Global AIDSGlobal AIDS

An Introduction to the pandemicAn Introduction to the pandemic“Religion that Religion that

God the Father God the Father

finds pure and finds pure and

blameless is this: blameless is this:

to care for orphansto care for orphans

and widows in their and widows in their

distress…”distress…” James 1:27James 1:27 Many thanks to World Vision for use of many of their photos included in this presentation

AIDS’ Global ReachAIDS’ Global Reach

People Living With HIV/AIDSPeople Living With HIV/AIDS

Soure: UN AIDS 2002

Total: 42 million Total: 42 million (3.2 mln children)(3.2 mln children)

Western Europe

570 000570 000North Africa & Middle East

550 000550 000Sub-Saharan

Africa

29.4 million29.4 million

Eastern Europe & Central Asia

1.2 million1.2 million

South & South-East Asia

6 million6 million

Australia & New Zealand

15 00015 000

Caribbean

440 000440 000

Latin America

1.5 million1.5 million

East Asia & Pacific

1.2 million1.2 million

North America

980 000980 000

World’s Worst Humanitarian CrisisWorld’s Worst Humanitarian Crisis

• Did you know that every day…Did you know that every day…– anotheranother 14,000 people become infected by HIV 14,000 people become infected by HIV joining joining

the more than 42 million already infected the more than 42 million already infected – another another 8000 people die of AIDS8000 people die of AIDS, and AIDS related , and AIDS related

illness, joining the already 28 million dead from AIDS illness, joining the already 28 million dead from AIDS – another another 6,000 children become orphans by AIDS6,000 children become orphans by AIDS, ,

losing one or both parents, joining the more than 15 losing one or both parents, joining the more than 15 million already orphaned million already orphaned

– every day, for more than two decades scientists have every day, for more than two decades scientists have struggled to find a cure for AIDS without any real struggled to find a cure for AIDS without any real breakthrough breakthrough

Fields of the fatherlessFields of the fatherless

20-25 (4)

15-19 (7)

10-14 (21)

5 -9 (9)

0 -4 (1)

Source: Children on the Brink, 2002

Percentage of Orphaned Children

32 nations in Africa have an orphan population greater than 10% due to AIDS

Zimbabwe

SwazilandLesotho

Botswana

Mounting Orphan ChallengeMounting Orphan Challenge

15 million orphans of AIDS worldwide

Projected to grow to 25 million by 2010

Holding hands the number of Holding hands the number of

Orphans due to AIDS would Orphans due to AIDS would

stretch across the US 3 ½ stretch across the US 3 ½

times – 5 ½ times by 2010times – 5 ½ times by 2010

Global Child Welfare IssuesGlobal Child Welfare Issues

• Parents are sick and dying and can’t Parents are sick and dying and can’t work to support or care for their work to support or care for their childrenchildren

• Children must leave school to care for Children must leave school to care for their families and orphans must fend for their families and orphans must fend for themselvesthemselves

• Children are left vulnerable to abuse Children are left vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, or at best to care for and exploitation, or at best to care for their younger siblings their younger siblings

• Grandparents often care for dozens or Grandparents often care for dozens or more orphaned grandchildrenmore orphaned grandchildren

• HIV-positive mothers unknowingly HIV-positive mothers unknowingly pass the virus to their new born or pass the virus to their new born or breast feeding childrenbreast feeding children

Photo: WORLD VISION

A Global Women’s IssueA Global Women’s Issue

• Women and girls are particularly vulnerable Women and girls are particularly vulnerable to HIV infection for biological, social and to HIV infection for biological, social and economic reasons. economic reasons.

•Studies show that women, when exposed to Studies show that women, when exposed to HIV, are at least twice as likely to become HIV, are at least twice as likely to become infected with HIV as their male counterparts. infected with HIV as their male counterparts.

• In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, girls and In parts of sub-Saharan Africa, girls and young women are up to six times more likely young women are up to six times more likely to be infected than their male peers. to be infected than their male peers.

• Girls and young women aged 15 to 24 Girls and young women aged 15 to 24 make up 62 percent of the young people in make up 62 percent of the young people in developing countries living with HIV or AIDS. developing countries living with HIV or AIDS.

Photo: WORLD VISION

Global Social ChallengesGlobal Social Challenges

• Although there are numerous factors in Although there are numerous factors in the spread of HIV/AIDS, it is largely the spread of HIV/AIDS, it is largely recognized as a disease of poverty, recognized as a disease of poverty, hitting hardest where people are hitting hardest where people are marginalized and suffering economic marginalized and suffering economic hardship.hardship.

• Pressure on limited medical services is Pressure on limited medical services is increased due to the need to address increased due to the need to address long term health care issues related to long term health care issues related to HIV/AIDS – AIDS doesn’t kill quickly. HIV/AIDS – AIDS doesn’t kill quickly.

• Progress in developing nations is Progress in developing nations is reversed due to reduced labor force as reversed due to reduced labor force as adults become unable to work. adults become unable to work.

• Crops remain un-planted or un-harvested as Crops remain un-planted or un-harvested as field labor is unavailable, in some cases field labor is unavailable, in some cases worsening famine conditions worsening famine conditions

• Government Infrastructures are burdened to Government Infrastructures are burdened to the point of collapse presenting open doors for the point of collapse presenting open doors for hostilities, abuse and social declinehostilities, abuse and social decline

• Those suffering are stigmatized by neighbors Those suffering are stigmatized by neighbors and families leaving them with limited help in and families leaving them with limited help in some communities some communities

• Commercial sex trade workers spread Commercial sex trade workers spread disease to travelers who return home to spread disease to travelers who return home to spread disease to unsuspecting spousedisease to unsuspecting spouse

• As a global Christian response is lacking, As a global Christian response is lacking, Islamic influences grows as Muslims build Islamic influences grows as Muslims build hospitals, schools and other social programs hospitals, schools and other social programs

Global Social ChallengesGlobal Social Challenges

Global Leaders Speak OutGlobal Leaders Speak Out

"This is a century of great potential promise, "This is a century of great potential promise, yet these promising trends that the United yet these promising trends that the United States and other democratic nations have States and other democratic nations have supported can be reversed if AIDS is left to supported can be reversed if AIDS is left to rage across the globe"rage across the globe" U.S. Secretary of State U.S. Secretary of State Colin Powell Colin Powell

"the rich countries of the world must "the rich countries of the world must respond to the needs of the AIDS patients in respond to the needs of the AIDS patients in the poor countries with all the means at the poor countries with all the means at their disposal."their disposal." Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II

"History will surely judge us harshly if we "History will surely judge us harshly if we do not respond with all the energy and do not respond with all the energy and resources that we can bring to bear in the resources that we can bring to bear in the fight against AIDS."fight against AIDS."

Nelson Mandela, 2004 International AIDS ConferenceNelson Mandela, 2004 International AIDS Conference

Photo: WORLD VISION

Photo: WORLD VISION

A Christian Response is NeededA Christian Response is Needed

““The crisis of AIDS orphans cries out for the kind The crisis of AIDS orphans cries out for the kind of response only Christians can deliver: one that of response only Christians can deliver: one that combines compassion with a respect for the combines compassion with a respect for the truth.”truth.” Chuck ColsonChuck Colson

““This can be a golden moment for Christians. Who This can be a golden moment for Christians. Who better to offer comfort to the dying, to care for widows better to offer comfort to the dying, to care for widows and orphans? Who better to bring hope to the and orphans? Who better to bring hope to the hopeless”hopeless” Richard Sterns, President, World VisionRichard Sterns, President, World Vision

““If the Church of Jesus Christ rises to the challenge If the Church of Jesus Christ rises to the challenge of HIV/AIDS it will be the greatest apologetic the of HIV/AIDS it will be the greatest apologetic the world has ever seen.”world has ever seen.” Ravi ZachariasRavi Zacharias

Photo: WORLD VISION

"The church of Jesus Christ needs to provide the "The church of Jesus Christ needs to provide the leadership in this crisis, We cannot face this crisis leadership in this crisis, We cannot face this crisis without God's help. We have to call upon the name without God's help. We have to call upon the name of almighty God. We've got to get the church of almighty God. We've got to get the church involved.“involved.“ Franklin GrahamFranklin Graham

 

The Bible SpeaksThe Bible Speaks

““Religion that God our Father finds pure and faultless Religion that God our Father finds pure and faultless is this: to care for widows and orphans in their is this: to care for widows and orphans in their

distress.” distress.” James 1:27James 1:27

““If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the

needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the darkness, and your night will become like the

noonday.”noonday.” Isaiah 58:9-10Isaiah 58:9-10

Photo: WORLD VISION

The Bible SpeaksThe Bible Speaks

““The righteous will answer Him saying; “Lord when did The righteous will answer Him saying; “Lord when did we see You hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you we see You hungry and feed you or thirsty and give you

drink…when did we see you sick… and come to you? drink…when did we see you sick… and come to you? And, the King will answer and say to them “…inasmuch And, the King will answer and say to them “…inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren,

you did it to Me?” you did it to Me?” Matthew 25:37-40Matthew 25:37-40

Photo: WORLD VISION

““And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, And what does the Lord require of you but to do justly, to love mercy and to walk humbly before our God?to love mercy and to walk humbly before our God?

Micah 6:8Micah 6:8

A United Prayer Response NeededA United Prayer Response Needed

The experts agree:The experts agree:

Awareness must be increased to prevent the Awareness must be increased to prevent the further spread of HIV and educate the world to the further spread of HIV and educate the world to the needsneeds

Action is needed to provide resources, medical Action is needed to provide resources, medical interventions, and the care necessary to combat interventions, and the care necessary to combat the pandemic the pandemic

Advocacy for those who can’t speak on their own Advocacy for those who can’t speak on their own behalf is needed to reverse the impact of AIDS behalf is needed to reverse the impact of AIDS

But God says: But God says:

““If my people who are called by my name will If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways, humble themselves, turn from their wicked ways,

and pray, then I will hear from Heaven, forgive and pray, then I will hear from Heaven, forgive their sin, and heal their land.”their sin, and heal their land.”

2 Chronicles 7:142 Chronicles 7:14

Photo: WORLD VISION

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