A Holistic Approach to HIV and AIDS in Africa

During the 15th Plenary Assembly that took place in Uganda in June 2005, Bishops of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) came out with a common framework of responding to the challenges of HIV/AIDS in the region. The call was to increase efforts of fighting the pandemic by using the values found in the Gospel and in the Church’s Social Teachings.

We committed ourselves as the Church Family of God to be a Good Samaritan – Jesus Christ himself who could not pass by a near-to-death beaten humanity, desperately in need of help and extra care! We committed ourselves to pray and break the silence by raising prophetic voices that would save many innocent lives in Africa. We committed ourselves to overcome our fears, stigmatisation and discrimination against people who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS. We committed ourselves to collaborate with governments and other organisations at national and international levels in order to develop an integrated approach in our fight against HIV/AIDS.

The AIDS pandemic has affected our way of being Church. The real concern is: How can we build a living Church in the face of HIV/AIDS? How can the Church preach the Gospel of Hope while confronting imminent death? How can we save lives when the most devastating killer disease that knows no discrimination in terms of age and status in society faces the very foundation and channel of life? We cannot but cry with those who cry and weep with those who weep! But we must cry with hope! Cure, care and prevention of the HIV/AIDS pandemic are key concerns where solidarity and collaboration are essential for saving lives and bringing hope to the infected and affected people. These people need understanding and a loving presence.

The rightful stance is one of hope that surrounded the bringing back of Lazarus to life. “‘LORD, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.’ Jesus told her, ‘Your brother will rise’” (John 11:21-23). Being with, and praying with and for those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS raise their hopes to a higher level. They need the actual help within the community and by the community.

Care for them must include meeting their needs, advising, correcting and encouraging them. These people are in need of concern as a guarantee by the community to listening and understanding, providing care to the highest degree possible, and whenever it is needed. They must know we are there with and for them, without judging. We must not allow a human person to be in the void of life.

I am grateful that this research has been carried out. It contributes to ways of evaluating our caring and sharing with victims of HIV/AIDS. This publication that is a fruit of an Interdisciplinary Research will surely help us in making an examination of conscience on what more can be done in fighting AIDS. This publication complements the National Conferences Reports that provide details on actual activities that have been carried out at various levels to fight the AIDS pandemic.

I express my gratitude to Missio for being a partner in actualizing this research. I thank all the researchers and the Paulines Publications for their generosity of ideas and time and the latter for publishing this research. This research is part of struggles for continuous search for being with and supporting efforts of fighting the pandemic. Until the battle is won, we need to continue joining our hands in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

We must all hope and aspire to have life in its fullness (John 10:10). This is in line with our original commitment during the 15th Plenary Assembly. AIDS is a scourge that is fatally wounding Africa in her flesh. The Church as the channel of fullness of life in Christ cannot but be engaged totally in fighting this evil. When we minister to our brothers and sisters who are infected and affected by AIDS, we truly manifest our love for God. Holistic care for all demands going the extra mile in terms of loving and caring for our suffering humanity. Holistic care demands a complete and integrated response to the needs of a human person ranging from the spiritual, physical, psychological to the social and material. Among the key obstacles that are to be overcome are the breaking of the silence about the pandemic and overcoming the fears, stigma and discrimination. By building capacities of institutional structures like Small Christian Communities in responding to HIV/AIDS and giving them such tools as this, we hope that we will fight this battle and win.

I invite the leaders to read this book and draw from it some inspirations on how to bring hope to people on the verge of getting discouraged. Africa must send out messages of hope, life and encouragement to people, and not of hopelessness or helplessness. Africa has survived numerous challenges as a continent and has the capacity to survive the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Divine Love invites us to be optimistic that Africa will survive and God’s Kingdom will be built.

May we continue to pray for healing and cure. May we pray for gaining a better understanding of enduring sufferings that lead to life, not death, in Jesus Christ who died to save us from all perils.

H.G. Paul Bakyenga
Archbishop of Mbarara, Uganda,
Chairman of AMECEA

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