MALAWI: WORLD AIDS DAY MESSAGE FROM THE CATHOLIC HEALTH COMMISSION

 “The time has come: you must wake up now… let us give up all things we prefer to do under cover of the dark. Let us arm ourselves and appear in the light.” Romans 13:11ff.

Today, the first Sunday of Advent, the Church begins a new Liturgical Year, a new journey of faith that on the one hand commemorates the event of Jesus Christ and, on the other, opens to its ultimate fulfillment. It is precisely in this double perspective that we  live the Season of Advent, looking both to the first coming of the Son of God, when he was born of the Virgin Mary, and to his glorious return, when he will come “to judge the living and the dead”, as we say in the Creed.    It is thus a period for devout and joyful expectation. It is a period of ultimate fulfillment, for it touches upon a profoundly human aspect in which the faith becomes, so to speak, completely one with our flesh and our heart. This Season begins today, 27th November, 2011, and will take us through to Christmas, 25th December, 2011.

Just like every year, today we commemorate World AIDS Day which, internationally, is observed on 1st December. It is an important occasion when governments, national AIDS programs, faith and community organizations, and individuals around the world bring attention to the global AIDS pandemic. We all join hands in emphasizing the critical need for a committed, meaningful and sustained response. 

As Christians, the New Liturgical Year invites us to have a new focus, vision and mission in the fight against HIV and AIDS. World AIDS Day commemoration provides us with precious moments to reflect on the prevalence of HIV and AIDS in our midst and our belief that all people are created in God’s image (Gen.1:27). While we work to promote and protect the human rights of people living with or affected by HIV, or those who are vulnerable to the infection, we must also recognize and take action on the spiritual dimension that calls us to work for justice and treat everybody with compassion and love.

The World AIDS Day Campaign has selected the global theme for this year 2011 to 2015, as “Getting to Zero.” This was guided by the United Nations’ “Getting to Zero” campaign which is focusing on the goals of zero new infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths.

As a Church, last year we focused our reflection on linking HIV/AIDS and food issues so that those that are already HIV infected and suffering from AIDS should have access to adequate food and good nutrition. This year we would like to focus our reflection on the possibility of reaching a status of Zero New HIV Infections whereby we continue caring for the infected and affected while ensuring that those who are not yet infected remain in the same status.

Statistics for the world situation and especially for Africa and Malawi are scaring. According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.4 million people living with HIV, including 2.1 million children. During 2008, some 2.7 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 2 million people died from AIDS. Around half of all people who become infected with HIV do so before they are 25 and die of AIDS before they are 35. The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower and middle income countries. The 2010 United Nations General Assembly Special Session (UNGASS) Country Progress Report indicates that there are approximately 84,000 new HIV infections annually. The report also shows that the level of infection in families is very alarming.

Like many other Sub-Saharan African countries, the situation in Malawi is the same. Despite so many years of national response, after the first case was identified in 1985, the impact remains devastating and the country’s efforts seem inadequate given the pace at which HIV is spreading. HIV and AIDS remains the leading cause of death in the most productive age group, with a mortality rate close to 700 deaths per 100,000 people. Out of Malawi’s one million orphans, 500,000 have lost one or both of their parents to AIDS and a fifth of all households in Malawi take care of one or more orphans. 

These challenges are not all of our making; but as Christians, the failure to respond can be interpreted as an indirect result of our weakness and negligence in being prophetic. As Christians we are to reach out, in compassion and solidarity, to all the sick members of the Body of Christ (I Cor 12:27).

According to the National AIDS Commission, Malawi’s HIV epidemic is driven mainly by “adult” (i.e. 20-39 age group) sexual behavior, with the vast majority of new sexually transmitted HIV infections occurring in adults, rather than in youth under the age of 18. There is clear evidence that even among the youngest age groups, being in a long-term union or marriage is correlated with increase in HIV prevalence, with a greater than two-fold higher prevalence among married young women aged 18-25 than those in non-permanent, more sporadic relationships. Additionally, 88% of HIV transmission occurs in concurrent and multiple sexual partnerships, while 10% from HIV infected mother to child and 2% through blood and blood products.

It is paramount that new HIV infections be stopped. We need to achieve an HIV/AIDS situation where fewer people are newly infected than are newly placed on treatment.

There should be:

·         Zero transmission due to mutual faithfulness of  the spouses

By its very nature, marriage requires the inviolable fidelity of the spouses. Faithfulness was intended by the author of marriage when he created only one man and one woman to initiate the first couple. Both spouses have the duty to see to the material and spiritual welfare of the family. The love of the spouses calls them to grow continually in their communion: “so they are no longer two, but one flesh(Mathew 19;6).”  The intention of marriage is pro-vita – the promotion of life and not bringing death. Unfortunately many people have died of AIDS whose infection was acquired from within their marriage.

We emphatically proclaim and teach Gospel values of fidelity in marriage and abstention outside marriage and condemn all that encourages promiscuity. Let it be noted that the intimate, mutual belonging and dependence of the spouses account for the demand of their absolute fidelity to each other, apart from the children’s need of a stable and harmonious family (Karl H. Peschke 2; pg546 edt.1993).

·         Zero babies born with HIV through responsible parenthood

By its very nature the institution of marriage and married love is ordered to the procreation and education of the offspring and it is in them that it finds its crowning glory (Catechism of Catholic Church -1652). God sent his Son into the world so that we may have life and have it to the full (John 10:10). Currently the tragedy of HIV/AIDS pandemic is another force that distresses and frustrates our life. As captured by the Bishops in their Pastoral letter; “The pandemic arrests development and economic growth, wipes away families, leaves behind orphans, widows/widowers, shortens life expectancy, and challenges our faith and social values (Rejoicing and Vigilantly Living in Hope 2002; No.9.0).”

We call upon all couples of child bearing age to ensure that they get tested for HIV before falling pregnant so that they get proper guidance and counselling pertaining to prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV. Remember that a stitch in time saves nine.

Christian ethics compels us to refrain from indulging into premarital sex. This is sinful and can harm our life and health. It even orders that a young woman shall be stoned to death if the man who marries her finds that she is not a virgin any more, “because she has wrought folly in Israel by playing the harlot in her father’s house”(Deut. 22: 20-21).  This entails that young people need to undergo a persistent and thorough preparation before marriage. Experience teaches that young people who have been well prepared for family life generally succeed better than others.

We call upon all parents, guardians and all who are responsible for the youth to give them proper orientation in life so that they are not carried away by peer pressure as they grow.

·         Zero transmission by avoiding negative  cultural practices that put individuals at risk

We recognize and appreciate the values that traditional customs and practices still have in themselves and the role they still play in the stability of our society. These values and others should continue to be upheld and improved upon.

However, we notice certain elements in some of our cultural customs and practices and their accompanying negative elements which go against our Christian values. We urge all custodians of culture to condemn and admonish these negative cultural practices because they put people at risk of HIV infection.

·         Zero transmission by getting tested to know one’s HIV sero-status

Everyone should take the responsibility of getting tested to know their status and how to take care of themselves and their loved ones.

All Christians are called to do the right thing all the time. As St Paul writes to the Romans, “the time has come: you must wake up now… let us give up all things we prefer to do under cover of the dark. Let us arm ourselves and appear in the light.”(Romans 13:11ff).

We hail Christ the Prince of Peace and the King of Justice(Is 9:5-6). He comes to bring good tidings to the poor, the disadvantaged: food to the hungry, sight to the blind, defence to the weak and powerless, and healing to the sick. Christ brings us hope and new life: people who were in darkness will see a great light (Is 9:1).

As messengers of Christ, let us bring hope, light and abundant life to those we love. “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind: and you shall love your neighbour as yourself.”(Lk10:27-28). Therefore if we genuinely love our spouses, we would not want to infect them with HIV; if we truly love our children, we would not want them to suffer when we die of AIDS, nether would we want to give birth to babies that are already infected with HIV.

Do not tire to do good all the time. Zero new HIV infections are possible; it is our responsibility!

GETTING TO ZERO!!!

ZERO NEW HIV INFECTIONS!!!

STOP HIV TRANSMISSION NOW!!!