WHAT ARE WE DOING ABOUT HIV/AIDS?

The AIDS crisis is simply overwhelming; the statistics boggle the mind. AIDS takes out the strong, younger adult population. This threatens every aspect of family and social norms and customs and handicaps all facets of economy and development. The stigma associated with HIV/AIDS is unbelievable. Being known as HIV+ is devastating; people are kicked out of their homes and entire families are ostracized by their communities. This hamstrings testing, education, and prevention efforts. Medical care is non-existent. Nowhere is this more apparent than in Sub-Saharan Africa.

Along with other development and mission organizations, we have been wrestling with the issue of how to best allocate resources for those affected by HIV. This is a multi-faceted pandemic; there are so many tiers of need. From babies born HIV+ to grandma’s who spend their last days on earth caring for them, HIV attacks the human family. This orphan crisis is unprecedented; so are the pressures placed upon the extended family and community, which currently absorbs and cares for 90% of orphans. Where to invest the resources and the personnel? We feel that this is a multi-faceted crisis which can be attacked on many fronts. In some cases, the orphanage is a necessity; in many cases, bolstering community efforts is the most effective strategy.

The most significant tactic that we have encountered is the “Mama effort” at the community level. There are women and men in these communities with great heart, compassion, and desire to help their neighbors. These are the Grandma’s who take in and raise their grandchildren after both parents have died; they are the Teachers who keep a wary eye on those children who are on the brink of hunger, abuse, homelessness, and despair; they are the women who prepare a meal, change a bed, help an ill person take a bath, or get to the doctor, who are an ear to listen in the worst of times. These are the people who form the orphan care committees at the village level. These volunteer community workers are on the front lines of this pandemic and they are accomplishing so much. We learned in the early days of Oceans of Mercy that partnering with these people and empowering them is an amazingly effective response to the AIDS crisis. These grass-roots volunteers are the link to the local people, the ones who are trusted in the townships, and the people who offer local ownership and sustainability in these efforts. The trust factor here is crucial; prevention, education, and treatment measures are much better received through these community workers. Our programs hinge upon this trust.