HIV Sunday

Yesterday our church service was dedicated to teaching about HIV, both the medical facts and Biblical teaching; prayer for those infected and affected; and testing. It is estimated (many haven't been tested due to fear and many of those who do get tested keep the result a secret) that 1 in every 2 to 3 people in our community are infected with the virus, but there is still a massive stigma attached. As a church we are trying to break that stigma and tell the truth about HIV and the hope that Jesus brings.

Living here, I've had a lot of training on HIV - so much that I'm now a qualified tester. But there were a couple of facts given yesterday that floored me:

1. A rich person with HIV on average lives 5 times longer than a poor person with HIV. I knew that they would live longer but hadn't realised the difference was that significant. This is due to access to better medicine and healthcare, better nutrition and more awareness about personal fitness.

2. Last year in SA the same number of people who died in the Asian tsunami died from HIV every 3 weeks.

Looking at those facts it's easy to see why people in our community feel helpless in the fight.

One of the best things Dr Liam did yesterday was to teach that HIV is not God's punishment towards an individual. That it's a result of living in a fallen world in the same way that we live with many other sicknesses. In this community that is such an important truth - so many are ashamed of their status and therefore keep it hidden resulting in them not receiving the care they so desparately need. Many, many women in this community have been infected by unfaithful husbands, but still feel the stigma is too great to go and get treatment.

Our home-based care workers are doing a fantastic job of visiting in the community, breaking down the barriers, but as a church we need to stand up and speak the truth. The truth that being HIV positive doesn't exclude you from the community. The truth that knowing your status is better than not knowing. The truth that if you're positive you can be treated and live a normal life for many years. The truth that God still loves you. The truth that Jesus died that you might live for eternity in a new and perfect body in a world free from HIV. Only the truth will set you free.