AIDSLink International’s 5th Symposium: Moved By Compassion
With gratitude to God for 5 years of ministry, seventeen AIDSLink Representatives from across the globe convened in Kathmandu, Nepal from January 16th-21st.
Many would agree with a participant who remarked that her highlight was hearing the story of one of the participants, a man whom God had rescued from drug dependence and is now running a rehabilitation home for recovering drug users with HIV.
Topics discussed ranged from our Core Values (Reflect Jesus; Uphold Dignity; Empower People; Act with Integrity; Build Community; Be Relevant) to the latest HIV and AIDS Statistics to Strategic Planning for the next five years.
Two speakers were invited to share on the HIV and AIDS related topics of Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender communities and Injecting Drug Users.
Along with the meetings the group visited a rehabilitation centre for drug users, a local hospital where people from villages even 12 hours out of the capital go for antiretroviral therapy (ARTs), and a prayer group to raise awareness of Human Trafficking.
Moved by compassion for those with AIDS in the hospital, the team decided as a group to take an offering for blankets for people with AIDS who will stay at the hospital. Enough money was raised for some blankets to also be bought for those who come to the AIDSLink Nepal Care Centre to help them keep warm during the time when their body first adjusts to taking ARTs in Nepal’s cold winter.
Brazil: Marking World AIDS Day
In commemoration of World AIDS Day 2011, an AIDSLink Brazil team drove over four hours, through the heavy Sao Paulo traffic to give an AIDS awareness workshop at a centre for the rehabilitation of drug users and sex-workers.
It was very timely, the previous day health workers had tested everyone there for HIV. Amazingly all tested negative. The information and stories the team shared were designed to help them stay that way.
One of the residents told us how much she appreciated getting correct information and being able to ask questions. She thought that because she had had surgery to prevent having anymore children she was no longer at risk of contracting HIV. Others questions ranged from basic information such as if it is safe to drink from the same cup as someone with HIV to more complex questions about treatment and the life-span of someone living with HIV.
A real turning point in the workshop was when one of the team told his story about living with HIV, how he got his HIV+ diagnosis, the effect on his life, and how his faith has helped him to turn his situation around into a positive lifestyle.
The latest statistics show that in spite of the government's pro-active response to HIV, every day, in the city of Sao Paulo, nine people die and a further six give up on treatment.
There remains much for the team to do.
Transformational Training
“This training was transformationalâ€, said one of the 29 participants at the recent AIDSLink Facilitators’ Training held in Malaysia. It was especially encouraging to hear this comment as it came from someone with a lot of experience, who has been involved in HIV and AIDS ministry for many years.
Participants came from 15 nations for this intensive seven day training. This brings to over 100 the number of Facilitators’ AIDSLink International has now trained.
The Channels of Hope Facilitators’ Training enables participants to go out and make a difference by conducting HIV workshops, further involve themselves in HIV and AIDS ministries and start new ministries. One participant shared, “I came to this training with a very big dream for an HIV and AIDS ministry, this has helped me crystalize my thinking and look to God in greater wayâ€.
We are looking forward to hosting our first Spanish language Facilitators’ Training later this year.
How to Become a Channel of Hope in Seven Not so Easy Days
By Debbie Meroff
"My prayer is that this training will affect all of our hearts--breaking them, healing them” and that it will equip our hearts, heads and hands to become channels of hope."
The words were from one of the four excellent trainers at AIDSLink's first-ever European facilitators' training, being held in the beautiful Forterocca training facility near Turin in Italy from 25 October to 1 November. What Robert said made a deep impression on the 13 of us who had gathered from five continents. Our knowledge of HIV and AIDS ranged from the most basic level to many years of experience, but this course was forcing all of us to take a hard look at our faith along with the facts.
Hilke, a student in Germany, made and sold jewellery to raise the money to attend. She plans to use the training when she goes into missions, possibly in South Africa.
Peter, the UK Director of ACET (AIDS Care Education & Training), came because he wanted to learn how others are addressing the problems of stigma, and how they are engaging with the church in a strategic way.
Chris and Lorraine, who work in Eastern Europe were anxious to see how they could incorporate HIV and AIDS awareness along with the drugs education they do.--Transmission by injection is skyrocketing in parts of Europe.
My own goal was to get better equipped to communicate the truth about the pandemic and to be more proactive in raising awareness, both in writing and speaking. Although Europeans like to believe that it isn't a major problem on the Continent, more and more thousands are being infected by the virus, and a huge percentage of them are marginalised.
The sessions ran from 7:15 to early evening, allowing only occasional glimpses of the stunning Italian Alps surrounding our conference facility. We had a new language to learn with words like CD4 count, viral load, MSMs and opportunistic infections. And we had to practice ways to be effective educators using role play, group interaction, quizzes to challenge right and wrong perceptions.
I loved every intensive hour of it. I was humbled, awakened, shaken and thrilled to realise that even the least of God's followers has something of infinite value to offer the 33 million who are infected with AIDS--and the hundreds of millions more who are affected. The sad thing was that only 13 of us took advantage of this AIDSLink training, when there should have been 300. Do yourself a favour. Don't miss out next time around.
Asha Diep Care Centre
Asha Diep (Light and Hope) Crisis Care Centre in Kathmandu, Nepal has only been open for four months but already has 56 clients.
The care centre is a clean, safe place for people living with HIV to stay whilst accessing testing and medical services at the local hospital.
Patients coming to the hospital have to wait a few days for test results and sometimes have to stay in the city for two or more weeks of observation when starting ART treatment.
They travel many hours, and some travel days, to get to the Crisis Care Centre. If they had to travel back to their homes in between getting tested, awaiting results, and being under observation, many would not be able to access medical help - the journey can be arduous.
Clients return on a regular basis for follow-up visits and the team running the care centre can build into their lives on an ongoing basis, seeing them come terms with living with HIV, and seeing their health improve.