CABSACABSAChristian AIDS Bureau for Christian AIDS Bureau for

Southern AfricaSouthern Africa

HIV and the Church, HIV and the Church, Challenged or Challenged or

Changed?Changed?

HIV and AIDS

Lets check our knowledge

UMANUMAN

MMUNE MMUNE

DEFICIENCYDEFICIENCY

IRUSIRUS

UMANUMAN

MMUNE MMUNE

DEFICIENCYDEFICIENCY

IRUSIRUS

HIV

HIV

AIDS

AIDS

CQUIREDCQUIRED

MMUNEMMUNE

EFICIENCYEFICIENCY

YNDROMEYNDROME

CQUIREDCQUIRED

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EFICIENCYEFICIENCY

YNDROMEYNDROME

How does HIV attack How does HIV attack the immune systemthe immune system

How does HIV attack How does HIV attack the immune systemthe immune system

Slide 15

White Blood Cells fight White Blood Cells fight disease and germs for disease and germs for

your bodyyour body..

White Blood Cells fight White Blood Cells fight disease and germs for disease and germs for

your bodyyour body..

Your body is protectedYour body is protectedYour body is protectedYour body is protected

Strong diseases Strong diseases make you sick, but make you sick, but

the white blood cells the white blood cells usually win in the end.usually win in the end.

The Struggle The Struggle The Struggle The Struggle

HIV is a VERY HIV is a VERY strong germ that strong germ that attacks the white attacks the white

blood cells blood cells themselves.themselves.

HIV attacksHIV attacksHIV attacksHIV attacks

After a very long After a very long struggle lasting years, struggle lasting years, HIV kills most of your HIV kills most of your white blood cells, white blood cells, leaving your body leaving your body unprotected.unprotected.

The Struggle - AIDS the victorThe Struggle - AIDS the victorThe Struggle - AIDS the victorThe Struggle - AIDS the victor

Many other (secondary) diseases attack and Many other (secondary) diseases attack and kill the body: kill the body:

Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS)

No protectionNo protectionNo protectionNo protection

Does the virus really exist?Does the virus really exist?

The virus is real – The virus is real – We can photograph itWe can photograph it We can measure antibodiesWe can measure antibodies We can measure its effectWe can measure its effect Scientists do this in a laboratoryScientists do this in a laboratory

The situation is not really as The situation is not really as serious as people make it serious as people make it

sound.sound.

In South AfricaIn South Africa

•1000 deaths per day1000 deaths per day

•1500 new infections per day1500 new infections per day

AIDS is a disease of poor AIDS is a disease of poor peoplepeople

South Africa’s wealthiest were the only class in which married couples had higher prevalence rates than their unmarried counterparts. Olive Shisana, HSRC

I am Safe – I’m MarriedI am Safe – I’m Married

"For most women, the major "For most women, the major risk factor for HIV infection is risk factor for HIV infection is

being married.”being married.”

Elizabeth Reid and Michael Elizabeth Reid and Michael BaileyBailey

I don’t want to share a room or a house with someone who is HIV positive – I might become infected

Ways of transmitting HIVWays of transmitting HIVWays of transmitting HIVWays of transmitting HIV

Sexual activity

Mother to baby

Bloodproducts

I can be infected by a toilet I can be infected by a toilet seat or shared cutlery or by seat or shared cutlery or by

mosquitoes mosquitoes

How HIV is not transmittedHow HIV is not transmittedHow HIV is not transmittedHow HIV is not transmitted

Slide 51

Stomach

Salivary Gland

There is nothing I can do to stop me becoming infected – if it is going to happen, it is going to happen

“Risky behaviour is actually a symptom of a

greater problem: a perceived lack of future.”

Oil Reach Out

What role(s) are Churches What role(s) are Churches playing in the AIDS pandemic?playing in the AIDS pandemic?

Warning against sin – inflating Warning against sin – inflating judgmentalismjudgmentalism Portraying PLWAs as sinnersPortraying PLWAs as sinners – fuelling – fuelling

stigma & secrecy stigma & secrecy Burying the dead – Burying the dead – only reactingonly reacting Keeping silent – Keeping silent – promoting apathypromoting apathy Helping “out there” – Helping “out there” – promoting denialpromoting denial Some care actions do take placeSome care actions do take place SSDIMSSDIM

Why do Churches react in this Why do Churches react in this way? way?

Ignorance / do not know how to helpIgnorance / do not know how to help Too busyToo busy Wrong conceptionsWrong conceptions ““Simple solutions” paradigm Simple solutions” paradigm Fear of the truthFear of the truth Gender issues and vulnerability Gender issues and vulnerability Embarrassment Embarrassment Focussing on “sex-sins”Focussing on “sex-sins” Theology … inward, pietistic, repentance first, Theology … inward, pietistic, repentance first,

judgement, privatised salvation, judgement, privatised salvation, Not holistic world view (Old Testament SHALOM)Not holistic world view (Old Testament SHALOM)

CABSA

can help your congregations to become

“Caring Christian Communities ministering

reconciliation and hope in a world with HIV

How can we help the Churches?How can we help the Churches?

SensitizeSensitize MobilizeMobilize NetworkNetwork InformationInformation