HIV AIDS A Window of Opportunity for the Church

HIV/AIDS: A Window of Opportunity for the Church Presented by Holly Freitas

History of HIV and AIDS • • • Human Immunodeficiency Virus. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome. First official cases diagnosed early 1980’s Is transmitted through blood and body fluids. Epidemic starts out in “high risk” groups for example: sex workers and IV drug users then breaks out into the general population and all sexually active persons become “high risk”.

GLOBAL SUMMARY OF THE HIV/AIDS EPIDEMIC DECEMBER 2003 Number of people living with HIV/AIDS Total 40 million (34 - 46 million) Adults 37 million (31 - 43 million) Children under 15 years People newly infected with HIV in 2003 2. 5 million (2. 1 - 2. 9 million) Total 5 million (4. 2 - 5. 8 million) Adults 4. 2 million (3. 6 - 4. 8 million) Children under 15 years AIDS deaths in 2003 700 000 (590 000 - 810 000) Total 3 million (2. 5 - 3. 5 million) Adults 2. 5 million (2. 1 - 2. 9 million) Children under 15 years 500 000 (420 000 - 580 000)

By 2010, if HIV rates remain the same, AIDS will take almost as many lives as the following put together: • • • World War I and II Vietnam Korea US Civil War Bolshevik Revolution Spanish Civil War Taiping Rebellion First Chinese Communist War The Great War in La Plata The partition of India

A group of international experts affiliated with UNAIDS, released a report stating that HIV in Asia is “poised to break out of high-risk groups, particularly through prostitution, however there is hope of containing the epidemic. “We see a window of opportunity. ” The spread of HIV is not inevitable. It is imperative that countries not waste time, but act now. High population densities, the presence of other sexually transmitted infections and high risk-behaviors, and frequent migration make it likely that Asia will become the pandemic’s next epicenter”

“Every infection is a human tragedy, affecting families, loved ones and the whole community. ”

How AIDS Destroys Communities Takes the middle members of society • ages 15 -45 • most productive members • teachers, doctors, farmers • childbearing men and women Involves sexuality, disease, and death. Grows in silence of shame, ostracism, and discrimination. Takes many years of incubation, allowing years for virus to infect others. Preys on those who are already suffering. Destroys community safety nets. Undoing decades of advances in development.

Elements or “root causes” of an HIV epidemic • Poverty • High risk behavior • Gender inequality

Poverty HIV Infection

• Lack of Hope Poverty • Travel to city for work • Desperation • Sex for food • Blood for food • Putting Children at Risk • Selling children for labor or prostitution • Leaving unattended/unsafe conditions • Poor healthcare and hygiene • Unsterile supplies • HIV infected blood • Untreated STD’s • Poor nutrition • Low resistance to disease

Poverty High Risk Behavior HIV Infection

High Risk Behavior • Sexual activity outside of monogamous husband/wife relationships • Multiple sexual partners • Cultural norms • Traditional practices • IV drug use

Poverty High Risk Behavior HIV Infection Gender Inequality

Gender Inequality • Poor education and work opportunity • Physical and sexual abuse • Women unable to refuse or negotiate safe sexual practices • No inheritance rights • No status for unmarried women • Women viewed as property

Poverty High Risk Behavior HIV Infection Illness/Death of Productive Adults Gender Inequality

Illness/Death of Productive Adults • More money spent on health remedies • Fewer productive work hours • Significant decrease in family income • Children must obtain food/shelter/care for themselves and sick and dying parents • Children become vulnerable to exploitation • Children absorbed into extended family • Discrimination in community • Possibility or reality of life on street • Loss of inheritance/land/culture • No passing on of trades • Deteriorating housing conditions

Poverty High Risk Behavior HIV Infection Illness/Death of Productive Adults Infected Infants and Children Gender Inequality

Infected Infants and Children • Children infected through unsafe health practices • Mother to Child during pregnancy/ birth/breastfeeding • Infant and child rape • Involuntary or voluntary prostitution

Poverty High Risk Behavior Gender Inequality HIV Infection Illness/Death of Productive Adults Psychosocial Distress Infected Infants and Children

Psychosocial Distress • Crisis of being infected/ill • End to future plans of marriage/family • Discrimination and stigma in community • Observing loved ones falling ill and dying • Elderly losing adult children/ having to care for grandchildren • Children endure illness and death of parents

Poverty High Risk Behavior Gender Inequality HIV Infection Illness/Death of Productive Adults Psychosocial Distress Infected Infants and Children

The Lord says: “I have indeed seen the misery of my people, I have heard them crying out and I am concerned about their suffering” paraphrase Exodus 3: 7

“AIDS is unique in its devastating impact on the social, economic, and demographic underpinnings of development. We must act now, on a much larger scale than anything we have done before, not only to assist those already hard-hit, but also to stop the explosive growth of AIDS in the parts of the world where the epidemic is newly emerging. ” Dr. Paul Piot, Executive Director, Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS

“We can see now that AIDS is not just a health crisis but a development crisis” Professor Alsa Whiteside.

The cure for HIV epidemic – changed hearts, transformed lives and communities by pointing people to Christ and His Word.

HIV/AIDS is a wholistic problem that demands a wholistic solution. The Church-God’s people are uniquely positioned to meet this demand. • We have Christ as our model for providing wholisitic care. • The Church is positioned in the community, its members are part of the community. • The Church has the answer to healing, restoration, wholeness and change.

MEDICAL AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL • MAI Mission Statement Transforming nations through the seamless combination of disease prevention, evangelism, and community development. • Community Health Evangelism – – Form Village Committee Identify problems Choose volunteer villagers to become CHEs teach their neighbors disease prevention, community development, and God’s Word

Vision for HIV/AIDS Program Our vision through the HIV/AIDS program is to find effective solutions to combat AIDS and bring hope throughout the world. l Our strategy, through CHE, provides modules that will modify and address this crisis situation by creating community awareness; advocating lifestyle and behavior changes; preventing infection; and offering compassionate care to those already infected and those affected by HIV/AIDS. l

HIV CHE Program Objectives n n n n n Educate and involve communities and community leaders to become active in HIV prevention and care Help communities identify routes of HIV entry into community Strengthen and mobilize the local church for HIV/AIDS ministry Improve the ability of families to meet the wholistic health needs of their HIV positive family members Improve the emotional state and coping skills of PLWHA and their families Help communities develop strategies for children and adults affected by HIV/AIDS Decrease risk of HIV transmission from mother to infant Bring HIV/AIDS to the forefront for planning and funding Bring hope through Christ to individuals and communities

TREE OF HOPE Growing an HIV/AIDS Program • ROOTS CHE Strategy: – Disease Prevention – Evangelism-Discipleship – Community Development • TRUNK HIV/AIDS Core Lessons • BRANCHES Training: – Strengthening & Mobilizing the Church for HIV/AIDS – HIV Counseling for Lay Care Givers – Hands on Care for AIDS Patients – Family & Community Support – Vertical AIDS Transmission Prevention (VATP)

HIV/AIDS Core Lessons This module contains the foundational information regarding HIV/AIDS basics. The lessons address HIV/AIDS misconceptions, help identify practices in the community that facilitate transmission of the HIV virus, create community awareness of the effects of the disease, and introduces a biblical worldview of HIV/AIDS. Topics such as: n What is HIV? What is AIDS? n HIV Testing n How does HIV Affect our Community? n Talking to our Spouse/Partner about HIV/AIDS n Growing an HIV/AIDS Program I

Strengthening and Mobilizing the Church for HIV/AIDS This module focuses on the Church by creating awareness of the AIDS situation, advocating biblical lifestyles, and showing compassion to those already infected with the HIV virus. This module helps the Church recognize its responsibility to the community concerning HIV/AIDS. Topics such as: • Marriage – God’s Plan for Companionship and Sexual Fulfillment • Christian Family I – The Requirements of Married Partners • What God Says Concerning AIDS and What the Church can Do • Reaching Out in Ministry to People with AIDS • Hope through Transformation

HIV Counseling for Lay Care Givers This module trains community volunteers in counseling of people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) and their families regarding their psychological and spiritual needs. Topics such as: HIV Counseling Giving HIV Test Results Crisis Counseling Care Groups Caring for People with Emotional Needs

Hands on Care for AIDS Patients This module provides lessons on the daily physical care of the person living with AIDS. The overall goal of this module is to help relieve and reduce suffering, provide hope for eternity, and promote better quality of life for the person living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). Topics such as: n Staying Healthy with HIV n Precautions for Care Providers n Nutrition and HIV n Care of the Bed Bound Patient n Common Discomforts of AIDS

Family and Community Support This module provides tools for assessing and developing strategies for keeping families and the community intact socially, economically, and physically. Topics such as: § Caring for Orphans § Mobilizing the Community to Care for their Own § Hospice § Making a Will § Food Security

Vertical AIDS Transmission Prevention (VATP) This module develops a program to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the HIV virus through education, behavior change, and administration of an anti-retroviral drug for mother and child at time of delivery. It provides for perinatal health education for all pregnant women and encourages HIV testing through participating clinics. Topics such as: n Vertical AIDS Transmission Prevention (VATP) n Treatment with Nevirapine n Breastfeeding and HIV Transmission n Nutrition for Pregnant and Breastfeeding Women n HIV Pre- and Post-Counseling Form

TREE OF HOPE The Fruit of this Program Ezekiel 47: 12 “Fruit trees of all kinds will grow on both banks of the river. Their leaves will not wither, nor will their fruit fail. Every month they will bear, because the water from the sanctuary flows to them. Their fruit will serve for food and their leaves for healing. ”

MEDICAL AMBASSADORS INTERNATIONAL For more information, please contact: Charleen Mc. William, R. N. Holly Freitas, R. N. Medical Ambassadors International PO Box 576645 Modesto, CA 95357 888 -403 -0600 ~ Local: 209 -524 -0600 ext. 34 www. Medical. Ambassadors. org