Bold steps needed to combat HIV and AIDS

September 24, 2007

In Washington DC ecumenical partners discuss advocacy strategies with UNAIDS Partnership Advisor Sally Smith Photo: K. McNeely/CWS

Church World Service joined AIDS responders and advocates, congregational leaders and people living with HIV and AIDS in a consultation to strategize deeper engagement by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) in addressing the pandemic.

Under the leadership of Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson ELCA recently passed a resolution to engage further through the development of a church-wide strategy for action in the coming decade.

Ecumenical and global companions also took part in the consultation.

It is important that the faith community shifts its response from crisis management to a more integrated, effective and sustainable long term response.

In many parts of the world where AIDS is widespread, families have been torn apart and children have been left to care for their younger siblings. CWS’s “Giving Hope” project in Tanzania provides a good model for giving children affected by AIDS the skills to manage their own and their families’ well-being, and to participate in the economic development of their communities.

The church often provides continuity and solidarity in the face of changes in government, natural disasters, conflict, etc. In many cases the church reaches into areas that other donors and governments often do not, and maintains its ministry even when donor money runs out and other aid agencies go home.

The church is also well positioned to take on the enormous task of creating the political will for world leaders to live up to their promises of providing the resources and the means to reach the Millennium Development Goal on HIV/AIDS – to halt and reverse the spread of the epidemic by 2015. Reaching this goal will require far greater access to HIV prevention services and AIDS treatment, care and support than is currently available.

There will be several opportunities to expand on the strengths the church offers as Congress begins to look at reauthorizing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. The church can play a critical role in converting the president’s “emergency plan” into a long term and sustainable response to the AIDS crisis.

Church World Service will play a role in convening other faith groups working to educate and advocate for the United States to provide its fair share of the global response to the pandemic.