Message from the co-chairperson of the ecumenical advocacy alliance HIV/AIDS strategy group on the launch of the campaign on HIV/AIDS 01-12-2001

1 December 2001

Dear Friends of the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance,

Today as World AIDS Day is being observed around the globe and our campaign on HIV/AIDS is being launched, I want to share some good news with you. My own church continues to take up its part in this campaign by challenging the stigma that is usually attached to HIV/AIDS. In a few days I will be made a Canon of the Anglican Church. You may ask, "What does this have to do with HIV/AIDS and stigma?" The answer is simple yet painful…you see I am living with HIV.

So, today, I hope you will join us in these efforts to 'urge churches to work for the dignity and rights of people living with HIV/AIDS'. My bishops are indeed beginning to challenge others to develop 'an attitude of care and solidarity that rejects all forms of stigmatization and discrimination', as the goals of our advocacy campaign direct. We need to be united in asking the question, "I Care…Do you?" And just as firmly, we must respond, "The Churches say YES!"

I can testify that my church cares. She did not throw me out when I disclosed that I was HIV positive way back in 1992. Instead, she supported me in the task of developing an HIV prevention and AIDS care program that integrates issues of sex, sexuality, and sexuality in worship; in Christian literature and in ministry with children, young people and parents. As church, we have worked together (albeit in a small way) in:

• extending subsidized HIV counseling and testing services to those wishing to know their HIV status,
• initiating post-test HIV support clubs for continuous counseling, social and spiritual support to those living with HIV/AIDS;
• training and commissioning "Good Samaritan" home care teams among children, youths, and adults in the church;
• starting health units where there are none and strengthening those that lack medicines and equipment.

We have participated in developing the National Strategic Framework on HIV/AIDS of Uganda, and in creating mass awareness about how HIV is transmitted, and how it can be prevented, managed, and controlled.

As a result, the HIV prevalence rate has fallen from the high of 15% to a more moderate 6.8% because of our combined efforts in bringing about (I) increased abstinence among young people; (ii) increased age of first sexual activity; (iii) increased faithfulness; (iv) increased condom use; (v) improved health infrastructure and services to deal with STDs, vertical transmissions from infected mother-to-child, and infections through contaminated blood; and (vi) increased acceptance of and care for people living with HIV/AIDS.

All this is being made possible by the openness of our government , civic and religious leaders, and by the willingness of people (at international, regional, and local levels) to mobilize and make available to us resources for prevention, care, support, and research.

With the launch of this campaign, I am very optimistic that this success story will be increased in Uganda and extended to many other countries and communities of the global village where the church is living with HIV/AIDS, and ministering to and serving those who are affected.

As we pledge to speak and act out against the conditions that make the spread of this disease possible; and, as we pledge to mitigate its impacts on our lives, let us be encouraged by the Ugandan Church's story. Our efforts are not in vain.

As people of faith, we take up this task for Jesus' sake: who died and rose again so that all might have life. We launch this campaign committed to common action for Jesus sake, who promised to be with us always!

Rev. Canon Gideon Byamugisha

Namirembe Diocese

Uganda

P.S. I will be installed on Sunday, 9 December 2001 in St. Paul's Cathedral, Namirembe, Uganda at the 10 o'clock worship service. You are all welcome to this service. If you can not join us, please keep me in your prayers.