[12.01.08] Across the globe on Monday leaders of churches and nations promised to help
fight the spread of HIV while observing World AIDS Day—an international campaign
launched in 1988 to improve HIV/AIDS awareness and education.
fight the spread of HIV while observing World AIDS Day—an international campaign
launched in 1988 to improve HIV/AIDS awareness and education.
“Today is World AIDS Day, a day we reaffirm our commitment to fight
HIV/AIDS at home and abroad,” President Bush said.
HIV/AIDS at home and abroad,” President Bush said.
Before heading to the Saddleback Civil Forum on Global Health on Monday,
where he would discuss the global AIDS epidemic with Rick Warren and other
evangelical leaders, Bush announced that his President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief (PEPFAR) was succeeding.
where he would discuss the global AIDS epidemic with Rick Warren and other
evangelical leaders, Bush announced that his President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS
Relief (PEPFAR) was succeeding.
“[It was] one of the most important initiatives of my administration,” he
said. “PEPFAR is the largest international health initiative dedicated to a
single disease … and it is bringing hope and healing to people around the
world.”
said. “PEPFAR is the largest international health initiative dedicated to a
single disease … and it is bringing hope and healing to people around the
world.”
Launched in 2003 with the goal of helping to treat 2 million HIV patients
in five years, PEPFAR had exceeded its mission, Bush said. “The American people,
through PEPFAR, are supporting lifesaving treatment [worldwide],” he said.
“We've also supported care for more than 10 million people affected by HIV,
including more than 4 million orphans and vulnerable children.”
in five years, PEPFAR had exceeded its mission, Bush said. “The American people,
through PEPFAR, are supporting lifesaving treatment [worldwide],” he said.
“We've also supported care for more than 10 million people affected by HIV,
including more than 4 million orphans and vulnerable children.”
With an estimated 33.2 million people worldwide infected with the HIV
virus, including 2.5 million children, the United Nations Joint Program on
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reports that about half of the millions infected last year are
25 years old or younger.
virus, including 2.5 million children, the United Nations Joint Program on
HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) reports that about half of the millions infected last year are
25 years old or younger.
In addition to measures that Chinese and South African officials took on
Monday to reduce the stigma attached to people who are HIV-positive, one major
U.S. denomination announced its own plan to help dispel negative
stereotypes.
Monday to reduce the stigma attached to people who are HIV-positive, one major
U.S. denomination announced its own plan to help dispel negative
stereotypes.
To encourage support for World AIDS Day, the head bishops of the
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will be voluntarily tested for
HIV/AIDS at an upcoming convention.
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) will be voluntarily tested for
HIV/AIDS at an upcoming convention.
Conceived by the ELCA committee on Ministry Among People in Poverty (MAPP),
the bishops’ actions will be presented as an opportunity for the church to raise
awareness about HIV/AIDS “prevention, testing, treatment, care, stigma and
discrimination.”
the bishops’ actions will be presented as an opportunity for the church to raise
awareness about HIV/AIDS “prevention, testing, treatment, care, stigma and
discrimination.”
The committee also encouraged bishops “to be supportive and involved with
local events on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.”
local events on World AIDS Day, Dec. 1.”
“By personally engaging in and supporting actions on World AIDS Day … ELCA
bishops can help encourage all people to ‘know their status’ by being tested and
help break down the stigma surrounding the disease,” ELCA leaders said in a
statement.
bishops can help encourage all people to ‘know their status’ by being tested and
help break down the stigma surrounding the disease,” ELCA leaders said in a
statement.
Mark S. Hanson, ELCA presiding bishop and president of the Lutheran World
Federation in Geneva, Switzerland, said the willingness of African religious
leaders to publicly declare that they’ve been tested is helping to lessen stigma
associated with the disease.
Federation in Geneva, Switzerland, said the willingness of African religious
leaders to publicly declare that they’ve been tested is helping to lessen stigma
associated with the disease.
“I believe ELCA bishops being tested will be a similar act of accompaniment
and encouragement for ELCA members and global companions,” Hanson said. “This
decision by ELCA bishops is one more sign of this church's commitment to respond
to the HIV and AIDS pandemic.” —Paul Steven Ghiringhelli
and encouragement for ELCA members and global companions,” Hanson said. “This
decision by ELCA bishops is one more sign of this church's commitment to respond
to the HIV and AIDS pandemic.” —Paul Steven Ghiringhelli
Cheri Fuller and Cindy Lamb Curry 
Marilyn Hickey 
Charisma Staff 
