Theological Education in Contemporary Africa

Chapter Seven - The Challenges Posed by HIV/AIDS: A Way Forward for Educators

CHAPTER SEVEN The Challenges Posed by HIV/AIDS: A Way Forward for Educators Maryann N. Mwangi Introduction I t is almost two decades since the eruption of HIV/AIDS in the world. The decades of struggling to prevent its spread have proven to be very complex and demoralizing. This is an epidemic that has left everybody in a situation of disbelief as the spread of the disease continues to challenge every part of the globe. According to some statistics, there are seventeen thousand new infections every day, totaling to about six million new infections every year. The most affected are the sexually active in the age bracket of 15-49 years. The numbers of the affected are more inAfrica than anywhere else in the world. The following statistical observation is very revealing in this regard: According to a UNAIDS report, over twenty-five million people in Africa are infected with HIV or are living with AIDS. Approximately 70% of newly infected people live in Africa. In addition, 83% of the world’s AIDS deaths have occurred in this continent. The report goes on: Most global reports indicate there to be 34.3 million adults and children living with HIV/AIDS. Of these, 24.5 million reside in Sub-SaharanAfrica. To date, 134 countries reported injection drug use, of which 144 also reported HIV infection among injection drug users. Several of these Theological Education in Contemporary Africa countries reporting injection drug use and HIV infection drug users for the first time, were located in Africa.1 AIDS deaths have left behind many orphans. It is said that AIDS has orphaned about 8.2 million children around the world by the end of 2000. Each year,AIDS deaths create 1.6 million new orphans, of which over 90% of them are found in Africa. With these devastating figures of the infected, affected and HIV/ AIDS related deaths, theological educators are being called upon to respond. Theological reflection needs to be brought to bear in such a way that the churches and education systems will learn to adapt to the major political, economic and social changes and scientific discoveries that have taken place in a world affected by AIDS. A concerted effort is needed from all quarters in the fight against this pandemic. HIV/AIDS’ devastating impact also necessitates intensive education and research programmes in pursuit of the most effective strategies and methods of preventative care, mitigation and a possible cure. Learning in this area needs to be used to reshape our theological curriculum. Real life experience and research have demonstrated that HIV/AIDS affects and permeates every aspect of our lives, social, economic, political, and religious. Our theological colleges are not immune from the need to respond. It is also clear that HIV/AIDS cannot simply be blamed on a lack of individual morality, for many innocent children are born with HIV/AIDS. Some people are infected as they take care of the sick. Unfaithful spouses infect faithful partners and innocent girls and women are infected through rape. Many poor women have to choose between dying of hunger and raising some money through selling sex thus becoming commercial sex workers. Many economically poor governments and nations are unable to provide services for their infected and affected populations. Politically unstable conditions 132 __________________________________________ 1 UNAIDS “Local Responses Satellite Meeting, 9th July 2002: Durban Conference” . and war in many countries create socially displaced people, and make it difficult, if not impossible to reach the people with the message of HIV/AIDS’ prevention and care. In sum, HIV/AIDS has demonstrated that its fertile soil is social injustice.2 The Reality of the War on HIV/AIDS These realities affect both human and national development inAfrica. Consequently, educators, researchers, government and nongovernmental agencies need to emphasize the value of sex education and its impact in the spread of HIV/AIDS. For this reason, educators, including theological educators, should include in their curriculum reflection on issues of poverty, injustice, violence against women, political instability, and inadequate medical care as factors which fuel the spread of HIV/AIDS. The world needs to declare war against this epidemic, which impedes development. Millions have already died through it. So we must now say “no” to its further claim on human lives. Our children must be taught and informed about responsible sexual behaviour and they must also be openly educated about the deadliness of this disease. With proper...