GOVERNMENT, FAITH COMMUNITIES AND HIV/AIDS IN MALAWI
The HIV/AIDS scourge continues to be the greatest challenge facing humankind, especially in Africa. It impacts heavily development efforts through claiming especially the productive age group. This article is a compilation by Michael Kelly, S.J., of discussions of a meeting on HIV/AIDS he attended in Malawi between the government of Malawi and faith communities.
On 14th February, in Lilongwe, the Government of Malawi hosted the first-ever meeting between the Government and representatives from the Faith Communities to examine how they might collaborate more closely in the struggle against HIV/AIDS.
PARTICIPATION
The Consultation was chaired throughout by the Vice-President, the Honourable Justin Malewezi, and was attended by the Minister of Health and several Cabinet Ministers. The participation of these leading public figures throughout a very long day (08:30–20:45 hours!) underscores the importance that the Government attached to the Consultation.
Four or five Catholic bishops participated. So also did several priests, some sisters, bishops and dignitaries from a wide variety of other churches, a number of sheiks and other Muslim leaders, some lay Christians, and members of the diplomatic corps and “donor” community. Despite this wide representation involving more than 150 participants, the Consultation noted with concern that there were so few women participants, no youth representatives, and nobody formally representing people living with HIV/AIDS.
Formal addresses and presentations occupied the morning until 11:30 hours. From then until late in the evening, the participating members of the Faith Communities spoke, all with great freedom, and some at great length. Almost all spoke in English, but a few used Chichewa and there were even some snippets in Arabic. Almost every speaker welcomed the Consultation and congratulated the Government for its initiative in summoning such an important meeting.
ISSUES ARISING
Much of the debate centred around condoms and the Government’s advocacy of these. The Faith Communities expressed their misgivings on moral grounds and their doubts on whether using a condom ensures safety against possible HIV transmission or infection. But other issues also arose. These included the oppressive cultural conditions which disempower women and increase their vulnerability to HIV infection; the absence of recreational facilities for young people; poverty and debt as factors that provide an enabling environment for HIV transmission.
Also the need to promote a more vigorous family life characterised by love and mutual support; the importance of ending the double standards in society which allow men to play around but expect women to be paragons of sexual virtue; negative cultural practices that facilitate the transmission of HIV. In addition, the overcrowded and under-resourced hospitals that must cater for an ever-increasing number of patients; the importance of supporting and extending home-based care; the crucial role played by chaplains and those giving spiritual support; and the need to create jobs and imbue hope.
The Consultation concluded with the following common action statement (every word of which was scrutinised and agreed to by the delegates):
HIV/AIDS is having a devastating impact on Malawi through its drastic human, economic and demographic consequences. The HIV/AIDS epidemic in Africa is an emergency, requiring an emergency response by African leaders as well as the international community. Now is the time for action if the people of Malawi are to be saved from this devastating epidemic. Leaders at all levels will lead the fight against HIV/AIDS. The Government and Faith Communities have come together in order to collaborate more closely together in the fight against HIV/AIDS through programmes of HIV Prevention and Care. The following areas of action have been identified:
HIV PREVENTION
(a) There is need to remove stigma and to establish a climate of confidence and openness in discussing issues of HIV/AIDS. In this regard, there is need for leaders in Government and Faith Communities to promote voluntary counselling and testing and to show solidarity with people living with HIV/AIDS.
(b) There is need to strengthen programmes to keep the youth HIV negative and to promote a culture of openness in communication on issues of sex and sexuality and HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections. In this regard, the Government and Faith Communities will provide recreational and sporting facilities for the youth. There is also need to strengthen information, education and communication messages for the youth that address issues of sex and sexuality and HIV/AIDS in a more positive and constructive manner.
(c) The Government and Faith Communities will collaborate in the integration of lifeskills training in community youth programmes.
(d) The Government and Faith Communities will collaborate in strengthening voluntary counselling and testing, including pre-marital testing.
(e) The Government and Faith Communities will continue to emphasise abstinence and mutual faithfulness as the best means of HIV avoidance and prevention. However, the Government will also promote condoms as a proven technical approach to HIV prevention, a view not shared by the Faith Communities.
CARE AND SUPPORT
In order to increase both the coverage of care and support and to improve the quality of services, the following recommendations are proposed for strengthened Government-Faith Communities collaboration:-
(a) A theological approach that emphasises love, compassion and hope will be adopted to instil a spirit of acceptance and care of the infected and affected in all communities and families. Religious and political leaders will show compassion, respect for women and other vulnerable groups, and give support to orphans. There is no justification for any form of discrimination against people living with HIV/AIDS. People living with HIV/AIDS have a valuable and unique contribution to make to Malawi and also in programmes for HIV Prevention and Care. All leaders will uphold human dignity and human rights.
(b) The Government and Faith Communities will set up a mechanism that will mobilize and monitor the distribution of resources to ensure that these are properly channelled to the community level for the care and support of the infected and affected.
(c) The Government and Faith Communities will ensure the provision of appropriate training for care, support and counselling of the infected and affected.
(d) The Government and Faith Communities will integrate HIV/AIDS prevention and care in their on-going development programme so as to improve the living conditions of the infected and affected.
FUTURE COLLABORATION
This Consultation is the first step in the on-going collaboration between the Government and Faith Communities. This collaboration intends to:
· establish common ground and share experiences
· identify those areas where closer collaboration would improve effectiveness and establish mechanisms to ensure on-going collaboration and coordination
· provide a forum for the identification of differences and in a spirit of mutual respect explore ways in which efforts can be complementary rather than confrontational.
In order to promote further collaboration the Government and Faith Communities hereby agree to establish a Task Force that will meet on a regular basis. The purpose of the Task Force is to improve the effectiveness of coordination and collaboration between the Government and Faith Communities in HIV/AIDS avoidance, prevention and care.
Michael Kelly, S.J.
Luwisha House
Lusaka
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