en|de|es|fr

HomeExperienceHIV & AIDS | Public HearingHIV & AIDS | Official Visitors Comment

Ros Mary Rincon, Evangelical Lutheran Church of Colombia, speaks during the public hearing on HIV/AIDS. © LWF/L. Ramírez

HIV & AIDS | Official Visitors Comment

© LWF/Erick Coll

Joyful Benkie, Zimbabwe, Official Visitor (Betersanai Choir)

What are the specific actions that Lutheran churches need to be taking to respond more effectively to the HIV pandemic?

What we need is food and medication. And when people go for treatment, it must be free. It would be good if treatment could be available closer. Hospitals often are far away-as much as 14 km on foot.

Sometimes people don’t have enough money for the medication, and so they borrow from each other. This is very risky. People need a constant supply of their medication and a balanced diet.

How can churches in areas with a lower prevalence of HIV support churches in areas hard hit by the virus?

Others should advocate for and not discriminate against people with AIDS. Their only wish is food and medication at the right time. In southern Africa, drought is very common, and food can be hard to get. Taking medicine without food has such a bad effect, and we also just need to eat.

Thandeka Faith Mabhena, Zimbabwe, Official Visitor (Betersanai project)

What are the specific actions that Lutheran churches need to be taking to respond more effectively to the HIV pandemic?

Churches should provide an environment conducive to addressing HIV issues without bias. The main issue now is prevention. But this can be very difficult, because some preventative measures (such as condoms) are considered taboo. And yet, [women] must be protected from the HIV virus. Mother-child transmission is a very important concern.

Churches must take a lead in saying to Christians that it is time to revise our doctrine given the current situation. Human rights must be respected. If a marriage occurs between a man and a woman who have HIV, they should be respected if they do not want to risk pregnancy.

If our music is supported by the church, it should provide more forums like this one to spread our message.

How can churches in areas with a lower prevalence of HIV support churches in areas hard hit by the virus?

They can support us by staying HIV-negative themselves and by spreading the knowledge about how to avoid infection.

Food security is a big challenge that is part of this issue. Churches can help with food, and job opportunities. Things really go downhill without work. People need work to sustain themselves and their families-and to keep busy. It fuels the infection levels when men go away for work for long times and then come back.

© LWF/Erick Coll

Rev. Alexander Mabhange-Zimuto, Zimbabwe, Official Visitor

What theological questions need to be addressed?

Theologically, it is very important to say that HIV [and AIDS] is not a sin. It is like any other disease, any other pandemic-God does not punish people in such a way.

Another thing for Christians to remember is that Jesus Christ is on the side of those who are neglected. Perhaps those with HIV need even to be loved more than some others, because it is so difficult, and there is so much stigma.

Churches and their people shouldn’t fold their arms across their chests when they see people affected by HIV. These people need food, medication, and love.

Joseph Anthony Samy, India, Official Visitor

What are the specific actions that Lutheran churches need to be taking to respond more effectively to the HIV pandemic?

I have lived with HIV for 21 years and am a resource person for an organization that helps people with HIV. In 1996, we begin counseling; there must be counseling. This is very important. My situation has helped me come closer to God and to establish a better relationship with God.

© LWF/Ratna Leak

Manfred Weber, Germany, Official Visitor

What are the specific actions that Lutheran churches need to be taking to respond more effectively to the HIV pandemic?

Churches must fight stigma not only in Africa, but also throughout Europe and in Germany. We hear a lot about Asia and Eastern Europe, but that can seem far away. And, therefore, the theme is just disappearing. It simply is not public enough, and the role of the church is that it take this message forward more actively through church services and on the wider public.

It is important to make sure that people who are HIV positive speak for themselves during church services. They can reach people so much more effectively than those who are not personally affected. I myself am living with HIV and am open about it.

streaming

Eleventh Assembly Videos

RSS-Feed Assembly news (EN)
Communio Garden Communio Garden
facebook facebook
youtube YouTube
flickr flickr
twitter Assembly Twitter Feed