Bishop's Corner
AIDS In Africa: Our Moral Challenge
By Bishop Timothy W. Whitaker
 There is
crisis of momentous proportions occurring on the continent of Africa.
Millions of children, women and men are dying of AIDS. There are 40
million people in the world infected with HIV/AIDS, and 28 million live
in sub-Saharan Africa.
The children in Africa are suffering from a horrid
affliction as a result of their compromised immune systems. This disease
is called noma, and it is estimated that more than 100,000 children
contract it every year. The disease is a gangrenous condition that
destroys both soft and hard tissues of the mouth and face.
The nations of the world are attempting to battle
the AIDS epidemic through Global Fund to Fight AIDS. Public officials of
both major political parties in the United States are becoming
increasingly alarmed at the spread of the disease and its destruction.
U.S. Health Secretary Tommy Thompson said after a trip to Africa that he
was “somewhat discouraged by the magnitude of the problem.”
Wisconsin Senator Russ Feingold, who chairs a subcommittee on Africa,
said, “The moral imperative of it is starting to overwhelm people.”
Peter Lamptey, president of Family Health
International AIDS Institute, said this year “if most of the 40
million people now living with HIV or AIDS die from the disease, then
the death toll from AIDS would overtake that of the Black Death in the
14th Century as the most deadly pandemic disease in history.” Indeed,
he added, “If we don’t improve access to treatment in the next 10 to
15 years we could have as many as 65 million deaths from this disease.”
He reported that a lack of resources, a lack of international commitment
and the stigma surrounding the disease have slowed efforts to combat its
spread.
Truly, the AIDS epidemic in the world, and
especially in Africa, is a tremendous health crisis. It is also a moral
challenge since the rest of the world cannot ignore it or refuse to act.
What can we who are disciples of Jesus Christ in
America do? We can pray for God’s guidance and help in our Sunday
services and personal devotions. We can begin to learn more about the
crisis. To join a list service for e-mails, contact MHarrison@UMC-GBCS.org.
We can contact our public officials to request adequate support for the
global effort; Senator Nelson of Florida is a member of the Senate
Committee on the Budget. And, of course, we can practice pastoral care
in our congregations and local communities to those who are suffering
from AIDS.
May the Holy Spirit, the Lord and Giver of Life,
illumine, guide and empower us all to practice the ministries of caring
and curing manifested in the life of Jesus Christ our Sovereign and
Savior.
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