What is the Church’s position on the HIV/ AIDS issue?

Dec 11, 2016 Letters

---

Dear Editor,
Guyana recently celebrated AIDS AWARENESS WEEK (last week in November), and I was somewhat taken aback at the minimal part played by the Church. No preaching! No teaching! No reaching! No saying! No swaying! Dr. Shamdeo Persaud, Chief Medical Officer, in a recent statement called for a re-examination of the National HIV/AIDS campaign, especially in light of the growing number and growing trend of new HIV cases. He opined that while the campaign has brought the message home over the years, there is now a strong need to review its contents and change some of the measures used to tackle the pandemic. The age old, badly worn refrain is; “HIV/ AIDS is a dangerous disease use a condom or abstain.” This is just not workable.
The figures reveal a different picture and one that has left a visible stain. The clarion has been sounded; new ways to reach the population is called for. The churches in Guyana, among them the Black churches appear to be grossly reluctant to respond to this epidemic in a manner that is commensurate with the scope of the problem. On a point of clarity, let it be known that I am not addressing the black church as a strictly religious entity, for it does not exist. What exist in reality are very, many diverse people who choose various forms and venues of worship, organized in different ways and to varying degrees. Blacks worship in a variation of modes, as do members of most other racial and ethnic groups. Customarily most Blacks worship as Baptists, Protestants, Methodists, Catholics, Seventh –Day-Adventists, Muslims and Jehovah Witnesses. . They also worship as Scientologists, Episcopalians. Notwithstanding, for the purpose of discussion, I will refer to the places of worship used chiefly by black people as the Black church.
To the seeming disinterest of the church, there was a warning in May 2016 regarding the increase in new HIV cases, to a total of under 500 yearly. The Chief Medical Officer ruefully pointed out that Guyanese citizens were no longer scared of HIV and as such were not displaying sexual precaution. They are aware that there is treatment, and that the treatment works, hence they are of the belief that they need not worry. Truth be told most of the new cases were within the 18-20 years age group.
The rise in new HIV-related cases has caught the attention of the United Nations, which has moved to adopt a political declaration on Ending Aids to speed up the progress rate and reach a set of time-bound targets. A Fast Track Approach has been instituted wherein countries will be given five years to have fewer than 500,000 new HIV cases; fewer than 500,000 people dying from AIDS-related illness; and eliminating HIV related discrimination. Discrimination against people living with HIV/AID still remains a problem in Guyana hence more work has to be done.
It is blatantly clear that the biggest battle yet to be fought in the history of Guyana and one that has to be won before 2030 must be fought within the hallowed halls of synagogues, tabernacles, mosques, churches, cathedrals. As has been previously stated one must also acknowledge that the African-American church has been slow to respond to this challenge of truly epic proportions and that there is so much work yet to be done.
The first case of AIDS was diagnosed in Guyana in 1989, now there are 7,000 living with AIDS, of which over 5, 000 are linked to treatment. Seemingly, the Black churches have not been rigorously addressing the issue of AIDS, since many believed it was not a threat to them. Also many believed that the disease occurred only in gay men. Now with the passage of time and years we have come to see that many in our communities, friends, families, neighbours and associates become ill with the disease. We have also come to discover that the nature of their illness was misrepresented or not discussed above a comment. Most churches are led by old school pastors, heavily influenced by generations of biblical traditions that can date back to the founding of the church. AIDS may not or never be discussed from the pulpit, and there may not be an HIV ministry within the church, and there may be a total absence of HIV prevention messages being integrated into the church program. Traditional churches are also very conservative.
The call is out, similar to a spiritual assault. More churches and religious institutions must answer the call in delivering HIV prevention messages, and normalize their sermons around HIV so that the worshippers begin to own the truth that the disease has already hit home. There is no longer any need to distance itself from the moral issues around the behaviors that feed the disease, or allow the suffers with HIV to feel that the church considers theirs a “special” issue that must be separated from the issues of other congregants. So this is where the church’s role is of paramount importance, as they are well positioned to affect the rate of newcomers afflicted with HIV. No longer can they justify silence in the face of the biblical call to acknowledge God’s sovereignty.
On a cautionary economic note the HIV fight has attracted more government spending, from an already fiscally strapped coffer, and I am sure everyone will agree that money is also needed elsewhere. Down to brass tacks, but the younger the victim, it means that the government will have to care for them for a longer period of time, due to increased life expectancy. Also once a person is diagnosed with HIV then treatment once started must continue for the rest of that person’s life.
Yvonne Sam

---

---