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Summary and Key Outcomes from “The Faith Community Responding: Our Common Commitment”: 

Summary and Key Outcomes from 'The Faith Community Responding: Our Common Commitment' Pre-Conference Gathering sponsored by Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance in conjunction with the 15th International AIDS Conference Bangkok, Thailand, 9-10 July 2004 Summary Prepared by: Rev. Robert J. Vitillo

Objectives of the Pre-Conference: 

Objectives of the Pre-Conference General – Promote ecumenical and faith-based presence together in global community in fighting against HIV and AIDS Specific – Enhancing awareness and consciousness among faith-based communities Exchanging experiences and critical ethical and social analysis on HIV and AIDS Strengthening cooperation and collaboration and networking among religious communities Promoting inter-sectoral cooperation to combat HIV and AIDS

Promoting the Fullness of Life …Setting the Framework for our Actions: 

Promoting the Fullness of Life … Setting the Framework for our Actions In the opening session of our pre-conference the speaker reminded us: We have to return to our roots as people of faith to enhance and fulfill life as God created it We perceive the love of God in our own lives as we build solidarity with those who are shunned by society

Promoting the Fullness of Life …What Actions Should We Take in this time of HIV and AIDS?: 

Promoting the Fullness of Life … What Actions Should We Take in this time of HIV and AIDS? We must analyze and struggle to understand the situation in which we live the present moment We do not have to know why some situations occur – only how we can be of help We are called to Be Compassionate – this means 'suffering together' – God does not just care about us; God cares for us and challenges us to do the same.

Promoting the Fullness of Life … How Do we Shape our Actions?: 

Promoting the Fullness of Life … How Do we Shape our Actions? attend to total well-being: physical, psychological, social and spiritual well-being reform ourselves so that we could act out of knowledge consider or own lifestyles – do they reflect compassion? NOTE: as the fullness of life becomes a priority – our insistence on rituals and cultural taboos become less important

Access for All: Communities of Faith Making It Possible: 

Access for All: Communities of Faith Making It Possible Access to care and treatment is still not a realistic hope in many countries of the world; Yet we have made progress: medications are cheaper and more accessible WHO has launched its 3 x 5 initiative Global Fund created and operational Global Fund has committed $3billion to 300 projects in 128 countries of the world Global fund has Faith-based Organizations as 'preferential partners'

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World Health Organization '3 by 5' Initiative http://www.who.int/3by5 Treat 3 million by 2005

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40,000,000 are infected with HIV and AIDS worldwide 6,000,000 need treatment every year 3,000,000 die because they do not get it 400,000 people living with AIDS have access to treatment today Antiretroviral Therapy (ART) keeps people with HIV and AIDS alive and healthy The Goal: Provide access to treatment for all The Target: Treat 3 million HIV sufferers by 2005 What is the '3 by 5' Target? World Health Organization '3 by 5' Initiative http://www.who.int/3by5

“3 x 5” involves an “act of faith” by all its partners!: 

'3 x 5' involves an 'act of faith' by all its partners! An 'act of faith' that our actions will save lives … An 'act of faith' that we will overcome discrimination and stigma … An 'act of faith' that we will bring about change for the good … An 'act of faith' that we have the power to change history …

Where FBOs Make A Difference: 

Where FBOs Make A Difference Ready to counteract stigma and discrimination (but need to deal with these inside own structures) Moral and ethical voice of religious leaders Care and support through hospitals, clinics, hospices, home care, schools, orphanages Pastoral care Education and awareness to promote prevention Exercising our citizenship to call on governments for resources and just policies

Churches’ Health Association of Zambia: A Positive Model of Collaboration with a Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) : 

Churches’ Health Association of Zambia: A Positive Model of Collaboration with a Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Churches in Zambia provide 50% of rural health care and 30% of total health care in Zambia 4 Principal Recipients of Global Fund monies in Zambia (– all four have direct contracts with the Global Fund): Ministry of Finance, National Board of Health, CHAZ, Zambia HIV and AIDS Network

Access for All: Communities of Faith … Making It Possible: 

Access for All: Communities of Faith … Making It Possible BUT access means more than ARV treatment It means feeling God’s grace in one’s life It means receiving acceptance for who we are – children of God and members of local communities It makes possible the enjoyment of feelings of joy, hope, peace, forgiveness, AND eternal life 'Is not this fast that I have chosen? To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, and to let the oppressed go free …?' (Is. 58:6)

“Faith, Knowledge, and Care: Promoting Access for All”: 

'Faith, Knowledge, and Care: Promoting Access for All' FAITH … Poverty is perhaps the principal obstacle to care and treatment Faith entails our efforts to see others as God sees them God sees PLWHIV and AIDS as beloved sons and daughters; thus we need to see them as beloved sisters and brothers Refusal to do so entails 'bad faith' … it is not just poor social policy God cannot express preferential love unless us we do so for and with God

“Faith, Knowledge, and Care: Promoting Access for All”: 

'Faith, Knowledge, and Care: Promoting Access for All' KNOWLEDGE… From faith, we pass to knowledge … Many people are dying because of lack of knowledge … About prevention, Opportunistic Infections, Care, etc. CARE … Caritas Internationalis and African Jesuit AIDS Network are sponsoring a new Care and Treatment Manual: Rays of Hope: Managing HIV and AIDS in Africa' which is geared to the needs of FBOs at the local community level

Sharing Critical Successes and Surprising Challenges from Different Continents: 

Sharing Critical Successes and Surprising Challenges from Different Continents Africa – 'Building the Foundation' sponsored by the Anglican Church’s Southern African Province South Asia Ecumenical Partnership Program Ecumenical Humanitarian Organization – EHO – Experience in Serbia

Sharing Critical Successes and Surprising Challenges from Different Continents: 

Sharing Critical Successes and Surprising Challenges from Different Continents Successes Collaboration among diverse religious traditions - Recognized the seriousness of the situation Openness to talk about sexuality – developed a programmes to encourage behaviour change Integrating education about HIV and AIDS into school curricula

Sharing Critical Successes and Surprising Challenges from Different Continents: 

Sharing Critical Successes and Surprising Challenges from Different Continents Challenges: Problems in relationship between funder and recipient; Stigma and Discrimination becoming a constant challenge to the church – need to keep the church as a house of love and epitome of inclusiveness; HIV and AIDS reaches deeply into Church’s understanding of itself – challenge way in which we are Church; various sectors of health system has failed to map the illness pattern especially with regard to its impact on the poor; Issue of HIV and AIDS not mentioned, even in medical practice –discrimination against PLWHAs even in health sector - lack of knowledge in general population; Government is not accustomed to working with NGOs and FBOs

Important Reactions and Reflections: 

Important Reactions and Reflections We affirmed the importance of increased and organised action and taking into consideration other socio-economic issues, e.g., gender inequality, poverty Capacity-building is VERY important It is important for us to dialogue with the infected and affected as EQUAL partners We do not need outside funding and programming to teach us how to love one another and how to overcome stigma and discrimination