EHAIA Occasional Newsletter
February 2009
In this issues of our occasional newsletter, you will find information and reports on:
All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC), 9th General Assembly
New General Secretary for AACC
Highlights from the Church, HIV and AIDS, TB, Malaria, Violence and Health Delivery System Workshop
I have a dream where men respect women
Background on the SAVE Approach
Excerpt from the resolution of the Health Workshop
Covenant Eight: The Church, Human Health and HIV and AIDS
Sermon by the Rev. Dr Charles Klagba (in French)
Highlights from General Assembly
15th International Conference on AIDS and STI in Africa (ICASA)
Conference Highlights
Pan African Christian AIDS Network (PACANet) Pre-conference
EHAIA Updates
Le Bureau Régional Afrique de l'ouest dans un nouveau partenariat au Nigeria
Interregional collaboration for action and synergy
EHAIA Resource Material on HIV and AIDS for Churches in Africa
Partner Highlight
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance PEDIATRIC AIDS community-based advocacy tool
Introduction
Churches and the ecumenical movement have had an intimate impact on societies and people's lives in addressing the issues of health and healing. However, health issues such as the HIV pandemic and violence have exposed fault lines that reach to the heart of our theology, our ethics, our liturgy and our practice of ministry, unwittingly leading to stigmatization, exclusion and difficulty in addressing the issues of sexuality, masculinity, femininity and spirituality.
What is needed is a rethinking' of our mission and transformation. This very day, churches and the ecumenical movement have a distinctive prophetic role to play in response to health crises across the continent. Church Leaders need to renew their commitment and empower members to provide holistic community-based ministry and advocacy, to bring healing, hope and accompaniment to all those affected by health related issues.
This issue of EHAIA Occasional Newsletter will focus on the response of the Churches to HIV that were shared during the numerous important gatherings that took place across the continent, from the AACC General Assembly and ICASA to the meeting that gathered Francophone church leaders. We will further discuss EHAIA's approach to the development of resources and highlight a new community-based advocacy tool that was recently launched by the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance.
All Africa Conference of Churches, 9th General Assembly
The All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) 9th General Assembly took place in Maputo, Mozambique from 7 to 12 December 2008. AACC, founded in 1963, is the largest Pan-African Ecumenical grouping on the continent. It brings together 173 churches, councils of churches and Christian organizations from 40 African countries.
The theme of the AACC 9th general assembly was "Africa: Step Forth in Faith!" More than 1, 250 people attended the assembly's various workshops, thematic worship services and business sessions for official delegates. The workshops covered topics as diverse as Entrenching Human Rights in Africa; Women as Agents of Peace and Reconciliation; Moral Regeneration in the Continent; The Church, HIV and AIDS, TB, Malaria, Violence and Health Delivery Systems. The EHAIA Project Coordinator was involved in the planning of the assembly sub-theme on health.
New General Secretary for AACC
Rev. Dr André Karamaga was inducted as the new General Secretary of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) in Maputo during the last day of the 9th General Assembly on 12 December 2008. He succeeded the Rev. Dr Mvume Dandala, whose term officially ended in December 2008. Dr Karamaga, a Presbyterian and a theologian, was nominated for the position by his own church - the Presbyterian Church of Rwanda. He is neither new to the AACC nor to the ecumenical movement. Previously, he served the AACC as a programme executive in charge of Theology (1990-1995) and later as a member of its policy-making organs. He also served as the President of the Conseil Protestante du Rwanda (CPR); as Vice-President of the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (WARC) and as a member of the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches (WCC). He now rejoins the AACC from the WCC, where he was working as the executive secretary for the Africa Region.
In his acceptance speech, the General Secretary promised to build on the foundation laid by his predecessor Bishop Dandala and all others who worked alongside him. He heaped praises on AACC for remaining focused on its vision for the renewal and transformation of Africa, and for its professionalism in its work with the churches.
Highlights from the Church, HIV and AIDS, TB, Malaria, Violence and Health Delivery System Workshop
The workshop on health was co-chaired by Rev. Dr Nyambura Njoroge, the EHAIA Project Coordinator and the African Christian Health Associations Platform Convenor, Dr Samuel Mwenda, the General Secretary of the Christian Health Association of Kenya (CHAK). The theme of the workshop was Africa Step Forth in Faith in the Context of Monumental Suffering. Its main objective was to explore how Christians and churches continue to provide compassion, hope and mutual support in the context of the HIV and AIDS pandemic, TB, malaria, violence, poverty and a health delivery system crisis.
It addressed various issues on HIV and health on the African continent partially using contextual Bible study methodology facilitated by Dr Sarojini Nadar and Rev. Phumzile Zondi-Mabizela from South Africa. The contextual Bible studies dealt with issues such as disability, sexuality and sexual abuse, vulnerability of women, masculinity, gender issues, stigma and discrimination. A number of participants living with HIV (and women with disabilities) shared from their lives and hearts the most moving stories of how they were discriminated against within the church, yet finally were ready to live positively with the virus so that today they have become ambassadors of hope and agents of change in the context of HIV.
Inspired by the discussion on masculinity that took place during a session on human sexuality, Professor Ezra Chitando, EHAIA Anglophone Theology Consultant, wrote and read this poem at the end of the session:
I have a dream of a world, where men respect '
I HAVE A DREAM
I DREAM OF A WORLD
WHERE MEN RESPECT WOMEN
WHERE MEN PROTECT CHILDREN
WHERE MEN PROMOTE LIFE
I HAVE THIS VISION OF ANOTHER WORLD
A WORLD THAT EXUDES THESE QUALITIES
JUSTICE
PEACE
COMPASSION
I YEARN FOR A WORLD
WHERE MEN ARE STRONG ENOUGH TO CARE
TENDER ENOUGH TO CARE
LOVING ENOUGH TO PROTECT
I HAVE GLIMPSES OF ANOTHER WORLD;
FAITHFUL MEN
CARING MEN
SENSITIVE MEN
DEAR GOD, WORK WITH US TO BRING THIS WORLD
DEAR MEN, WORK WITH US TO BRING THIS WORLD
DEAR WOMEN, WORK WITH US TO BRING THIS WORLD
DEAR MEN: ARE WE MAN ENOUGH TO EMBRACE THIS DREAM & WORLD
Excerpt from the Resolution of the Health Workshop
During the final day of the HIV workshop session, the participants asked for the following actions to be taken by church leadership prior to the General Assembly in 2013, to be reported to the General Assembly in 2013:
Develop and implement a Health and HIV audit and participatory mapping exercise within the churches in the next 3 years to analyse:
Theologies and doctrines that are applied in the churches
The level of stigma and discrimination in the churches with regard to people living with HIV or people with disabilities
The level of access to prevention, treatment, care and support within the churches
Develop a strategic framework of the churches' healing ministry that addresses issues such as disability, HIV and other important health concerns
Adopt the SAVE model as a comprehensive tool for HIV prevention (please see below for more information on the model)
Engage as churches with governments on gender-based violence
Background on the SAVE Approach
The SAVE Model, or Approach, was developed by the African Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV and AIDS - ANERELA+. The SAVE approach includes components to counter the stigma that many believe is inherent in the ABC (Abstinence, Be faithful, Use a Condom) approach, as well as including both prevention and care components.
Safer practices: This includes safer practices for all modes of HIV transmission, including barrier methods for sexual intercourse (condoms), safe blood for transfusion, sterile needles and syringes, and abstinence.
Available medications: Antiretroviral therapy is not the only medical intervention needed by individuals with HIV and AIDS. These individuals also need to be treated for HIV-associated infections such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Treatment of opportunistic infections results in better quality of life and longer-term survival.
For more information on the SAVE model: http://www.anerela.org/
Covenant Eight: The Church, Human Health and HIV and AIDS
At the end of the assembly, AACC members and their partners in the meeting committed themselves to the Maputo Covenant that covered nine themes of the workshops. (The covenant here is understood as a call to common action through which the member churches of AACC and their partners seek to show what it means to live under God's influence and direction in Africa). The Covenant on the Church, Human Health and HIV is printed below:
Human health and HIV and AIDS are crucial issues in Africa. People living with HIV and disability are being stigmatized and marginalized even in the Church. We recognize that the church is HIV+, that HIV and AIDS is a sexuality and trans-generational issue that requires holistic healing. Believing every person has the right to abundance of life which God offers in Jesus Christ (John 10:10)
Response:
We affirm that all persons, infected or affected, are equal in the eyes of God;
We acknowledge that people with disabilities are made in the image of God;
We commit ourselves to providing a healing and positive environment for stigmatized and marginalized people;
We recognize that a comprehensive and holistic approach to the prevention and treatment of HIV and other diseases is vital for effective management and commit ourselves to communicating and mainstreaming of HIV in the church and society;
We call on churches to redefine their theologies of healing and to train pastors and church members for effective healing ministry;
Africa, step forth in faith!
Sermon by Charles Kglaba - EHAIA Francophone Theological Consultant, preached during the AACC HIV Service, Maputo, Mozambique..
«Je suis venu afin que les brebis aient la vie et qu'elles soient dans l'abondance.» a dit le Seigneur (Jean 10:10)
Aujourd'hui, l'avant dernier jour de notre assemblée, nous, Eglise d'Afrique, nous voulons célébrer la santé en plénitude de vie. Chers frères et soeurs dans le Seigneur, avancer dans la foi, c'est croire en ce Dieu de la résurrection et de la vie; c'est cheminer toujours avec lui sur des sentiers qui conduisent, quels que soient les obstacles, à la victoire, la victoire du bien sur le mal, la victoire de la vie sur la mort.
Aucune Eglise ne peut prétendre être active en Christ si elle ne s'investit pas, avec toute la pertinence et la compétence exigées, en vue de construire et d'entretenir une culture de la vie et de l'espérance face à la pression de la mort qu'exerce la pandémie du VIH sur l'humanité dans son ensemble.
En Afrique, qui compte le plus grand nombre de personnes séropositives et de malades, l'Église Corps du Christ est mise en demeure.
A mesure qu'elle se propageait, la pandémie a exposé des lignes de fracture qui s'étendent jusqu'au coeur de notre théologie, de notre éthique, de notre liturgie et de notre pratique du ministère.
Aujourd'hui, les Eglises sont obligées de reconnaître qu'elles ont contribué activement et passivement - bien qu'involontairement - à la propagation du virus.
L'épidémie du VIH a mis en lumière les limites de l'Église en tant que corps du Christ. Premièrement, elle a vu dans le VIH et le SIDA une punition des péchés, renforçant ainsi une attitude solidement ancrée qui conduit à la stigmatisation des personnes infectées et affectées par la maladie et les empêche de recevoir des soins de qualité.
Deuxièmement, la loi du silence qui entoure tout ce qui touche à la sexualité humaine et la perception négative qu'a l'Eglise ont amené celle-ci à délivrer des messages contradictoires et à adopter des positions confuses concernant la protection des rapports sexuels et la prévention de la maladie.
Troisièmement, bien que l'épidémie du VIH ne soit pas seulement une question individuelle mais aussi un problème de société et de structures, l'Eglise, en se concentrant sur l'abstinence et la fidélité, a montré qu'elle n'avait pas su assumer son rôle prophétique.
Elle n'a pas suffisamment dénoncé les épidémies sociales que sont la pauvreté, la guerre, les inégalités entre hommes et femmes, la discrimination basée sur l'appartenance ethnique ou raciale et l'orientation sexuelle, l'injustice à l'échelon international, les violations des droits de l'enfant et de la personne, toutes ces choses qui constituent un terrain fertile pour le VIH et le sida.
Surtout, ces défauts ont mis en évidence une certaine pauvreté théologique et la nécessité urgente d'inventer d'autres grilles de lecture de la Bible qui visent la guérison et la libération au lieu de l'exclusion et du rejet.
Frères et soeurs, l'épidémie du VIH a mis en lumière nos limitations à nous chrétiens, et elle nous a montré que l'Eglise, en tant que corps du Christ, est elle-même infectée et affectée par la maladie, car ses membres en souffrent et en meurent.
L'Eglise a, elle aussi, besoin de guérison. Elle a besoin de revoir certaines de ses conceptions, de se repentir et de se re-consacrer à l'Evangile du Christ.
Bien-aimés, célébrer la vie, la vie dans sa plénitude, devient donc pour nous un impératif missionnaire!
L'interdépendance que l'apôtre Paul recommande avec insistance dans sa lettre aux chrétiens de Corinthe à travers l'image de l'inter-imbrication des différents organes du corps humain ressemble étrangement à ce qui fonde notre éthique africaine de l'être humain: «je suis parce que tu es».
Je voudrais, frères et soeurs, que chacun et chacune dise à son voisin ou à sa voisine «je suis parce que tu es».
S'engager à faire de nos communautés ecclésiales des communautés inclusives où tous et toutes ont leur place sans distinction aucune sera le signe visible de notre volonté de célébrer la vie, et la vie dans sa plénitude.
En tant qu'Eglise, nous avons maintenant le devoir d'éliminer la stigmatisation et la discrimination existant dans nos discours théologiques, au sein de nos propres structures, et de réclamer en même temps avec force et autorité morale que nos communautés, la nation et la société dans son ensemble, respectent les droits et la dignité des personnes vivant avec le VIH et condamnent toute action qui les stigmatise.
La vérité est que nous sommes tous et toutes créés à l'image de Dieu.
Il s'ensuit que la discrimination est un péché et que la stigmatisation de qui que ce soit est contraire à la volonté de Dieu.
Nous devons instamment demander aux membres de reconnaître qu'il est urgent de nous transformer nous-mêmes si nous voulons jouer un rôle dans la transformation des attitudes envers la maladie, et de prendre les mesures nécessaires.
Nous devons veiller à ce que les personnes vivant avec le VIH reçoivent le soutien dont elles ont besoin, afin qu'elles puissent participer à toutes les activités de l'Eglise, pour qui elles représentent une ressource essentielle, spécialement dans ce qui touche à l'éducation, la formation, la prévention de la maladie, la défense des causes, la réflexion théologique et l'élaboration de programmes
Nous devons chercher à obtenir des informations exactes et à jour sur le VIH et le SIDA et élaborer des systèmes assurant la démultiplication la plus large de celles-ci dans toutes les communautés de base.
Nous devons enseigner et proclamer haut et fort que la stigmatisation et la discrimination sont des péchés, et que les personnes vivant avec le VIH ou touchées par la maladie doivent être invitées et accueillies dans nos communautés, où elles seront reconnues et appréciées comme des membres de notre famille et des compagnons de notre voyage commun.
Eglise d'Afrique, pour célébrer la vie, et la vie dans sa plénitude, nous devons intégrer la question du VIH et du SIDA dans les programmes de formation initiale et continue des pasteurs, des anciens, des responsables laïcs, des femmes, des jeunes.
Eglise d'Afrique, pour célébrer la vie et la vie dans sa plénitude, l'Esprit du Seigneur nous presse à revisiter nos grilles de lecture de la Bible pour être compétent dans la lutte contre le VIH et le SIDA avec des outils cohérents et efficaces d'analyse et de réflexion, afin d'aider à éliminer de nos communautés ecclésiales la stigmatisation et la discrimination qui créent, en réalité, les conditions idéales pour l'échec de toute politique de prévention.
Eglise d'Afrique, la Parole de Dieu, la Bible, cette bibliothèque extraordinaire doit être utilisée pour libérer, prendre soin et guérir non pas pour exclure, pour discriminer et finalement détruire.
L'apôtre Paul dit «Car comme le corps est un et a plusieurs membres, et comme tous les membres du corps, malgré leur nombre, forment qu'un seul corps, ainsi en est-il du Christ. Nous avons tous, en effet, été baptisés dans un seul Esprit pour former un seul corps, et nous avons tous été abreuvés d'un seul Esprit».
Alors Eglise d'Afrique, dit-moi, au nom de quel Dieu exclues-tu de tes communautés des hommes et des femmes à cause de leur statut sérologique?
Le Dieu de Jésus-Christ?
Le connais-tu réellement?
L'intervention de Dieu dans le monde a été révélée et réalisée dans ses paroles et ses actes de son vivant sur terre!
Jésus a-t-il exclu? A-t-il discriminé?
Dans le contexte du VIH et du SIDA, nous voulons parler de Dieu à ceux qui vivent avec le virus et les affectés. Nous voulons leur dire comment Dieu les juge, ce que Dieu pense d'eux, et pourquoi Dieu permet leurs souffrances.
Peut-être, frères et soeurs, nous avons besoin de les laisser parler à Dieu eux-mêmes.
Nous ne leur donnons pas l'occasion de parler eux-mêmes à Dieu et d'écouter eux-mêmes Dieu leur parler.
Nous ne sommes pas l'autorité de Dieu et nous qui ne souffrons pas n'avons ni droit ni autorité pour parler de la souffrance des autres. Seul Dieu qui a souffert et qui a connu la pire des souffrances en son Fils Jésus-Christ peut écouter et comprendre la souffrance des autres
Eglise d'Afrique, tu as besoin de déconstruire cette «théologie populaire» et donner naissance à une théologie alternative qui pourrait donner espoir et vie à notre continent.
Cette théologie alternative doit être le produit ou l'incarnation des expériences douloureuses concrètes des hommes et des femmes qui vivent la réalité des choses.
«Je suis venu afin que les brebis aient la vie et qu'elles soient dans l'abondance.»
C'est la promesse inaltérable de Jésus pour l'humanité et pour notre continent l'Afrique.
Alors, «Afrique, avance dans la foi» car notre conviction est que:
«... Rien ne peut nous séparer de son amour: ni la mort, ni la vie, ni les anges, ni d'autres autorités ou puissances célestes, ni le présent, ni l'avenir, ni les forces d'en haut, ni celles d'en bas, ni aucune autre chose créée, rien ne pourra jamais nous séparer de l'amour que Dieu nous a manifesté en Jésus-Christ notre Seigneur» Romains 8: 38 - 39
Highlights from General Assembly
On December 10 2008, a date which marked the 60th Anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the former President of Mozambique, His Excellency Joachim Chissano, gave a keynote address at the Entrenching Human Rights in Africa workshop. The former President provided an overview of the status of human rights in Mozambique, and further stressed the need for collaboration required from all sectors for their attainment. According to Joachim Chissano, this is important as "the essence of a human being lies in the existence of another. There should be respect for such existence."
On the same day, a publication based on a gender audit carried out on churches in South Africa, Zambia and Malawi was launched together with a publication entitled "Created in the image of God: a tool for women and men in churches." The two publications are to be used hand in hand in churches. According to Rev. Dr Dandala, "this audit is a direct challenge for us not only to take action in our churches but also in our lives." The aim of the study was to gain a better understanding of how far churches have progressed in achieving gender equality. It further proposed ways of supporting churches that are willing to engage in processes of self-appraisal of their theologies, governance structures, attitudes and practices with regard to achieving gender justice. Some key findings from the study were that, while women and women's organizations play a considerable role in the life, work and ministry of Church, they are largely excluded from leadership and religious roles at the largest levels. The publication was co-produced by the Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian Social Awareness, University of KwaZulu-Natal School of Religion and Technology, the KwaZulu-Natal Christian Council, the South Africa Council of Churches and Norwegian Church Aid.
For more information, contact: Anne-Marie Helland, Norwegian Church Aid Area Representative for Southern Africa, email: amh@nca.no
Children's Session
For the first time in the history of the AACC General Assembly, a special session on children was held. Children and youth from Mozambique addressed assembly delegates and discussed various topics from child abuse and human trafficking to HIV. The children and youth urged those present to speak more to young people, in order to come up with solutions to their problems together. As one child said, it is my hope that adults will learn to listen to children. Children need love, protection, a world of peace without abuse'. On HIV, another child spoke about the taboo there is in speaking about HIV in the church, the church is afraid of discussing HIV; however, it is killing our parents and our brothers and sisters' The children urged the church to do more, especially in tackling the taboos associated with HIV.
15th International Conference on AIDS and STI in Africa (ICASA), Dakar, Senegal
EHAIA West African representatives from Togo were among the approximately 10,000 participants and journalists from around Africa and the world who attended the International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA) held in Dakar from the 3 to 7 December 2008. The main goal of the conference was to provide Africans and their counterparts an opportunity to evaluate the current state of HIV and STI epidemics on the continent, exchange experiences, and explore and build partnerships and synergies.
The various sessions and side events provided participants with the opportunity to evaluate the many HIV initiatives that the African continent has participated in or engineered, in order to assess the contributions and successes as well as to acknowledge the weaknesses and shortfalls.
Conference Highlights
The Conference highlighted the limits of research, and particularly in finding a therapeutic vaccine. Thus the importance of concerted efforts in ensuring comprehensive prevention, as it is the only socio-behavioural vaccine available. During the sessions, churches were encouraged to expand their work with groups such as prisoners, migrants, people with disabilities, minors and refugees.
A key highlight of the conference centred on the need to strengthen leadership around HIV. Dr Peter Piot, outgoing UNAIDS Executive Director said: "Only leadership can make the difference," while the First Lady of Rwanda, Ms. Janet Kagame, advocated for a new leadership which is visionary, compassionate, innovative, responsible and committed to effective action'.
Another strong message from the meeting, that emerged from the various sessions and was stated in the Youth Communiqué, is that young people must be at the centre of all programmes developed, as they are the most affected by HIV on the continent and represent more than 50% of the population of the African continent. Aligned with this, the young people stressed the importance of technical support, so as to ensure the meaningful participation in programs and strategic decision-making platforms that affect their lives. In addition, the young people stressed the need for access to comprehensive prevention, treatment, care and support that further addresses the specific needs of children and young people living with HIV, as well as vulnerable children and youth.
For more information visit: http://www.icasadakar2008.org/en.php
EHAIA West Africa representatives' involvement
EHAIA's West African representatives attended many sessions that included: religious and traditional leaders addressing HIV; Community-based involvement in prevention; migration and displaced populations; and young girls and HIV in Africa.
The EHAIA staff felt that attending the conference was valuable, as it helped to build their knowledge and capacity and thus will inform their work in 2009. Furthermore, it provided the staff the opportunity to share EHAIA's work, in part through distribution of materials, but also they provided their insight in various sessions such as those on stigma and discrimination, and mobility and HIV.
Pan African Christian AIDS Network (PACANet) Pre-conference, Dakar, Senegal, by Ayoko Bahun-Wilson, EHAIA West Africa
Three (3) representatives of EHAIA West Africa (Regional Reference Group Representative, Programme Assistant and a person living with HIV) were among the 120 delegates from 26 African countries and four countries outside Africa that attended the PACANet conference in Dakar, Senegal. The pre-conference took place from the 29 to 1 December 2008, immediately prior to the start of ICASA. The theme of the conference was "The Church and HIV and AIDS: Challenged or changed? Measuring Impact and Identifying Gaps in the Church Response in Africa"
The aim of the conference was to evaluate and build the capacity of church leaders, so as to enable a more effective response to HIV. Workshop participants took stock of how far the church has come in its response to HIV and AIDS, particularly related to church declarations and resolutions that have been made over the year.
Conference participants produced a reflection statement, an excerpt which is available below:
The churches' spiritual mandate provides their core motivation for the delivery of a holistic response to HIV and AIDS. Furthermore, churches' key strengths including extensive reach, credible leadership, experience, capacity and growing advocacy, place them in a strong position to take lead in addressing the pandemic, at both a local and global level. As churches intensify their efforts, it is imperative that they respond to identified key challenges identified related to specific interventions areas, such as in Prevention, OVC and Treatment and Care, as well as cross-cutting challenges, in particular gender and the meaningful involvement of PLHIV, to further strengthen the impact of their response. In summary, churches have improved and/or changed their approach, teaching and practices in many areas related to HIV and AIDS. In addressing the challenges that remain, it is essential that churches engage in deeper dialogue and collaboration in and amongst themselves, strengthen partnerships with other stakeholders, and strongly advocate for a broader compassionate, engaging and competent response.
The Full reflection statement is available on the PACAnet website: http://www.pacanet.net/
EHAIA Updates
EHAIA West Africa representatives involvement
A staff member from the EHAIA West African Regional Office provided an overview of HIV-related declarations made by Churches and interfaith groups to pre-conference participants. During the presentation, the EHAIA staff member stressed the importance of an ecumenical response that is holistic and thus includes education, care, treatment and social ministry. The staff member further called on the churches to engage in greater advocacy, reduce stigma and discrimination, involve people living with HIV and address gender and age biases. He further expressed EHAIA's commitment to supporting churches based on EHAIA's plan of action, (that of developing practical tools, producing of materials, changing and addressing theological doctrines that fuel the epidemic).
LE BUREAU REGIONAL AFRIQUE DE l'OUEST DANS UN NOUVEAU PARTENARIAT AU NIGERIA
Par Ayoko Bahun-Wilson et Rév. Godson Lawson
Il y a deux ans, le Bureau Régional Afrique de l'Ouest d'EHIAA a initié un partenariat avec les Eglises, le gouvernement local, Immanuel Collège et l'université d'Etat d'Ibadan au Nigeria dans le cadre de la lutte contre le VIH. Cette initiative, qui est la première de son genre, aborde des domaines théologiques, socio-anthropologiques, médicaux et culturels.
Les chercheurs, les théologiens et les pasteurs du Réseau Ibadan formé sous l'auspice d'EHAIA Afrique de l'Ouest en 2007, conscients de la gravité de l'infection, ont constaté que le VIH constitue aujourd'hui le miroir de la vulnérabilité humaine. Et comme tel, il peut servir d'accélérateur dans l'écart qui peut être observé entre riches et pauvres.
Il faut donc sortir les gens de leur ignorance sur le VIH, car l'ignorance est toujours une source de maladie. La lutte contre la maladie de l'ignorance doit intégrer la dimension d'une discipline sexuelle tenant compte des aspects culturels de la question du genre, de la sexualité, de la guérison, et de la mort.
Le Bureau Régional Afrique de l'Ouest, en collaboration avec le Théologien pour l'Afrique Anglophone, a organisé en Décembre 2009 pour le Réseau une formation sur les modules TEE et les questions du Genre, de la violence contre les femmes et la stigmatisation. Les participants au Réseau Ibadan ont convenu de recueillir les numéros des téléphones portables des membres de leurs Eglises afin de leur envoyer des SMS les encourageant à aller faire les tests de dépistage et à lutter contre la discrimination la stigmatisation et dénoncer les situations de la violence contre les femmes.
Les participants ont promis, si possible, de publier leur réflexion avec EHAIA dans le sens d'une synergie d'idées et d'action.
Car, pour eux, personne n'est gagnant dans cette lutte contre le VIH si les institutions se négligent mutuellement.
Interregional collaboration for action and synergy, by Ayoko Bahun-Wilson, West Africa
Partially as a result of the AACC Yaoundé Covenant (2003), Churches have become increasingly involved in the HIV response. However, many church leaders face challenges in their work on HIV particularly as it relates to human sexuality, gender and certain harmful cultural practices. In light of this, the West Africa Regional Office organized a consultation for 35 church leaders from Central and West Africa (Francophone countries only), Rwanda and Madagascar in Lomé, Togo from 09-14 November 2008.
The church leaders at the meeting reflected on new developments in HIV epidemiology and challenges in the HIV response overall since the enactment of the Yaoundé covenant and 2008 Mexico International AIDS Conference. Topics discussed included human sexuality, gender and culture, treatment and positive living in an HIV context.
During the discussion on human sexuality and gender, it emerged that many church leaders continue to relate HIV to sexual deviance. It was also felt that there is a need for more nuanced and perhaps direct language that talks about sexuality as pleasure, which further recognizes that sexuality is not limited to sex but linked to psychology, emotions, feelings, mental activities.
Some Challenges faced by church leaders:
Persistence of some leaders in associating HIV to sexual deviance.
Stigma and discrimination indirectly impose silence on church leaders who are reluctant to disclose their HIV positive status.
Church activities lack visibility because of the non-existence of statistics, data, documentation, weak coordination and the insufficiency of a global care and support.
Some Recommendations for action
Theology: Re-reading and de-constructing of scriptures, making scripture relevant to the situation today so as to respond more effectively to the new forms of stigma, discrimination, denial and shame. This can be carried out in part through the more active involvement of people living with HIV in the life of the church.
Documentation: Improvement of churches' visibility by enabling the sharing of experiences and competences through more effective documentation, making documents accessible in various languages and establishing a readily available database of these documents. This may also include the creation of a virtual platform for collaboration and an inter-country network.
Treatment: Increase awareness of how access to treatment can be an excellent tool and entry point for prevention. Furthermore, advocate for the greater availability of ARVs.
Orphans and Vulnerable Children: Set up of strategies and mechanisms for care and support of orphans and vulnerable children due to AIDS, poverty and wars, and help the church to act.
EHAIA and Resource Material on HIV and AIDS for Churches in Africa, by Professor Ezra Chitando
The advent of HIV and AIDS has precipitated a tremendous increase in the publication of material on the topic. There is bulk of the material produced by governments, international bodies and non-governmental organizations. The material has been very useful in availing information relating to the pandemic. However, faith-based organizations and churches in Africa continue to yearn for resource materials that meet their information and practical needs, while "speaking their language." They thirst for publications that address the pandemic in religious and theological language. Since its inception in 2002, EHAIA has sought to meet this need.
EHAIA recognises the challenges posed by HIV and AIDS to communities of faith in Africa. These challenges occur at various levels. Theological institutions are grappling to come to terms with the pandemic. Church leaders are struggling to articulate issues relating to sex and sexuality. Leaders of the children's, youth, women's and men's groups are searching for material that provides theological and ethical interpretations of the pandemic. Consequently, EHAIA seeks to produce and distribute material that covers these various church groups.
As a Pan African organization (with global relevance), EHAIA has played a leading role in theological reflection on HIV and AIDS. Its Project Coordinator(s), Regional Coordinators and Theology Consultants have been actively involved in the production and dissemination of theological literature on the pandemic. EHAIA personnel have taken part in high level theological conferences, workshops and discussions that have resulted in quality publications. To date, EHAIA is the leading organization in the publication of textbooks on the mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS in theology and religious studies in Africa. HIV/AIDS and the Curriculum (2003), edited by Musa W. Dube, is widely cited and has guided debate in this area. A follow up volume, Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in Theological Education (WCC Publications, 2008) has been sent to EHAIA offices for distribution. Charles Klagba and C. B. Peter's Into the Sunshine: Integrating HIV/AIDS into the Ethics Curriculum (2004) has equipped lecturers with skills on how the pandemic affects ethical debates.
In response to the call to mainstream HIV and AIDS in the life of the church, AfricaPraying (2003) was published. This is an extremely popular book throughout Africa. It provides guidelines on how to prepare sermons that address HIV and AIDS. Listening with Love (2005) provides a very good example of EHAIA's commitment to ecumenism. It was written by Fr Robert Igo, a Catholic priest. It is a popular book that prepares its readers for effective counselling. Ayoko Bahun-Wilson's Youth Manual challenges young people to overcome stigma and discrimination. Living with Hope, Vol 1 and Acting in Hope, Vol 2 by Ezra Chitando cover diverse themes relating to the pandemic, while Sue Parry's (2003) Responses of the Faith-Based Organizations to HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa describes the sterling work of faith-based organizations. Sue Parry's newly published Beacons of Hope ─ HIV Competent Churches: A Framework for Action (WCC Publications, 2008) has been sent to EHAIA offices for distribution.
The Theological Education by Extension (TEE) HIV and AIDS (Ten) Modules (2007) have confirmed EHAIA's leadership in the development of theological resources on the pandemic. These are clearly written and effective modules that can be utilised by students and interested readers who have benefited from very few years of formal schooling. They remind scholars that it is possible to communicate theological issues around HIV and AIDS in accessible language. By publishing TEE HIV and AIDS material, EHAIA is championing theological reflection by the whole people of God'. Since the pandemic affects everyone, there is need to ensure that as many people as possible can have access to theological reflections on the topic. EHAIA is excited to add to its reading and distribution list the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance (EAA) new book, HIV Prevention: A Global Theological Conversation (ed. Gillian Patterson, 2009).
Alongside the publication of scholarly material on the pandemic, EHAIA personnel have been actively involved in the development and publication of pamphlets, tracts, policies and booklets that clarify various dimensions of HIV and AIDS. These have been warmly received by church leaders and lay people. They have equipped the church to face the pandemic with courage and creativity. They cover emerging issues like treatment literacy and plans are underway to respond to other themes like working with men and overcoming gender based violence.
In order to broaden the reach of the published material, EHAIA devotes considerable resources to the translation of the material into various languages. A number of books have been translated into French, Portuguese and Malagasy and other African languages. It is particularly important to increase the number of translations into African languages as this will ensure that more people have access to theological reflections on HIV and AIDS. This is a demanding exercise that requires additional resources.
With its regional offices and broad coverage of the continent, EHAIA is strategically placed to distribute material on HIV and AIDS by other faith-based organizations. It has fulfilled this role by (among others) promoting Strategies for Hope Trust (Oxford, UK) Call to Care Series books and One Body Vol. 1 & 2 by Nordic-FOCCISA Cooperation, as well as publications by the Circle of Concerned African Women Theologians. EHAIA therefore works in collaboration with other organisations to ensure that churches in Africa have access to the latest and up to date information on HIV and AIDS.
Cognisant of the "book famine" in Africa in general, and the absence of theological reflections on HIV and AIDS in particular, EHAIA has made the availability of faith-based resources on the pandemic one of its major priorities. It has emerged as a leader in this area and continues to work with its partners to ensure that "church-based" material on HIV and AIDS is not equated with mediocrity. Indeed, as participants at conferences and workshops continue to testify, EHAIA's resource material on HIV and AIDS is highly effective and plugs a glaring gap. Resource material production is one of EHAIA's areas of comparative advantage and it is hoped that EHAIA will continue to fly the flag high.
Partner Highlight: The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance Paediatric AIDS Community Based Advocacy Tool
In the run up to the 20th anniversary of the convention of the Rights of the Child in November 2009, the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance has given a high priority to issues around paediatric treatment. In 2008, EAA focused their children's letter-writing campaign on paediatric treatment and diagnostics.
EAA has since developed a simple printed resource called: "Prescription for Life" for teachers which will also have links to additional detailed information on the website. It is available in English, French and Spanish.
