HIV / Aids

PACSA RESEARCH - REPORT BACK

Exploring how local churches are integrating HIV/AIDS within the life of the church and what outreach programmes they have in communities

Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian Social Awareness

PACSA has conducted research with thirty churches in the KZN Midlands area to explore how local churches are integrating HIV/AIDS within the life of the church and what outreach programmes they have for their own and other communities. It also offers PWHAs’ perspectives within the same churches.

This understanding will help churches to understand better how people living with HIV/AIDS and their caregivers feel about their place in their churches, and what kind of support they would value.

The research also obtains information from churches on how networks and ecumenical organizations like PACSA could best assist churches to develop their HIV/AIDS ministries

If you would like a copy of the research report, please call Thuli Hlatshwayo at 033 342 0052 or email thulih@pacsa.org.za

12 July 2004

MUSEVENI IS RIGHT!!

True Love Waits - South Africa heartily congratulates Uganda and its president Yoweri Museveni, for the bold stand promoting the vital role premarital abstinence must take in the fight against HIV/AIDS, at the UN Conference on AIDS in Bangkok today.

It is hugely exciting for us to see a fellow African willing to brave ridicule and disbelief, to tell the world that he has faith in young people. Premarital abstinence is not, as US Congresswoman Barbara Lee put it today, “inhumane”. It may be hard, but it’s very possible – as over 330 000 young South Africans have proved by signing a pledge to remain sexually abstinent until marriage. And the rewards of this lifestyle are certainly worth the struggle.

It is strange that the approach of a country that is actually winning the war against HIV/AIDS, is labeled “impossible” and “too much to expect”. It is even stranger that ‘scientific’ methods, so enthusiastically promoted, reduce us young people to hormonally-charged-led-by-their-feelings animals unable to practice self-control. It’s insulting! Rather than feed the fires, it would help if all the experts at the Bangkok conference would focus on what will truly make a difference: Behavior Change.
TLW-SA teaches girls that it’s OK to say ‘no’ to premarital sex; that sex is not the proof of love. We teach the guys that sex maketh not the man, rather ‘the man’ is proved by his self-control.

Perhaps it would benefit scientists out there to come to the `grass roots’ level and see the life-changing success TLW-SA has in the lives of both HIV positive and HIV negative people.

TLW-SA will join True Love Waiters from over 100 countries (including Uganda), to form a large and powerful display with signed abstinence pledges on 22 August at this year’s Olympic Games in Athens. If you hadn’t noticed: Abstinence is the new trend. Don’t be left behind.

For further information call Jerusha on 083 799 9981 or email jerusha@truelovewaits.org.za or visit www.truelovewaits.org.za

For further information on the Olympic Event: http://www.lifeway.com/tlw

The Church in an HIV+ World: A Practical Handbook
Edited by Daniela Gennrich, PACSA Director, for KwaZulu Natal Church AIDS Network
2004.  Published by Cluster Publications, in association with KwaZulu Natal Church AIDS Network

“This book is a ‘must have’ for every congregation. It will help restore each church to its rightful place in the community: to being a centre of hope.” Rev Purity Malinga, Methodist Bishop, Natal Coastal District.

This comprehensive handbook aims to challenge Christians and churches to look at HIV/AIDS in a new light and consider fresh ways of responding to this humanitarian and theological crisis in South Africa. To sum it up in Bishop Purity Malinga’s words, quoted in the Conclusion: God is calling us to do church differently. Although it is aimed squarely at Christian churches, its applicability goes well beyond that. This is true especially for the appendices, which offer practical guidelines that will help anyone to meet the real lived needs of people living with HIV or AIDS.

This handbook challenges us to live with the question:
“How can we live out what God requires of us in South Africa today, where nearly 5 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and more than 600 die every day?” (Chapter 3).

“This is the most comprehensive, non-judgemental, easiest to read, coherent and compassionate booklet I have read for many years … it forces people to think without being aggressive about it.” Almedal Calle, UNAIDS Secretariat.

“This is indeed a handbook which takes you by the hand from uncertainty to active involvement as it not only gives information about the disease, statistics and its impact but it expands on what the church and individual Christians can do for/ with/ alongside the infected and affected.” Extract from the Preface, by Methodist Bishop, Rev Purity Malinga.

Daniela Gennrich is Director of PACSA (Pietermaritzburg Agency for Christian Social Awareness) and Coordinator of its Gender Desk. She worked among those living with HIV, and sick and dying of AIDS in Mpophomeni and was founder of the uMngeni AIDS Centre in Howick.

Cost: R40.00 including local postage.
International: Airmail R140; Surface mail R90.

Available from:
Cluster Publications,
PO Box 2400, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa.
Tel/ Fax : 033 3459897. Email: cluster@futurenet.co.za

Or
PACSA
P.O.Box 2338, Pietermaritzburg, 3200, South Africa.
Tel/Fax: 033 342 0052. Email: loul@pacsa.org.za

First Lady of Uganda Janet Museveni to Receive Award for Her Tireless Efforts to Combat the HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Uganda

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 8, 2004

CONTACT: Shawna Peays, (512)328-6268, speays@medinstitute.org

Washington, DC - Mrs. Janet Museveni, First Lady of Uganda, will travel to Washington, DC, to be honored at the 2004 National Meeting of The Medical Institute, “Common Ground: A Shared Vision for Health.” The meeting will take place from June 17-19 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Mrs. Museveni and her husband, His Excellency Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, are the world’s leaders in successfully promoting behavioral change as a solution for the raging HIV epidemic. As a result of their national call for sexual abstinence for unmarried individuals and faithfulness within marriage, 95% of Ugandans in the year 2000 had either zero or only one sexual partner. Primarily because of this, HIV rates have declined by two-thirds in Uganda over the last decade and a half, the steepest decline in any country worldwide.

As a result of her incredibly powerful and effective role in showing that it is realistic for leaders to model and call for healthy behavior, Mrs. Museveni will receive The Medical Institute’s “Hero Award” for her husband and herself. In her upcoming address to MI’s National Meeting, Mrs. Museveni will make it clear that the initiatives instituted in Uganda are realistic for other countries that face HIV/AIDS, STI or STD epidemics or high non-marital pregnancy rates, including the United States.

The First Lady will be honored at a reception on June 17th at the Omni Shoreham Hotel, beginning at 7 pm. Individuals are welcome to attend. A $30 donation per person is appreciated. Please confirm your attendance by contacting Michele Madasz at 202.342.7444 or mmadasz@medinstitute.org.

At the Conference, national authorities will present the most up-to-date information regarding such topics as the teen brain, the impact of the media on sexual behavior, adolescent risk-taking and its cost to teens and society, and innovated strategies and solutions. Finally, CNEs, CHE, CME, and CEUs will be offered to professional participants.

It’s not too late to register for this important meeting or to attend the reception in honor of Her Excellency Janet Museveni. Go to: www.medinstitute.org/NatlMtg.htm for detailed information about the Conference.

A booklet has been prepared on that largest of all giants – HIV/AIDS. If you would like a copy of the booklet please contact us by e-mail: office@sacla.co.za

This brief has been developed by Dr Hannah Britton and Paul Graham. A short brief cannot be comprehensive and the authors encourage readers to add their own information, stories and analysis when discussing how best to slay these giants.