| FAITH COMMUNITIES
IN ACTION AGAINST HIV/AIDS
Major gains have been made in Uganda in the fight
against HIV/AIDS. In 1993, 30% of the population
was HIV-positive - the highest rate in the world
- but by 2003 this rate had dropped to only 6,5%.
In part, this has been achieved through government
information campaigns, prevention work done by
community groups and support from Christian and
Muslim faith communities who have worked together
to help decrease stigma and increase support around
HIV/AIDS.
In South Africa, there is a growing movement
of inter-faith mobilisation to address the epidemic
in many provinces. Early in May this year, an
indaba of FBOs gathered in Durban to report on
their projects and share ideas for ongoing work
to ensure healthier communities. The members of
the African Forum for Faith-based Organisations
in Reproductive Health and HIV/AIDS affirmed their
commitment to strengthen community resources,
obtain and pass on accurate information, reduce
stigma and discrimination, influence policy and
amplify the call for access to treatment and care
for those affected by HIV/AIDS.
At the Conference held at the Durban Jewish Club,
representatives of the African, Buddhist, Islamic,
Jewish and Ba'Hai religions shared their spiritual
and practical approaches to the epidemic and its
challenges for their congregations and communities
with Christian leadership from all denominations.
All were united in their desire to take action
against HIV/AIDS with unconditional love, compassion,
responsibility and dignity as their guiding principles,
and to demonstrate that these values can and should
be upheld in discussing the traditionally suppressed
subjects of sexuality and death more openly.
Much hands-on work is being done by different
religious organisations. This work includes skills
development, grief and trauma counselling, parenting
classes and family focus groups, fundraising,
volunteer co-ordination, training materials, awareness
events, orphan support, assistance with social
grants access, income generation projects, stress
management, peer education, building of facilities,
home-based care and care of the caregivers.
The reports had in common the goal of ensuring
proactive, participative and productive responses
to the epidemic. They proved what Methodist Bishop
Mvume Dandala, incoming President of the All Africa
Conference of Churches (AACC - based in Nairobi)
said recently: "We have to have a focus which
says: we will defeat this community by community...village
by village, school by school. There is no other
way you can bring transformation."
Moulana Faizel Khan commented at the Forum: "One's
relationship with God is not merely a dutiful,
service-based worship in a house of God. It means
caring about and helping to rejuvenate all of
God's creation and teaching others to do so as
well."
The Conference delegates agreed that strong,
mutually respectful partnerships between the various
faiths would break down old divisions and clear
the way for an open-minded and open-hearted stand
against HIV/AIDS.
For more information about the KZN Interfaith
Forum, contact:
Ms Saydoon Nisa Sayed
Vice-chair: World Conference on Religion and Peace
(WCRP)
44 Old Fort Road, Durban - 4001
Tel/Fax: (031) 332 7216
Email: wcrpdbn@sn.apc.org
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