Angola: How Christianity Has Helped to Resolve the Hiv/aids Epidemic

Change

Christians also strive to implement change in addressing the Angola AIDS/HIV problems. Through the care they provided, they expect change to occur. The kind of change they are after is propagating awareness of HIV and helping the people accept and cope with reality. Consequently, this will lead to changes in attitudes and views among the people. The care they provided is intended to initiate and maintain this change they aspire for. Isolating persons with the disease will not make them change. Change is more apparent when care is applied to relationship between the patient and the community.

Link between care and change

Care and change is mostly noticeable in the relational aspect. Care witnessed in the household and community is a very effective motivation that can generate change. This can quickly turn around the situation which is characterized by stigma to acceptance and shared responsibility. The care to change association is also known as “care/prevention” linkage. It is an important strategy in expanding involvement of local community and organizations to HIV/AIDS.

Recommendations

• Addressing the problem of poverty through enhancing food security, economic activity, skill training and using financial resources and human resources to help end the HIV/AIDS problem
• Listening to the voices of marginalized groups such as women, youth and elderly in coming up with decisions that affects the person and the community as a whole
• Putting an end to traditional practices that posed great risk to the health and lives of people such as widow inheritance, sexual cleansing and female circumcision, which increases women’s risk.
• Empowerment of women and the youth in the economical aspect to be able to take control of their lives. Church resources are also being used to be able to address their concerns.
• Re-assessing the church’s theological position that causes stigma to persons afflicted and does not sufficiently tackle and extend help in facing the danger of harmful cultural practices that could lead to HIV/AIDS
• Building the ability for church leaders through equipping them with accurate knowledge, education and skill on the addressing HIV/AIDS, leadership training to strengthen democracy in church structures, and promoting transparency and accountability with regards to financial matters used in HIV/AIDS pandemic
• Building the capacity of church groups in extending proper emotional and spiritual care HIV/AIDS victims particularly family life issues, youth concerns and sexuality. Guidance and counseling based on Christian principles are encouraged. Counseling and HIV testing for people who wants to marry in church are also encouraged. Church leaders also agreed to play an active role in promoting HIV testing within the church premises to lower the impact of stigmatization.
• Helping and equipping women and youth with skills and information on the prevention of HIV/AIDS
• Networking with other HIV/AIDS support organizations to improve and facilitate exchange of services and information

Conclusion

Church leaders look at HIV/AIDS as a spiritual, economic, leadership and governance, cultural and gender issue. This view paves the way for better understanding of the problem which goes beyond the moral issues that churches have focusing on as the cause for the spread of HIV/AIDS.

The holistic view on HIV/AIDS by church leaders results in holistic responses. This is apparent in the above mentioned recommendations which the church leaders have committed and strive to attain in the midst of the struggles. The participatory approach used during the Leaders meetings has helped address critical issues effectively. Due to these, Christian assistance has effectively curbed the AIDS/HIV problem in Angola.