and to launch a global campaign to help churches become HIV competent. Dr. Sue Parry, EHAIA'S Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa (RC-SA) shared information about a soon-to-be released resource book: ‘Beacons of Hope: HIV Competent Churches ─ A Framework for Action'. This book describes the process of developing both inner and outer competence and the necessary linkage between the two. The aim is to prevent further spread of the virus, to improve the lives of those affected and those living with HIV, to mitigate the impact and ultimately to restore not merely health, but hope and dignity.

Four delegates, from the Ecumenical Pre-Conference, including EHAIA's Dr. Nyambura Njoroge, attended a Leadership Encounter with the Youth organised by the World AIDS Campaign on Friday, 1 August, 2008. These delegates expressed enthusiasm that this was a positive experience, and look forward to future collaboration with other key stakeholders.

For further information:

  • A rapporteur's summary, containing highlights from the plenary sessions and workshops at the Ecumenical Pre-Conference, was prepared and may be downloaded at www.e-alliance.ch/iac08_preconf.jsp .

  • Also found at www.e-alliance.ch/iac08_preconf.jsp are links to Pre-Conference webcasts (prepared by Kaiser Network), texts and PowerPoints of plenary session presentations, and background documents from workshops.

Children and HIV and AIDS: Action now, action how?

An International Symposium 1-2 August, 2008, Mexico City, by Dr. Sue Parry.

‘Children affected by HIV and AIDS and the families that care for them, are enduring terrible suffering and deprivation. This suffering is largely needless. It is needless because it results, in the main, from our failure to prevent infection, and treat, amongst adults and children. It also results from our failure to assist the poorest families to deal with the social and economic disruptions brought by the epidemic.' Richter 2008 Plenary speech. This was the first plenary on children in the 23 years of the International AIDS Conferences. The CCABA Symposium Children and HIV/AIDS: Action Now, Action How? aimed at providing a forum to showcase and raise awareness on vulnerable children's issues. Responses to care and support could be strengthened through an interdisciplinary holistic approach on programme design and implementation, policy, research, and advocacy. EHAIA's Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa, was a discussant on the faith based responses to orphans and vulnerable children (OVCs).

Some of the highlights that emerged:

  • Two million children are living with HIV, 90% in Sub-Saharan Africa, and few are receiving ARV therapy and adequate care

  • Few women are receiving the life-saving PMTCT (Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission therapy).

  • Communities and families must remain the focal point of any response. They are best placed to care for and protect children but they must be given adequate resources.

  • Governments' provision of education, health, and other social protection mechanisms for vulnerable children and unacceptably inadequate

FBOs are responding with many varied initiatives, but with a paucity of documentation, limited scale, lack of coordination and collaboration and variable quality standards of care. The field is huge and the needs are growing exponentially. We must rethink the way we are responding and recognize the urgency of the need.

II. Regional Updates

Men as agents of Change: Redemptive Masculinities

EHAIA is working with churches and other partners across the region to bring about greater societal acceptance of transformative or ‘redemptive' masculinities in the fight against HIV and AIDS. This is in line with EHAIA's mandate on gender, to challenge traditional gender roles and power relations within the churches and church institutions which have contributed to the disempowerment of women, and consequently to the spread of HIV and AIDS. This is in addition to combating sexual violence, abuse and rape in homes, communities, schools and conflict/war situations.

As a participant in an EHAIA led workshop said ‘it is better to work with boys, than repair men.' Thus, EHAIA, in collaboration with its partners, has through numerous workshops begun this process of journeying with and preparing young men and boys for leadership and responsibilities particularly in the context of HIV. It is also in recognition that men and women should play an equal role in HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.

In 2008, EHAIA held and/or participated in a number of conferences and workshops on masculinity across the region.

  • Kenya, in partnership with School of Theology of Tangaza College, a constituent College of Catholic University of Eastern Africa from the 5 - 9 August, 2008.

  • Lesotho, Conference on ‘Responsible Masculinities' in partnership with the Association of Lesotho Theologians, 11 - 13 August, 2008

  • Malawi, in partnership with the Presbyterian Church Blantyre Synod in Malawi from the 14th to the 19th September 2008

EHAIA will continue to support the formation of young men's groups (including male groups in universities) that are self-sustaining, and are empowered to find innovative ways of addressing responsible/redemptive vs. destructive masculinities with the peers. This is in addition to the continued support of the integration of gender and masculinity within theological curricula.

Highlights from the Various Workshops

Lesotho Conference

A unique aspect of the conference in Lesotho was the presence of the Lesotho Correctional services, which appreciated EHAIA's approach to working with prisoners ‘holistically' and providing opportunities to help inmates deal with their emotional challenges related to masculinity through the lens of 'Transformative Masculinity'. As Dr. Sue Parry, EHAIA's RC-SA said, ‘even Jesus Himself identified with the prisoner when He said: 'When I was in prison, you did not visit me, etc.' He didn't say: 'You didn't visit prisoners.' Following on from the Lesotho conference, the Correctional Services have asked ALET (The Association of Lesotho Theologians with whom EHAIA is working and supporting and who were the principal facilitators in the conference) to run a similar workshop first for all their staff and then for the inmates. This provides an example of how churches can reach out positively to the marginalised. HIV and AIDS can be the rallying point. It can open the door to the ‘lived' reality of people on a day to day basis.

Tangaza Men's Initiative on Gender Violence and HIV and AIDS, Kenya

EHAIA partnered with the School of Theology of Tangaza College, a constituent College of the Catholic University of Eastern Africa, Kenya, to form Tangaza Men's Initiative on Gender Violence and HIV and AIDS. Twenty-five young men from Tangaza College were trained on issues of sexuality, gender, culture and HIV and AIDS from 5 - 9 August, 2008, in Nairobi, Kenya.

‘Tangaza' means ‘to announce' or ‘to proclaim' which according to Christopher Yaye, the Coordinator of Tangaza's men's initiative, in this case is to proclaim about Gender Violence, Sexuality and HIV & AIDS to Kenyan society. Yaye believes that this will be realized in the Pentecostal experience where after being filled with the Holy Spirit (the training given through the initiative) the apostles (the group of 25 trained men) will preach the marvels of God. (For him, this signifies the greatness of adopting a complementary approach in the fight against gender violence and HIV and AIDS).

The initiative aims to do this in three primary ways: first, through the establishment and support of male-based initiatives which raise awareness of human sexuality, gender and HIV&AIDS using theology and scripture; second, by addressing male violence carried out in social places such as bars, churches and workplaces; and third, through the involvement of male students in colleges and universities in issues that address gender violence in their institutions

Masculinity workshop, Malawi

The Women's Program of the World Council of Churches (WCC) held a workshop with the Presbyterian Church Blantyre Synod in Malawi with full support from the synod and the Church's General Secretary. As part of the opening ceremony, men shared personal testimonies around their socialization. Some men felt that women play a key role in socialising male children at times instilling negative masculine traits. However, other participants further noted that often women do this unconsciously as it is part of their own socialization.

EHAIA was represented by Rev. Pauline Wanjiru Njiru from Kenya. She presented Context Bible Study on 2 Samuel 13:1-22 that recounts the rape of Tamar by Ammon, her half brother, as a tool to focus on masculinities. The Contextual Bible Study methodology was launched in Kenya in 2005 by the Ecumenical Theological Education Program of WCC in partnership with the Fellowship of Christian Councils and Churches in the Great Lakes and Horn of Africa, (FECCLAHA) and St Paul's University, Limuru, Kenya. For further information on how to carry out a contextual bible study using the Tamar rape narrative (commonly known as Tamar Campaign) see www.fecclaha.org

What emerged strongly from the workshop was that men and women need to be equally involved in the process of socialization. Participants felt that the church has endorsed the systematic oppression of women through their misreading of the scriptural text and has failed to embrace the Gospel of Jesus Christ who opens the Kingdom door to women. Participants further felt that the Church has perpetuated violence against women by its failure to recognise and nurture the talent of women in its restriction of the leadership responsibilities primarily to males. They endorsed the pragmatic and deliberate involvement of ordained male church leadership that is influential and gender sensitive in such programmes, as they felt that they can have a strong impact on the sensitization of their fellow men. Finally, in terms of sustainability of programming, it was felt that there was need to carry out follow-up activities, such as supporting the development of self-sustaining groups, who could be empowered themselves to be change agents in their communities

Gender based violence

"But What about Men" Engaging Men in the fight against Gender Based Violence

By Ezra Chitando

Professor Ezra Chitando, EHAIA's theology consultant provides insight on engaging men in the fight against Gender Based Violence

"But today I have betrayed the very manhood that I worked for so diligently. Today I cried. A man who cries in public not only disgraces himself and his family, he also denigrates the dignity of manhood" (Mahala 2007: 1). This clear proclamation identifies certain values regarding masculinity: a man must be strong emotionally (and physically), and always work towards protecting the dignity of manhood. This leads to a number of questions: who is a man? What do men do to uphold the dignity of manhood? How can we work with men to reform dangerous masculinities?

There is growing acceptance that the plural masculinities is more accurate than the singular masculinity. This is due to the realisation that men are not the same. Development workers have realised that even within the same community, men will uphold different beliefs and value systems. This makes it possible to work with men to transform progressive values and discourage dangerous beliefs and practices. In the area of gender based violence, this is reassuring in that it shows that it is possible to work with men to inculcate new values that promote more gender-equitable norms and behaviours. This will eliminate gender based violence.

Men and men's attitudes are not cast in stone. With hard work and creativity men can be an effective resource in the fight against gender based violence. Themba, the male character in When A Man Cries cited at the beginning of this article, undergoes transformation. He is converted from the dangerous and hegemonic masculinity that he upheld at the beginning of the book to a more humane and sensitive masculinity at the end. He concludes:"To cry when hurt. That is what makes a man. Without tears he is incomplete" (When a Man Cries, p. 162.).

We too can work and walk with men on the path from gender oppression to a new era of gender justice where men refrain from gender based violence and promote the health and well-being of women, children, fellow men and themselves.

EHAIA and the Churches in Central Africa

More women and young girls than men and boys live with disabilities and HIV in the Great Lakes Region. Furthermore, almost two-thirds of young people with HIV live in sub-Saharan Africa, where about 75% of all new infections among young people aged 15 to 24 years, are among young women (UNAIDS and WHO, Global Report data files, 2008). In some countries in the region, women with disability and those living HIV have little or no legal rights, particularly in matters relating to inheritance. While in others, particular in the Great Lakes Region, disability is not seen as a priority issue.

In light of this, EHAIA, in partnership with Ecumenical Disability Advocates Network (EDAN, a WCC Programme), presented a workshop for 26 women and young girls living with disabilities in the context of HIV and AIDS in the Great Lakes Region Churches. The workshop took place at the Amani Jesuit Centre in Bukavu, Democratic Republic Congo from the 17-20 June, 2008. The women and young girls (some of whom were also HIV positive) came from Burundi, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Rwanda and shared experiences of living with disabilities in their respective conflict or post-conflict countries.

Many of the women present experienced untold suffering and violence due to genocide, recurrent civil wars and armed conflict that had taken place in their countries. Many had been traumatised, abused and exploited during these conflicts. Indeed, the 2008 UNAIDS Report states that, in parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo affected by conflict the prevalence of rape is believed to be the highest in the world. This said, a recurring theme during the workshop was the promotion of "leadership of people with disabilities themselves". "Nothing for us, without us." This was especially true of addressing people with disabilities' sexuality, which is often not acknowledged or is shunned upon by society. Women at the workshop shared powerful stories of experiencing happy family lives and many came with their children. Yet, there was need for support and sensitization as many of the women present did not see themselves as vulnerable to HIV. (According to the 2008 UNAIDS Report, there is less than 25% of coverage of antiretroviral for the prevention of mother-to child transmission of HIV in these countries)

The aim of the workshop was to analyse how the subject of women with disabilities has been addressed in the Bible. In addition, participants discussed how Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs) and HIV may directly cause disability (and vice-versa). The workshop further explored ways of building the capacity of women and young girls with disabilities.

Some issues that emerged from the discussions included:

  • While STIs and HIV may directly cause disability; the corollary may also apply. Disability, can at times be the consequence of HIV particularly among blind or deaf young girls and women who are either sexually abused, exploited domestically or during civil unrest.

  • Certain STIs may lead to infertility, a severe disability leading to discrimination particularly in the Great Lakes Region where children are highly valued.

  • While STIs may cause disability in new born children and in adults, congenital HIV infection in children may cause poor growth, slow development, and brain damage and may eventually lead to AIDS.

  • The prejudices and fear attached to HIV are detrimental especially to the women that are already living with disability.

Lessons learnt

The women and girls present in the meeting made it clear that there needs to be a shift in attitudes. They need to be empowered with employment opportunities and make public places more accessible. They further advocated for changes in laws and a stronger legal framework, where there is actual enforcement of said-laws. It is important that people with disabilities have equal rights and opportunities to enable them to achieve greater autonomy and independence in society.

According to Hendrew Lusey, EHAIA's Regional Coordinator for Central Africa, ‘the experience of people with disabilities made it easier for me to understand that high self-esteem creates a positive outlook and generates an expanding circle of positive energy while low self-esteem creates a negative outlook and generates a self-defeating cycle of negative energy which goes nowhere.' Women at the meeting felt that this ‘positive energy' could be encouraged by increasing the number of positive role models such as persons with disabilities holding eminent positions in their communities and society in general. They felt that this could help build respect for people with disabilities.

Other recommendations that emerged from the meeting included:

  • a need to develop in full partnership with women with disabilities a concrete plan of action to be implemented in the short, medium and long term. This action plan should support local initiatives by people with disabilities. This requires creative thinking and courage, especially within in conflict or post-conflict societies.

  • people with disabilities require knowledge and skills to be their ‘own' champions and thus workshops such as this should be encouraged to continue such capacity building.

  • upholding role models.

  • EHAIA and EDAN, should continue and strengthen their work around appropriate theology, and biblical teachings that are life-affirming.

  • more collaboration with other partners, so as to address the different context and realities of people with disabilities.

  • that poverty leads to increased disability and disability to deeper poverty: thus the critical importance of employment opportunities to help break this cycle.

  • that Community Based Rehabilitation services, or similar support structure, are necessary and should be integrated within all development related activities that occur within their regions.

For Lumo- The one who lives when she must be dead

(by Ezra Chitando, EHAIA Theology Consultant)

LUMO: is the name of a young Congolese woman, who was gang-raped by soldiers. The experience left her with fistula: a condition that makes women incontinent and may affect their capacity to bear children. She was rejected by her fiancé and by her family, however she found hope through solidarity with other women at a hospital for rape survivors set on the border with Rwanda. For more information about the feature length documentary, please visit: http://www.gomafilmproject.org/index.php?p=film.php

The face of God!

Crucified daughter of Africa
Chained to the operating table
Challenging God to descend and heal

Violated beyond the imagination
Rejected beyond comprehension
Hopeful beyond reason
Joyful beyond bounds

Intelligent and beautiful
Humorous and lively
Troubled but not destroyed

Lumo - write your own theological treatise on hope!
Lumo - win your own international acting award!
Lumo - lecture on positive living!
Lumo - facilitate on surviving amidst death!

Your sacred story haunts me
May the justice of God envelop you
May the love of God continue to energise you
May you enjoy peace and prosperity

Lumo - the face of God!

Funding and the Churches

by Dr. Samuel Mwenda, General Secretary, Churches Health Association of Kenya/ Secretariat for A-CHA's Platform

The Churches Health Association of Kenya and the Christian Social Services Commission of Tanzania hosted a successful FBO-Global Fund workshop for Sub-Saharan Africa on April 16-18, 2008, at the Kunduchi Beach Hotel, Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. The meeting was held in collaboration with Global Fund and World Council of Churches. The meeting which was attended by 134 participants from Christian Health Associations and other Faith Based Organizations (FBOs) from sub-Saharan Africa, USA and Europe was officially opened by the Most Rev. Njungokulu Ndungane, immediate former Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, South Africa.

In his opening address, Archbishop Ndungane noted that Global Fund had so far invested US$7 billion in 136 countries. In the last pledging round in September 2007, donors pledged a total of US$9.7 billion to the fund over the next three years. He further noted that Global Fund was now set to move towards an annual commitment of between US$6-8 billion by 2010. This enormous increase would present the challenge of spending the money responsibly, professionally and transparently in ways that are effective and sustainable. This was necessary to ensure that lasting support was provided to those who needed it and donor confidence was maintained.

The Archbishop further said that FBOs had far reaching networks and donors were now more willing to work with the Church upon realizing that religious communities were vital partners in development. The purpose of the meeting was to share the experiences of faith based organizations with the Global Fund and discuss strategies for scaling up their involvement and demand for resources for implementation of programmes. More specifically the meeting looked at:

  • Contributions made so far by FBOs either as Principal Recipients, Sub-Recipients and in the CCM Governance.

  • Capacity building and information dissemination on Global Fund structure and processes.

  • Strategies for enhancing engagement of FBOs in the implementation of programmes.

Dr Christoph Benn, Global Fund Director of External Relations presented the findings of a study on the involvement of FBOs in the Global Fund conducted in 2007 with the following highlights:

a) According to the 2006 PR survey, nine FBOs were serving as PRs and an additional 488 FBOs receiving funds as sub-recipients. These accounted for 5.4 per cent of the Global Fund resources distributed worldwide with the following breakdown:

Western and Central Africa - 11.8 per cent

Southern Africa - 10.2 per cent

Middle East and North Africa - 7.3 per cent

Eastern Africa - 2.4 per cent

East Asia and Pacific - 2 per cent

South and West Asia - 1.7 per cent

Eastern Europe - 1 per cent

b) On FBO involvement in CCMs, 94 out of 120 CCMs (78.3 per cent) had at least one FBO representative. Faith based representatives comprised six per cent of total CCM membership worldwide. Faith based organizations from various countries shared their experiences with the Global Fund structure, processes and programmes.

Following discussions at the meeting, the following recommendations on strategies for scaling up FBO involvement in the Global Fund were made:

TO THE GLOBAL FUND

TO FAITH BASED ORGANISATIONS

TO INTERNATIONAL FBOs

Recognize more than one CCM in certain circumstances, for instance in countries in conflict

Increase collaboration and coordination among FBOs that are networking within countries and across the continent

Should not be compete for local funds with national organisations

UN agencies and INGOs should not be PRs

Adopt a unified approach and start to collaborate now to prepare for Round 9 so that FBOs can be PRs and Sub PRs

In order to increase country ownership, and sustainability, INGOs should not be principal recipients when national FBOs have capacity to play this role. In the absence of capacity, there should be a clear plan of how they will quickly empower and mentor local NGOs to take over

Simplify guidelines and procedures to be user friendly taking into account the uniqueness of the capacities and structures of implementing ogranisation like FBOs

Drawing from the experience in Zambia, faith leaders should make coperately with their presidents annually as a matter of course. They should deliberately pursue more faith -friendly CCMs

Be sensitive to local FBO needs and include them in country program development process

Dual track financing (DTF) should be a requirement to countries and not a recommendation to ensure FBO (CSO), active representation and participation

Lines of communication between FBOs should be strengthened. Information sharing is critical. Existing regional and national forums could be strengthened to enable this

Technical assistance provision should have faster turnover and response

Global fund grants sometimes displace other resources in health ministry budgets. GF should be more stringent to ensure their funds become supplementary

Get to know CCMs and be active participants and lobby for qualitative and quantitative representation

Recognise the capacity of national FBOs that exists in the majority of countries and add value to it

Sub-recipients lack power over the fate of their proposals since many other actors can bring down the country application. There should also be assurances that good FBO proposals are not lost when a country refuses to honour its agreed commitments to PRS and SRs

Analyze and strengthen institutional capacity (financial systems, human resources, governance etc)

 

There are different systems for selecting sub recipients at country level, this should be standardized

Participants at this workshop should create a platform to disseminate their accumulated knowledge widely and perhaps develop an email group systems for further sharing of experience. There should be a participants report. Each participant should judge the most effective way of disseminating in-country, and seek funds to enable if necessary.

 

GF should make a proportion of its funds available to FBOs, in-country according to the proportion of health work they operate

Some FBOs should consider attaching themselves to a principal recipient to develop their capacity

 

Guarantee sustainable funding

Poor performing PRs can disrupt a whole country bid. The Nigerian approach to selecting PRs could be a model

 

There should be further opportunities for FBOs to meet with the Global Fund teams in-country

Moblize congregation members and other civil society partners i.e. PLHIV who are beneficiaries fo FBO services to advocate on the work of FBOs in CCMS and other forums

 

Appoint an FBO liaison officer at the Secretariat

 

 

Include FBO representatives on its Board distinct from CBOs

 

 

WHO: mission heads and other international and in-country officers should be sensitized to FBO provision, be proactive in promoting this, and structure their work accordingly. There should be clear commitment from these institutions to develop FBO work. They could act as mentors to FBOs


EHAIA and the Churches in West Africa

By Ms. Ayoko Bahun-Wilson, Regional Coordinator - West Africa

EHAIA has supported Churches and missions in West Africa since 2003 to establish HIV and AIDS programmes or strengthen their work in a number of ways. With the support of EHAIA, many Church institutions now have prevention, care and support structures, while others further represent their partners in the Global Fund, Country Coordinating Mechanisms (CCM) of their countries.

The EHAIA West Africa Regional office is currently working with Sunday school teachers and theologians, around innovative sexuality and prevention programmes with pupils in Ghana, Benin and Togo. Critical to this process is the involvement of People living with HIV, including orphans and vulnerable children, in all activities in order to ensure a more holistic approach.

Over the past five years, EHAIA's West-Africa office has further supported the Evangelical Presbyterian Church in Ghana in the development of a robust programme on HIV and AIDS. EHAIA supported the Church, in a number of ways including the capacity development and training of pastors, women, youth and lay leaders. This is in addition to the provision of financial support for the printing of an HIV and AIDS policy document which is widely used within the Church.

EHAIA and the Churches response to HIV in Madagascar

By Dr. Sue Parry, Regional Coordinator - Southern Africa

EHAIA has worked with the Churches in Madagascar since 2003. Madagascar is a large and complex Island with 18 different ethnic groups that posses varied cultural and sexual practices. There is much poverty and it is a popular tourist destination. While the island has a low HIV sero-prevalence rate, (in 2008, this was 0.14% adult population, or 12,500 PLHIV), it has a high incidence of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) in comparison to its prevalence rate. According to a 2007 survey, 4.4% of pregnant women, and 12% of commercial sex workers had sypllis). (The presence of STIs makes people more vulnerable to HIV).

A number of large conferences and theologically- based HIV training workshops, for Church leadership and youth, have been held in different parts of the Island, from Mahajanga in the north to Manakara in the South-East. EHAIA has held these trainings in collaboration with numerous stakeholders including Government, UN agencies, NGOs, media, local authorities and communities, and people living with HIV.

In addition, numerous Malagasy resource materials for Churches and youth have been developed, as well as several translations from English and French into Malagasyy. Furthermore, 5000 copies of an HIV focused newsletter for the Churches, Gazety Famongena, is distributed twice a year. The work of the dedicated team in Madagascar is bearing fruit as the contribution of the Church was acknowledged in the Madagascar representation to UNGASS in 2008. Furthermore, the reduction in stigmatising attitudes and the caring outreach from Churches to communities is becoming evident.

EHAIA and the Internally Displaced Persons, Kenya

Following the post-election violence that took place in Kenya in December 2007 and onwards, a number of camps for internally displaces persons (IDPs) were created throughout the country. In April 2008, EHAIA, was part of an initial ecumenical group, then spearheaded by Christian AID, that visited and carried out a needs assessment of an IDP camp, in Mathare, Nairobi Kenya. The camp was established at the end of December 2007, and had a population of 780. Other partners present during the initial visit included the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), the Kenya Evangelical Lutheran Church, Norwegian Church AID and MAP International.

The aim of the initial visit was to provide support and carry out a needs assessment. Each group represented donated food and other materials while EHAIA donated non-food items and conducted HIV and AIDS discussions with the Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) living at the camp. One of the key needs that arose was of providing support to women/girls who had suffered sexual violence. This was in addition to providing trauma counselling. As EHAIA's then regional programme officer Elizabeth Kyule, reported, ‘the sad reality is that women and children are the last ones to disturb peace but the first to suffer the consequences,'

Following the initial visit, EHAIA, returned to the camp in early September 2008 to carry out a weeklong series of activities, in collaboration with KELC, AACC and Hope Community VCT Centre. The camp now had a population of 366 persons. Government officials demonstrated support toward the initiative by delaying the disbandment of the camp in order to allow the ecumenical partners to conclude their week-long activities. Pastor Makena, Director of Hope VCT and Catherine Ouma (from AACC) believe that one of the reasons that government officials supported the Churches in such a way, was that they recognised the unique contribution churches have in the overall well being of the person; seeing a person as not simply as ‘internally displaced', but a person with physical, emotional and spiritual needs. Frequently in times of conflict, the ‘spiritual component' is neglected as often Churches presence in such situation is limited and thus organisations/governments tend to focus solely on the physical aspects (however important they may be). There is a need for a balance.

As pastor Makena stated, ‘what makes us as Churches unique is that we have a life-giving spirit, which gives hope to people, and help sustain them. You could be alive physically and dead spiritually, which can limit your physical recovery from illness or trauma; and vice versa. This is especially true after suffering the effects of sexual violence.'

Activities that were organised by the partners during the week included: VCT Services at the camp (integrated with referral and spiritual counselling); counselling sessions for women/ girls; and discussions on gender based violence and HIV and AIDS. Referrals included information on where PLHIV could access medication upon their return to their regions, but also information on pastors in their region who could continue to provide psycho-support to them. In addition, the organisations distributed food and non-food items, and provided psycho-social Support and nutritional information for People Living with HIV and AIDS (PLWHA). Other ecumenical bodies came to the closing day of the week-long activities, on 5 September, 2008, and participated by going through HIV testing openly led by AACC General Secretary, Bishop Dandala.

On the second visit, the camp had a total population of 366 persons: 80 men; 132 children; and 154 women. During the week-long activities 106 VCT clients were served, of which 57 were men (five of whom tested positive) and 50 women (10 positive). Some 103 women were counselled in groups and individually. Seventy-five girls attended sessions on life skills, gender based violence and the effects of and management of trauma. Some 234 people were further given food and no-food items.

Following the workshops, the ecumenical members met again to evaluate their collaborative work. Overall, the group recognized that the church's greatest strength and contribution to the IDPs lay in its capacity to provide the gift of hope to them through the message of the life giving spirit. Furthermore, KELC's existing presence in the camp and thus relationship with the IDPs was an important factor in ensuring the success of the project. While the complementarities of EHAIA's experience of working on gender based violence and Hope Centre's VCT's unique approach to Voluntary Counseling and Testing, (that integrates spiritual counseling) was much appreciated by the group and IDPs alike. The leadership demonstrated by religious leaders, such as AACC's General Secretary, Bishop Dandala's openly taking an HIV test is an important testament to other leaders and the community at large. As the AACC's Catherine Ouma said, ‘its important for Church leaders to take the lead. it is one thing to speak from the podium, it is another to be in the shoes of someone by going through what you are encouraging them to do.'

Some key recommendations emerged. Partners stressed the need to strengthen the existing network among various ecumenical agencies to address thematic issues. This is in addition to carry out a follow-up, on World AIDS Day, December 1st 2008.

III. EHAIA staff updates

Rev. Dr Nyambura Njoroge
Programme Executive
World Council of Churches
P.O. Box 2100, 1211 Geneva 2, Switzerland

Mr Hendrew Lusey Gekawaku
Regional Coordinator for Central Africa
c/o Quartier Général de l'Armée du Salut
B.P. 8636, Kinshasa-Gombe, DRC

VACANT
Regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa
AACC Building - Waiyaki Way

Dr Sue Parry
Regional Coordinator for Southern Africa
Private Bag CH 7408, Harare, Zimbabwe

Ms Ayoko Bahun-Wilson
Regional Coordinator for West Africa
c/o CETA
B.P. 2268, Lomé, Togo

Rev. Deolinda Teca
Regional Coordiantor for Lusophone Africa
C/o Norwegian Church Aid
Cx.P. 932, Ingombata, Luanda, Angola

 

Rev. Dr. Charles Klagba
Theology Consultant/Francophone
c/o CETA
B.P. 2268, Lomé, Togo

Prof. Ezra Chitando
Theology Consultant/Anglophone
Private Bag CH 7408, Harare, Zimbabwe

 

Please note that as of June June 2008, West Africa Regional Office is based in Lomé, Togo together with the office of Theology Consultant for the Francophone. Jacinta Maingi, Regional Coordinator for Eastern Africa is no longer with EHAIA since 1st December 2008. Her replacement will be announced in due course.