African churches adopt plan to combat HIV/AIDS

By Carol Fouke

YAOUNDE, Cameroon (UMNS) - Christian leaders from across Africa have pledged to support a 10-point covenant for fighting HIV/AIDS that emphasizes prevention and the provision of affordable drugs for all who need them.

Observing World AIDS Day, Dec. 1, church leaders from across the continent prayed, sang and spoke out as they made a commitment to defeat HIV/AIDS. During a recent all-day focus on the pandemic, delegates to the All Africa Conference of Churches Eighth Assembly reviewed the dire facts and figures, heard testimonies from HIV-positive clergy and laity and adopted the 10-point covenant.

"As far as we are concerned, this is war," said the Rev. Mvume Dandala, a Methodist pastor who serves as chief executive for the All Africa Conference of Churches.

"We declare unequivocally that HIV/AIDS is not the will of God for Africa. We will try with all we have to resist it," he said.

At a candlelight vigil and service, Dandala had strong words for international pharmaceutical companies and countries in the northern hemisphere that are falling short in their support of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis and Malaria.

"The church must resist any tendency by the pharmaceutical companies to see Africa as an open market for HIV/AIDS drugs because of the virus' prevalence on the continent," he said. Such an attitude would be a sign of moral bankruptcy, he added.

Addresses included words from Cameroon's health minister, Urbain Olanguena Owono, who praised the comprehensive commitment of the churches to fighting HIV/AIDS, to working against stigmatization of people with HIV/AIDS, and to extending care and compassion to those affected by HIV/AIDS.

"HIV/AIDS is the most awful and insidious destroyer of African life," he said. "If we don't stop this insidious terrorist, all our development efforts may be in vain."

Delegates stood to adopt a 10-point covenant for the council, which Dandala described as "a guiding document for all our churches as well as a position paper that is going to give guidance to the kind of response the church has to give to the HIV/AIDS pandemic."

Dandala called for more research dollars for Africa's scientists seeking treatments and a cure, and for strengthening of Africa's health services, 40 percent of which are in the hands of the church.

In the 10-point covenant, delegates pledged to:

Undertake HIV prevention for all people.
Do all that is necessary to encourage both men and women to love, care, support and heal all those infected and affected in communities throughout the continent.
Undertake prophetic advocacy until anti-retroviral drugs are available to all in need of them.
Practice zero tolerance for stigmatizing and discriminating against HIV-positive people, and do whatever possible to eliminate the isolation, rejection, fear and oppression of the infected and affected in the community.
Participants work to empower the poor and denounce all laws and policies that have condemned billions to poverty, denying them quality care and treatment.
Denounce gender inequalities that lead men and boys to risky sexual behavior, domination and violence, and that deny girls and women decision-making powers in sexual matters, deprive them of property rights and expose them to violence.
Empower and protect all children, denouncing laws and policies that expose them to sexual abuse and exploitation.
Become a community of compassion and healing, providing a place for all people living with AIDS to live openly and productively.
Test for infection, abstain from sex before marriage, be faithful in marriage and practice protected sex.
"Declare jubilee and proclaim liberty, for until justice is served to all people, until justice rolls down like waters and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream, HIV/AIDS cannot be uprooted."

Fouke is a communications staff member of the U.S. National Council of Churches. Dave Wanless also contributed to this story.

Last updated on 02/10/2004

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