Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Karen (Agenzia Fides) - “The Church is at the forefront of efforts to combat AIDS in Africa, in both the care and prevention spheres.” This is what a spokesperson from the African Jesuit AIDS Network told Fides in presenting an overall view of the Church's work in Africa in the fight against the virus. The document continues: “Its vast networks of hospitals, schools, parishes and other institutions make it ideally placed to reach out to people and communities bearing the brunt of the pandemic, as it is able to go where others cannot – indeed, it doesn’t need to go, for it is already there.”
In the medical sphere, the contribution of Church institutions is considerable in Africa. In this continent, Catholic religious institutions operate over 1,000 hospitals and 5,000 medical clinics that reach out to those with HIV and AIDS. In addition, there are 800 orphanages for those afflicted by AIDS. Estimates vary, but Catholic institutions provide about 25% of all AIDS care world-wide, and 40% in Africa, but in remote areas it can come close to all the available services. Parishes play an important role in alleviating the impacts of HIV and AIDS on individuals, families and communities.
Apart from pastoral ministry that goes from individual accompaniment and counselling to arranging for funerals and comforting the bereaved, a huge work is undertaken by Small Christian Communities (SCCs), an established feature of the Church in Africa. Here 10 to 20 people weekly meet to read the scripture, share their faith, pray for each other’s needs and support everyone in living their faith on a daily basis. They look into cases of families in their neighborhood who are sick or having financial difficulties. As a group they go to the homes of the sick to pray for them or assist them in any way they can. Here are the true members of Christ’s body caring for one another and finding the Lord in working together as the extended family of God. Many parishes have home-based care projects that help people with AIDS as well as orphans and vulnerable children.
Apart from caring from those afflicted by AIDS, the Church invests considerable energy to stem the spread of the pandemic. The Church’s overall strategy revolves around the transmission of life-skills, the reinforcement of healthy life values, and accurate information about HIV and AIDS, to encourage people to live responsibly and happily. Testing is encouraged. Clearly prevention is a priority: for example, in Kenya, nearly 600 programmes were documented, with the Church using its networks of parishes and schools – 45% of formal education in Kenya is provided by the Church – to get its message across.
One popular prevention strategy among youth, a behaviour change process called Education for Life (EFL), is typical of the Church approach in Africa. It is a value-based approach emphasizing abstinence and fidelity, the cornerstones of the Church’s prevention efforts, and it is implemented across sub-Saharan Africa. “EFL is a home-grown solution to an African crisis, inviting participation and frank discussion, going beyond information to insight, commitment and action, empowering people to take responsible decisions,” says Sr. Felicia Matola of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters for Africa (FMSA), which uses the program widely. “We see that EFL does change people’s lives for the better,” she added. (AP) (Agenzia Fides 28/11/2009)
