Summaries of HIV/AIDS Projects in Africa
Working with ELCA World Hunger Program Partners

Ethiopia—AIDS Prevention and Control Program

Partners: ELCA and Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus.

DESCRIPTION:

Ethiopia is one of the poorest countries in the world. It is estimated that over 60 percent of its population (about 36 million) are food insecure or live below the poverty line. In the year 2000, it was estimated that over eight million people were affected by drought and would require food assistance. In addition to poverty, Ethiopia is one of 21 African countries with the highest prevalence of HIV/AIDS in the world. In Ethiopia, the proportion of adults infected with HIV has increased from less than one percent in 1987 to nearly ten percent in 1997. It is estimated that there are over four million HIV- positive people living in Ethiopia. The most frightening thing in this situation, beyond the figure itself, is the high risk of infection of many others who remain ignorant of the devastating effect of this virus.

OBJECTIVE:

The Ethiopian Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus is committed to a major strategic plan that involves the whole church (three million members) in a prevention and control program of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted diseases.

The program includes training 300 new educators a year, for five years, who will go throughout the church and train pastors, evangelists, development workers, congregational elders and community leaders in HIV/AIDS prevention and control methods.
The whole church is committed to use every opportunity possible to get the word out into the church and community.

Projects: Burkina Faso Cameroon Kenya Liberia Madagascar Mali Namibia Niger Nigeria Senegal Sierra Leone South Africa Tanzania Uganda Zimbabwe
Other African Projects

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