wfn.org | ACNS - Religious leaders join hands to act on HIV/AIDS

[Worldwide Faith News <wfn@igc.org>]

ACNS 3099 - AFRICA - 28 August 2002

Religious leaders join hands to act on HIV/AIDS

[All Africa News Agency] Prominent religious leaders from all over Africa
gathered in Nairobi in June under the auspices of the World Conference on
Religion, and Peace and Hope for African Children Initiative to reflect on
their role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Joyce Mulama joined them and in
her report, projects their concern and their bold interfaith declaration.

The silence in the room was chilling and tension filled the air as they all
listened keenly to Salim Yasin's story of how he was orphaned at a tender
age by AIDS. It was such a heart rending tale that it moved some of the
participants of the inter-religious meeting to tears.

Yasin, a seven year old orphan from Isiolo, north Kenya, narrated how he
lost both his parents to AIDS and how he was coping with the sense of loss
and grief whilst facing a very uncertain future. He went on to describe how
he had been shunned by members of his community and had been left to fend
for himself.

Salim is now in the hands of 'Pepe la Tumaini Jangwani', a project for
people living with AIDS in Isiolo. But he is determined to live and educate
society on HIV/AIDS. "I have a vision and will go miles to achieve it. A
dream to fight this disease in every way and if possible wipe it from the
face of this earth," he affirmed in a shrill voice.

Salim is part of the estimated 14 million children in Africa orphaned by
AIDS, and for this reason, more than 120 senior African religious leaders
convened in Nairobi, Kenya for a three day assembly focusing on the role of
religious communities in addressing the impact of AIDS on children.

The meeting was attended by the General Secretary of the World Alliance of
Reformed Churches (WARC) the Revd Dr Setri Nyomi. Also present was the
President of the All Africa Conference of Churches (AACC) Revd Prof Kwesi
Dickson; AACC Secretary General, Revd Canon Nlement Janda; and Executive
Secretary in charge of Christian Family Life (AACC), Revd Dr Kasonga wa
Kasonga.

Presenting a theological reflection on children and HIV/AIDS in Africa, Revd
Kasonga wa Kasonga said there was need to set up inter-religious study
groups to tackle the pandemic and to combat poverty. The study groups would
also teach the children the value of work. He describes AIDS as an
'equaliser' saying, "AIDS does not choose religion, race, age and
profession."

He further said it was a shame in Africa today to have a 'parent-less' child
who is not cared for, adding that this was not the case in the African
traditional societies where an orphan enjoyed the care of other members of
the community who played the role of parents to the point that the child
would forget he was an orphan.

The issue of stigmatisation came out so clearly with the religious leaders
admitting that through their silence and denial, they had contributed to the
consolidation of stigma and exclusion of people living with HIV/AIDS and
their families.

Speaking on addressing the plights of orphans, Revd Janda said, "You cannot
help orphans without helping the larger community. Orphans are part of this
community. If we improve the standards of the larger group then obviously
orphans' status shall improve."

Acknowledging past shortcomings with regard to stigma, ignorance and denial,
the senior spiritual leaders from across Africa adopted a progressive
declaration, which called for concerted efforts to end stigma and expand
programmes to protect children affected by AIDS.

"We must lead efforts to change attitudes, adopt policies and devote
resources to protect our children, in particular girls," proclaimed Cardinal
Emmanuel Wamala, Archbishop of Kampala, Uganda.

Pat Youri, Executive Director of Hope for African Children Initiative (HACI)
said religious leaders had tremendous influence particularly at the
community level where they have the moral authority to advocate for
compassionate care and offer support for those who are HIV positive and for
all vulnerable children. "They have the moral leadership to reverse negative
attitudes towards AIDS and promote an enabling and caring environment
especially for orphaned children," he added.
_______________________________________________
The ACNSlist is published by the Anglican Communion Office, London.

Please send QUESTIONS or COMMENTS to acnslist@anglicancommunion.org. Any 
comments about the content of the article should be directed to the author. 
PLEASE DO NOT REPLY to this message, as any replies are discarded 
automatically.

You can subscribe/unsubscribe online at 
http://www.anglicancommunion.org/acns/subscribe.html

ACNS mailing list