AIDS in the World | HIV/ AIDS Ministries of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America

People of faith and goodwill around the world are working to provide prevention education, medical services, support to families, and much more. The following are examples of partnerships in the ELCA Global Missions HIV/AIDS programs.

AFRICA

BOTSWANA: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Botswana (ELCB), HIV/AIDS Program
Joint program grant for the ELCB with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) Botswana Diocese. The ELCB partners with existing government health structures as government health clinics for its HIV/AIDS programs. The ELCB health program team works alongside the government Community Home Based Care teams. The office of the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA), serves to monitor and supervise the implementation of the funding program of the ELCA Global Mission for the HIV/AIDS programs. The objectives of the Community Home Based Care team work that ELCB carries on with government programs include providing: 1. Complimentary nursing care and support for caregivers at home; 2. Health education on HIV/AIDS for AIDS victims and their families; 3. Equipment, as commodes, walking aids, feeding cups, mattresses, etc; 4. Medical assistance by volunteer medical professionals; 5. Counseling and spiritual and pastoral support. Objectives of programs to assist orphans and children in distress include providing: 1. Nutrition 2. Counseling 3. Support for schooling 4. Medical assessment and advocacy

CAMEROON: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Cameroon (ELCC), Orphan Children Program
The Health Department of the ELCC has a program of comprehensive health care that includes preventive and acute care through 3 hospitals and about 30 clinics. HIV/AIDS education, testing, and medical care are provided. In the past Global Mission supported an Orphan Children Program at the Garoua Boulai Hospital, which serves the population in an area from Meiganga to Bertoua. Due to the large number of AIDS victims, many children are left with no parents or extended family to take care of them. This program provides food and basic medicines for these orphan children. The objectives are 1. To provide food and basic health care for orphan children of parents with AIDS. 2. To provide emotional support for children who have lost their parents.

CENTRAL AFRICAN REPUBLIC: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Central African Republic (ELCCAR), Primary Health Care
Global Health Ministries provides an annual grant to support the Aids Awareness Program of the ELCCAR. Objectives of the program: To provide counseling, self-care training, pastoral care, and educate the community about HIV/AIDS and PLWHA. The program is related to an ELCA Global Mission supported Primary Health Care Program of the church.

ETHIOPIA: Ethiopia Evangelical Church Mekane Yesus, Central Synod (EECMY-CS) Orphans of AIDS
EECMY-CS continues to provide curative and preventative services as well as family planning and other selected reproductive health services, particularly Mother and Child Health (MCH), Ante-Natal STI/HIV/AIDS prevention and control activities. To decrease the morbidity and mortality of the people in the central synod catchment area, with the main focus on mothers and children health the program will work to: 1. to decrease mortality of children under 5 years of age 2. reduce maternal mortality in child bearing age 3. reduce vaccine preventable diseases 4. decrease the current fertility rate 5. increase the awareness and knowledge of people with regard to HIV/AIDS and its prevention and counseling services 6. improve the awareness of the community with regard to environmental hygiene and communicable diseases 7. improve the knowledge about proper nutritional diet 8. prevent and control epidemic diseases in collaboration with zonal MoH 9. provide basic curative service to the people in the catchment area 10. establish a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) center.

ETHIOPIA: EECMY, AIDS Prevention and Control
Studies show that Ethiopia is among the countries most profoundly affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic with the third largest population of HIV-infected person living in Africa. Of the global share 4% of the people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) are in Ethiopia. More than 1 million cumulative deaths in Ethiopia have been attributed to AIDS and have affected over 1 million children in the same year. These studies further notes that the principal HIV transmission mechanisms in Ethiopia are: unprotected heterosexual intercourse, body fluids and mother-to-child, and incidence of tuberculosis over the years has concurrence with the HIV epidemic headway. To help halt the spread of HIV/AIDS, Ethiopia programs started implementing HIV/AIDS mitigation projects in 2003. This is being achieved through channeling resources and expertise into specific areas of development where it can make the most impact through mobilizing communities and improving awareness of target communities, community workers, traditional birth attendants and reproductive health agents, government, and project staffs. The main activities to attain the above purposes are: 1. capacity building of staff 2. organizing workshops for local government employees 3. supporting grass root anti-HIV/AIDS clubs 4. disseminating information education communications materials.

LIBERIA: Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL), HIV/AIDS/STD Program
The Family Life Education, HIV/AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Disease (STD) Program Unit of the Christian Health Association of Liberia (CHAL), creates HIV/AIDS awareness for member organizations and the communities in their service area. The unit also creates awareness of STDs and promotes Christian Family Life Education. The program trains health workers, pastors, teachers, students, traditional birth attendants and community health workers (CHWs), to disseminate health information related to the prevention of HIV/AIDS. The ELCA-GM supports a CHAL HIV/AIDS program that relates to Curran Lutheran Health Care in Lofa County. Objectives of the program are: 1. To strengthen the capacity of Curran Lutheran Health Care and it’s the 20 villages in their service area to carry out measures to prevent the spread of HIV/and STDs, 2. conduct two (2) workshops for 120 participants for ten (10) days by the end of 2006, 3. produce 100 posters on signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS and STDs by the end of 2006 and 4. produce 100 leaflets on understanding HIV/AIDS and STDS by the end of 2006.

LIBERIA: Lutheran Church in Liberia (LCL), HIV/AIDS Education Training Program:
The ELCA Global Mission funded program will effectively complement the strategy of the LCL HIV/AIDS Program, which is fully supported by the Danish International Development Agency (DANIDA). The Education Training Program has an enormous prospect to address the crucial gaps, which have been recognized through our field experience.

The purpose of this program is to offer a sustainable strategy for intervention to address two key concerns: 1. To provide a comprehensive training opportunity for health workers in order to alleviate their fears of becoming infected while providing care for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA). 2. To train PLWHAs to provide peer counseling at the counseling centers.

NAMIBIA: The Evangelical Lutheran Church in the Republic of Namibia (ELCRN), HIV/AIDS Education
ELCRN began an AIDS ministry in March 2000. This ministry was preceded by five years of workshops on AIDS prevention, with no formal position taken by the church. AIDS and HIV are a serious crisis facing the church. Due to the fact that this disease alienates many people, the ELCRN is trying to focus their attention on those people isolated and abandoned by their families. The ELCRN program is trying to address this issue by having pastors and congregations organize themselves in different programs and focus on changing the current attitudes and behaviors of denial and blame. This program will work with all levels of the church, from the central administration to institutions, congregations, districts, and parishioners.
The objectives of this program are: 1. to provide educational materials to the ELCRN about the origin transmission and spread of HIV/AIDS. 2. to provide spiritual support to those members of the church and community affected by HIV/AIDS and the stigma that usually is attached to the disease. 3. to encourage a change in attitudes and behaviors about HIV/AIDS. 4. to implement educational programs through peer-education and drama groups. 5. to participate in the Volunteer HIV Counseling and Testing Program. 6. to train pastors and other church leaders how to effectively minister to AIDS patients.

NAMIBIA: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Namibia (ELCIN), AIDS Action
ELCIN established two committees in each parish to provide ongoing awareness campaigns concerning the prevention of HIV/AIDS in parish and community constituencies. Two pastors were elected to work as full-time coordinators of this project, one in each diocese. Parish AIDS committees conduct ongoing worship services, Bible studies, retreats and workshops aimed at the spiritual transformation of the entire parish concerning health lifestyles and care for the infected and affected. The project engages in HIV/AIDS education and training, empowerment and strengthening, and motivating and supporting the infected, affected and afflicted and all concerned individuals and groups at all levels of church structure. It also focuses on counseling of people living with HIV/AIDS and their families as well training families and individuals in home care of those infected with HIV/AIDS.

NIGERIA: Lutheran Church of Christ in Nigeria (LCCN)
LCCN has a program of HIV/AIDS education that is integrated into parish ministries of the church. They want to expand from education to counseling, testing, and medical care.

NIGERIA: Mashiah Foundation, HIV/AIDS ministry of counseling, care and support
The Mashiah Foundation is a Christian organization, founded by Nigerians to reach out to people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA): Christians, Muslims, and people of the traditional religions. The program is holistic in its approach, conducting education and awareness; testing, medical care, and counseling; vocational training for widows and PLWHA (with a focus on quilt-making, marketing and sales for self-support); ministry to HIV/AIDS orphans and homeless PLWHA; facilitating peer support groups among women LWHA and widows. In addition the program provides education, awareness, and job training skills to adolescents as a means of HIV prevention.

Mary Beth Oyebade is an ELCA missionary serving with the LCCN in Jos, Nigeria. Mary Beth began service in Nigeria in August 1995 as a high school English teacher at Hillcrest School. She is now seconded by the LCCN to the Mashiah Foundation, an HIV/AIDS ministry that was founded by her husband, Bayo Oyeabade. Bayo is the Director and Mary Beth is coordinating a vocational training program for women infected with HIV/AIDS. They are providing technical assistance and support to the LCCN in the expansion of their HIV/AIDS ministry from an education and prevention focus to service and support. Their ELCA home is in the Northeastern Iowa Synod.

SENEGAL: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Senegal (EELS, a mission of the ELCA-GM), Primary Health Care Program
Approximately 10 rural health centers (health huts) in the Linguere District, built by village residents and operated by a village health committee, volunteer health worker and traditional birth attendant, are supervised and supported by EELS missionary Anne Langdji and a Senegalese Health Educator. The program trains women in basic health concepts, produces visual aids for women to teach others, and supervises and trains government midwives; develops latrine construction and trains women in health education activities related to latrines; develops well-baby clinics; trains volunteers to operate the village pharmacies; participates in vaccination activities on mobile health team; and provides HIV/AIDS education, as well as counseling and referral services for medical care to PLWHA. Approximately 1,375 families were served by the program in 2005, which services an area with a population of around 90,000 people. HIV/AIDS infection rates in Senegal are low, but expanding; in 2005, 28 HIV-infected people (23 women and 5 men) were supported by the program, and 4 people died of AIDS. Nutrition and counseling support was given to 25 families caring for infants orphaned by HIV/AIDS infected mothers. Fear of discrimination and stigmatization is high; the confidential support and care of the program is significant in the lives of PLWHA.

Anne Ruedisili Langdji is an ELCA missionary who has coordinated the Primary Health Care Program of the EELS since 2000, after serving 5 years in the Primary Health Care Program of the ELCCAR. As HIV/AIDS infection rates have increased in Senegal, Anne has worked with the Linguere area village huts and local government health care providers to address the needs of PLWHA. Anne is married to Willie Langdji, who coordinates an integrated rural development program that support cattle stock improvement; local farmer production and product processing for village markets and cattle dry season feed; and increased milk production, processing, and marketing for local markets. Her home church is in western North Dakota.

SOUTH AFRICA: Central Diocese Community Development - Hillbrow
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa-Central Diocese, in collaboration with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa-Natal-Transvaal (ELCSA N-T) has developed a community development and outreach project in Hillbrow, Berea, and the surrounding inner-city areas of Johannesburg, South Africa. Hillbrow and Berea are high-density, high-rise residential areas covering an area of two-square kilometers, with an estimated population of 100,000. ELCSA-CD and ELCSA N-T will implement the program in cooperation with community organizations in the area, both through the Johannesburg Inner city Ministries Fellowship and Inner City Community Forum. The objective of the program is to create a peaceful haven within the Hillbrow community in Johannesburg, South Africa. The program will focus on community health care programs and HIV/AIDS and reduce the level of poverty among the inhabitants through skills training and education. The long term goal is to create a vibrant community within this neglected area.

SOUTH AFRICA: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa, Eastern Diocese AIDS Prevention/Care Program
The Eastern Diocese is one of the seven dioceses of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA). ELCSA itself has a membership of 600,000 with 1600 church buildings and 500 full time ministers. The Eastern Diocese is located in Swaziland, which is located near the border of Mozambique and the far eastern border of South Africa. The congregations of the diocese are comprised largely of black township dwellers. The ELCSA is aware of the seriousness of the HIV/AIDS infection level in the region. Swaziland is said to have the second highest infection rate in the world. With these statistics in mind, the Eastern Diocese had established a program to address this issue within its region.

The objectives of this program are: 1. to provide home based care and counseling to HIV/AIDS infected and affected members of the church and the general public around the congregations 2. to raise awareness within the congregations about the HIV/AIDS pandemic. 3. to train pastors of the diocese to enable them to support the Prevention and Care program 4. to establish HIV/AIDS committees at all levels of the diocese 5. to establish counseling centers at the testing sites 6. to prepare resource information about HIV/AIDS, human sexuality, and behavioral change, for distribution in the diocese community.

SOUTH AFRICA: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) Diakonia AIDS Ministry, Central Diocese
The intention of this program is to create awareness within the church regarding HIV/AIDS and provide care giving and counseling to HIV/AIDS victims and their families.

The Central Diocese of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Southern Africa (ELCSA) has a commitment to social and development issues beyond its own membership. It has seen a rise in concern for commitment to HIV/AIDS related programs. These have taken the form of awareness, care and counseling programs and material support for people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS. Based on this background, the Central Diocese created the Diakonia AIDS Ministry, which seeks to create an environment in which people living with and affected by HIV/AIDS are enabled to rediscover their self worth. It also intends to enable others to become agents for holistic HIV/AIDS intervention ministry.

The Diakonia AIDS Ministry integrates HIV/AIDS education, prevention and care in all aspects of the life of the church; minister with compassion to those infected by HIV/AIDS in a manner that reflects Christian values, beliefs and traditions and addresses social and economic forces that contribute to the spread of HIV/AIDS. The objective of this program is: 1. To develop and run an awareness program aimed at curbing the rates of HIV/AIDS infection. 2. To train pastors and lay people of the Diocese in counseling skills. 3. To equip lay people, especially women, with care giving skills. 4. To set up centers of home-based care using existing diocesan buildings.

SOUTH AFRICA: Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA), HIV/AIDS Program
The major role which the Lutheran Communion in Southern Africa (LUCSA) plays is the motivation and coordination of member church activities geared towards combating the spreading of HIV/AIDS in society and effectively engaging communities in counseling infected and affected people, and investing in poverty alleviation as an important strategy in the fight against AIDS. LUCSA also provides support to other faith based organizations that are involved in public health care and training of leaders. It is important to show that this is the area that has not been identified by any of the governments in the region in their national health care policy, and it is LUCSA’s intention to provide this important facility.

LUCSA Activities Planned for HIV/AIDS and Public Health Care:
• Support for primary health care and nutrition projects such as providing basic equipment and medication and other material needs for use in clinics and home based care programs
• HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention programs (seminars, workshops, production of posters, drama and music groups, AIDS support clubs in schools and communities, especially through the home based care programs, etc.)
• Projects/programs for the empowerment of pastors on HIV/AIDS care and counseling skills
• HIV/AIDS education for church leaders at all levels on breaking the silence
• Empowering of women and youth through education and skills training projects (e.g. in the area of computer science & information technology, vocational training, etc.) that will enable them to be self-sustaining rather than engage in promiscuous activities which expose them to the deadly virus as they try to make a living.
• Support for community based programs/projects for the care of orphans
• Support HIV/AIDS hospice services.

The objectives of this program include: 1. Public health care support by providing necessary health care interventions for people with HIV/AIDS. 2. Educate the community on the spread of HIV/AIDS 3. Assist families in coping with pressures and fears that accompany HIV/AIDS 4. Educate the public about their human rights, creating a gender sensitive environment in both church and society.

TANZANIA: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania - Diocese in Arusha Maasai Health Project
Dr. Mark Jacobson has been called by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania to develop this project among the Maasai in the Arusha Diocese in Arusha Region. Presently the position includes Maasai Health Services (primary health care motivators and extension work in villages), the expansion of Selian Hospital and the Arusha Town Clinic, hospital administration, the development of a home hospice program for AIDS patients and direction of the AIDS control project of the northern area of the Arusha Diocese, and the piloting of a self-insurance scheme. With the knowledge that 35% of the women who come to the Selian outpatient clinic for prenatal care are HIV positive, the hospital developed an AIDS prevention and care program and now a home hospice care program. The objectives of this program include: l. Reach out to the Maasai in holistic ministry. 2. Train and support local health care motivators. 3. Provide a caring and proficient hospital for people whose medical needs cannot be met by local health workers in the villages. 4. Teach maternal and child health care, nutrition, and hygiene among the Maasai. 5. Accompany the Maasai and give witness to God's love. 6. Enable patients to fund their health care through an insurance scheme. 7. Develop an AIDS home hospice care program.

TANZANIA: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT), Palliative Health Care
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania is the unique position of being called upon to initiate an important, timely, and critically needed ministry of Palliative Care. The confluence of demand, ELCT experience, ELCT partnerships, and international interest and support come together to create an opportunity to serve, minister, and witness which is compelling.

The ELCT looks to the ELCA to accompany this program by providing a consultant in Palliative Care. Again God provides in that Dr. Hartwig is an experienced missionary in Tanzania, fluent in Swahili, has helped establish Selian and three other units, and is available and interested in returning in this capacity.

Palliative Care/Hospice is a widely recognized specialty of medicine and nursing which provides terminally ill people with control of their symptoms, emotional support, family support, and spiritual care. It seeks to improve the quality of life of patients and their families facing the problems associated with life-threatening illness. This includes prevention and relief of suffering by means of early identification and effective assessment and treatment of pain and other problems, physical, psychological, and spiritual.

The objectives of the program are to: a. the establishment of skilled support at ELCT Health Department b. training of teams at each hospital of the ELCT c. initiation of Palliative Care programs at each of the 20 ELCT hospitals d. capacity building, sending 3 people per year to Certificate Course with Uganda Hospice.

TANZANIA: (Huyawa), Orphans of AIDS
Huyawa – North Western Diocese Programme operating in Kagera region located in the Northern Western corner of Tanzania. The programme is concerned with the well being of people infected and affected by AIDS. Effort aims at increasing technical and administrative capacities, pooling of resources and providing more holistic services to orphans, widow, and people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) members. The overall goal of the HUYAWA – ACP programme is to reduce incidences and spread of HIV/AIDS and sexually transmitted illness (STI) through community sensitization and to enable PLWHA and HIV/AIDS orphans live a normal life by alleviating social imbalance between HIV/AIDS affected families and the rest of the community within the project area. The above goal will be attained through the realization of the following programme objectives: 1. to educate on HIV/AIDS and STI to 24, 000 children, 12,000 young adults, 10,000 adults, 49 vulnerable groups 2. to provide medical service and support to 5,000 orphans and PLWHA 3. to provide and administer antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to 100 PLWHA 4. to provide home based care and counseling service to 300 PLWHA, orphans and family members 5. to provide education on care of PLWHAs to 1,800 technical care givers and home care givers where 70% of trainees will be women volunteers 6. to provide pre and post HIV test counseling to 1,800 clients 7. to provide protective materials to ELCT North Western Diocese health units 8. to provide legal service to 100 cases of legal right abuse in project area 9. to conduct seminars on legal rights to 54 groups of orphans, widowers and PLWHAs and community leaders 10. to provide transport support to visit 18 sites of conflict 11. to strengthen relationship with NGOs through networking 12. to provide education support to: 4005 orphans in public school, 240 over school age orphans in special case, and 570 post primary school orphans 13. to provide developmental support to 234 infected and affected families in order to enhance their capacity to sustain their own livelihood 14. to provide survival support to 719 affected families with NWD 15. to provide support to 15 funeral case 16. to provide education to 350 project staff through in-service training 17. to train 2 programme workers on pre and post HIV test counseling 18. to train 3 laboratory technicians 19. to train 2 doctors on administration of ARV drugs.

UGANDA: Aids Care and Counseling; The AIDS Intervention Programme (TAIP)
TAIP serves to empower the community church groups, and implement a community based AIDS care and prevention programs by locally owning, planning, managing resources for sustainable support to the people living with HIV/AIDS in Uganda. The objectives of this program are: 1. to build an ongoing support for people living with HIV/AIDS 2. to train pastors and church leaders in the care of people with HIV/AIDS 3. to involve the local community in supporting their neighbors, etc. who have the HIV/AIDS disease 4. to spiritually transform the lives of members of churches affected by the HIV/AIDS disease.

UGANDA: Rakai Community HIV/AIDS Project
The Rakai Community Based AIDS Project (RACOBAP) continues its focus on reducing the incidence of HIV transmission while, at the same time mitigating the socio-economic impact of HIV/AIDS. The objectives for the program are: 1. to increase awareness of HIV/AIDS in high risk groups 2. increase support to individuals and families that are directly affected by HIV/AIDS 3. increase the self sustainability of HIV/AIDS infected individuals and affected families. RACOBAP uses volunteer counselors in provide support to over 400 child headed households (CHH), 1,064 persons with AIDS and over 1,400 other vulnerable people. Through counseling, 402 individuals went to testing, 1,606 referrals were made to health centers for treatment of opportunistic infections and 447 clients prepared wills. During this period, 20 houses for CHH were constructed and over 450 families (mostly CHH) were supported with food and on food items. Throughout the year, 19,288 pupils in primary schools and 6,900 in secondary schools received HIV/AIDS awareness information through RACOBAP.

ZIMBABWE: Evangelical Lutheran Church of Zimbabwe (ELCZ) Hospitals – HIV/AIDS
Health Care and education have always been a major concern for the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Zimbabwe (ELCZ). The church operates four hospitals, as well as all clinics of the Mberengwa District.

The Evangelical Lutheran Church of Zimbabwe recently became very active in combating HIV/AIDS. It is now estimated that approximately one-quarter of the Zimbabwe population is HIV-positive. The church has many programs, including education and training programs for church leaders, leaders in the community and for youth. The church is also helping families affected by HIV/AIDS. This program provides support and care for AIDS patients, family care and counseling. Stand with Africa funds are used to support this program

The church's hospitals are located in very rural areas of the country. Medical doctors are unable to set up private practices in these areas, and thus few doctors are willing to remain in those areas to staff the ELCZ hospitals. Therefore, this project funding assists the hospitals of the ELC Zimbabwe to pay doctors' salaries to provide adequate medical staff levels at the ELCZ hospitals.

Doctors and medical professionals of Zimbabwe are reluctant to work in the country's rural areas because they are normally unable to operate private medical practices in these areas. Thus, the church has difficulty retaining adequate professional medical staff and doctors to operate the hospitals of the ELC Zimbabwe, without outside funding assistance to provide competitive salaries.

The objectives of the program include: 1. To assist to support the work of the ELCZ hospitals by providing funding for doctors' salaries. 2. To offer preventative and curative health care to the population and members of the ELCZ. 3. To assist the church to retain medical professionals in the country's rural areas. 4. To promote the Gospel of Jesus Christ through health care.

ASIA

BANGLADESH: RDRS (Rangpur Dinajpur Rural Service) Bangladesh
RDRS is a development program that works in northwestern portion of Bangladesh. It provides a wide range of development projects such as microfinance, social organization, women’s advancement, education & training and community health programs among others. An integral part of the community health programs is HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention in each of the ante-natal clinics and during adolescent training programs. RDRS also offers HIV/AIDS awareness and prevention at its sex workers drop-in center in Saidpur. ELCA supports RDRS Bangladesh programs and projects including HIV/AIDS. RDRS Bangladesh is an associate member of LWF.

CHINA: Amity Foundation, AIDS Education Program
The Amity Foundation, a Christian social service agency, has started an HIV/AIDS prevention program in one of the most AIDS affected areas of China: Yunnan Province. The program is educational in nature. AIDS educators will be trained as the county, township, and village levels. Printed materials and other educational media materials will be developed.

INDIA: United Evangelical Lutheran Church in India (UELCI) National Lutheran Health & Medical Board (NLHMB)
The AIDS Desk of UELCI, overseen by the National Lutheran Health and Medical Board began its work in 1989 in the Andhra Pradesh and Tamilnadu areas of India. The AIDS Desk provides preventive education, care and support, and training and capacity building for persons affected by HIV/AIDS, especially women. They provide services at 4 centers in Andhra, the Gurukul Clinic, and a center in Guntur town. The Gurukul Clinic is housed on the campus of Gurukul Theological School; it runs a rehabilitation program for women and their children. Over 1500 families have received services from UELCI/NLHMB services. The ELCA provides funds for HIV/AIDS programs of the UELCI bilaterally as well as through LWF.

INDONESIA: Huria Kristen Batak Protestant Church (HKBP), HIV/AIDS Awareness
The HKBP HIV/AIDS Awareness Program strives to raise the awareness of church and community members about the causes of HIV/AIDS, how to prevent the spread of the disease, and how, as a church to care for those living with HIV/AIDS. The program focuses upon capacity building of care givers in the community and professional care givers in the hospital in Balige. The program aims to educate and equip members at all levels of the HKBP Church to respond to the growing HIV/AIDS problems in their area. The program will also work with drug users, a particularly susceptible population. The HKBP Church aims to develop the HKBP HIV/AIDS Awareness Program to be a self-supporting institution to prevent the spread of AIDS and care for PLWHA.

THAILAND: Church of Christ in Thailand (CCT) Social Development & Service Unit (SDSU), AIDS Ministry
CCT is one of the ELCA’s ecumenical partners. The AIDS Ministry CCT/SDSU has been working with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) for the past 14 years. The physical, mental, spiritual, and social needs of PLWHA and their families are the focus of care in their homes and communities. Women, children and families are a particular focus. The AIDS ministry conducts special camps for children impacted by AIDS. The program also provides preventive education, training, and awareness campaigns. The local CCT congregations are the focus of the local services; services are provided to all in the communities regardless of their religious background.

LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN

OVERVIEW:
The areas where the HIV/AIDS is growing fastest are the Caribbean and Central America. It has been stated that the Caribbean HIV/AIDS situation can become a pandemic as in Africa in the near future. Poverty and lack of education side by side with the cultural practices around sexual relations are the major factors in the development of this situation.

After the 1997 LWF assembly, held in Hong Kong, the Latin American Lutheran churches have taken more seriously the task of educating their constituencies on this issue. The ELCA partially funded the position for the regional coordination for HIV/AIDS of the LWF/DMD Latin America/Caribbean region. The work of that coordination was concentrated in Central America and has produced an interest of the churches in that area in being involved and developing educational programs and participating in networks in the area of education and prevention.

ARGENTINA: United Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELU), Resistencia
With the assistance of EPES/CHILE, the United Evangelical Lutheran Church (IELU) has reproduced the health promoters program as well as the work with youth. This program also has the HIV/AIDS educational preventive component. The work in Resistencia is entirely financed by the ELCA.

Buenos Aires: Through one of its pastors, Lisandro Orlov, IELU has enabled the Pastoral Ministry with Persons Living with HIV/AIDS which is developed in the hospitals that have an area where they provide services to persons diagnosed with HIV/AIDS and are marginalized by their families. The work provides pastoral care for them while in the hospital and a shelter or half-way-house after they are released. The shelter continues with the pastoral care until they finally leave the house to live a fruitful life. This program also trains pastors and seminarians from different denominations in this particular pastoral ministry. The ELCA provides funding for this program. Recently, Pastor Orlov has been named coordinator of HIV/AIDS ministry by the Lutheran World Federation for Latin America.

CHILE: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Chile, Popular Education for Health (EPES)
Popular Education for Health (EPES) began its work in 1982 during the military dictatorship by a former Lutheran Church in America missionary. Its aim was to seek justice and equality in health care for the poor and oppressed, offering training, guidance and support for community health groups.

In 1990, EPES began developing educational materials and training programs to help confront the growing AIDS crisis. Materials written in popular education style are produced for adults and youth. EPES developed a board game, “Learning about AIDS: A Task for All” in both Spanish and English that is used in sixteen countries. EPES is one of the coordinators of the El Bosque AIDS and Community Action Network, which brings together 18 local organizations in the fight against AIDS and HIV infection.

In 1996, EPES was instrumental in starting an ecumenical pastoral AIDS team to accompany people who are living with HIV/AIDS and their families.

In recognition of their work, EPES has received an award for service in international health by the National Council for International Health (NCIH). EPES is invited to be part of the group to evaluate the Global Fund in summer 2006.

COLOMBIA: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Colombia (IELCO), ASIVIDA
The IELCO has a program called ASIVIDA that networks with different organizations that provide services for families and persons living with HIV/AIDS so they can refer those who come to the IELCO. It provides psychological assistance to them in two venues, the IELCO offices and the Colombia HIV/AIDS network office in Bogotá.

EL SALVADOR: Lutheran Church in El Salvador (SLS), HIV/AIDS: A Human Rights Issue Awareness Program
The Lutheran Church in El Salvador (SLS) has developed a program where HIV/AIDS is looked at from the stand point of human rights addressing the issues of access to drugs as well as proper medical care. At the present time the program is funded by Global Mission.

JAMAICA: Caribbean Conference of Churches, Jamaica Health Care
The Caribbean Conference of Churches has developed a program in the different islands that has its coordinator in Jamaica. This program works with communities and their own cultural approach to sexuality as well as HIV/AIDS to assist in education and prevention. It receives funding from Global Mission.

PERU: Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru (ILEP), HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention
The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Peru (ILEP) is in its first stages of a program that trains leaders of the congregations to be promoters of education and prevention for HIV/AIDS as well as help the congregations to overcome stereotypes regarding people living with HIV/AIDS so that the congregations may be able to be welcoming to these people and their families.

Rosa Blanca, an ecumenical ministry supported by ILEP, works with people living with HIV/AIDS and their families. This ministry provides education on prevention and direct services for persons living with HIV/AIDS.

PERU WITH AFRICA AND LUTHERAN WORLD RELIEF
Lutheran World Relief’s work includes such things as prevention education with adults, working with children orphaned by the disease, and advocacy.

To learn more about their work with HIV/AIDS projects, visit:
www.standwithafrica.org/hiv_aids

ECUMENICAL HIV/ AIDS INITIATIVE IN AFRICA (EHALA)
EHAIA was set up in 2002 as a joint undertaking of African churches, Northern churches and agencies, and the World Council of Churches (WCC). The initiative enables churches in Africa to gain access to the information, training, networks and funding they need to help deal with HIV/AIDS in their communities. Their goal is to help churches become “AIDS-competent churches.” This type of church fights against stigma and discrimination, understands the severity of the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa, works collaboratively with others against HIV/AIDS, has a role in prevention education, and uses its resources and structures to provide care, counseling and support for those affected.

To learn more, visit:
www.wcc-coe.org/wcc/what/mission/ehaia-e.html

EXCERPTS FROM CASE STUDIES DESCRIBED IN THE UNAIDS PUBLICATION, "HIV-RELATED STIGMA, DISCRIMINATION AND HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS, 2005"

AIDS INTEGRATED PROGRAM
Catholic Diocese of Ndola, Zambia
The program provides integrated care and support for people–almost exclusively adults–who are chronically ill. Most of them have symptoms of AIDS and/or tuberculosis (TB). The program operates 11 community-based home-care programs in 26 low-income townships on the edges of five towns in the Copperbelt province.

The program combines medical and nursing care, socioeconomic support, human rights and legal support, and psychological care. As elsewhere, high levels of stigma and discrimination are prevalent in the communities supported by the Ndola program.

The number of people joining the program has increased rapidly. Stigma reduction is being achieved through role modeling care, emphasizing that people living with HIV need support and care, and that close daily contact with them is not risky. By teaching family members to care for their sick relatives, neglect and abandonment are reduced.

JOINT MINISTRY OF HEALTH/ NONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATION HOME-CARE PROGRAM FOR
PEOPLE WITH HIV/ AIDS
Cambodia
A partnership between the Ministry of Health and a group of nongovernmental organizations began with a pilot network of home-care teams. The aims of this network were to pilot and test home-care services appropriate for people living with HIV and develop a model of health care in which nongovernmental organizations and government could act in partnership. The program has had a significant impact on the quality of life of people infected with and affected by HIV and has now been extended. Significant percentages of patients felt less isolated and more hopeful and confident about their future. Family members felt they could cope better with a person living with HIV in their family.

HIV EQUITY INITIATIVE
Haiti
Since 1987, a non-profit organization called Partners in Health have been providing health care in Cange in the Central Plateau region of Haiti. Starting in 1988, HIV prevention activities included the development of culturally appropriate handbooks, videos and curricula. The group also pioneered free voluntary counseling and testing in central Haiti and was the first to introduce zidovudine (AZT) for the prevention of HIV transmission from mother to child. Ten years later the program enrolled its first patients in the HIV Equity Initiative, a community-based HIV treatment program, which provides people living with HIV with antiretroviral therapy.

One positive outcome of this program is the evidence that access to antiretroviral therapy has lessened the impact of stigma for people living with HIV and their families. This is partly due to the fact that the illness is seen as manageable and the people living with HIV can once again become active members in their communities.

For more information on these and other UNAIDS programs, visit www.unaids.org.