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

South Africa—HIV/AIDS Intervention Program

Partners: ELCA and Evangelical Lutheran In South Africa and Diakonia AIDS Ministry

DESCRIPTION:

The intention is to have an HIV/AIDS program in full recognition of the enormity of the problem. HIV infection rates continue at unacceptable rates. There is a need to protect those not yet infected. AIDS related deaths would increase. Deaths resulting from the current high levels of HIV infection begin to occur at a later stage. Public resources alone are not able to cope with the needs.

NGO-driven awareness programs are designed to reach the whole society and are sometimes rejected by traditional and orthodox religions. As a result, many people and communities, who are in most need of such interventions, are left untouched because religious communities have not been able to tackle the issues of sexuality and sex education head on.

OBJECTIVES:

This will be achieved through:

• The integration of HIV/AIDS education, prevention and care in all aspects of the life of the church.
• Ministering with compassion to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in a manner that reflects Christian values, beliefs and traditions and enhances the self-worth of the beneficiaries of the ministry.
• Addressing social and economic forces that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS.

Key performance areas and activities that guide the ministry are:

• Develop and run an awareness program aimed at curbing the rates of HIV/AIDS.
• Train pastors and lay leaders in counseling skills.
• Equip lay people, especially women, with care-giving skills.
• Set up home-based care using existing Diocesan buildings.
• Train retired nurses and other women as home-care givers.
• Produce training materials such as posters, booklets and liturgies for HIV/AIDS awareness.
• Train youth in creative awareness and education tools such as drama and music.
• Produce a liturgy that would be inclusive of HIV/AIDS sufferers and address their needs and concerns.
• Develop school intervention programs.
• Set up congregational support teams for people living with and those affected by HIV/AIDS.

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