The Meserete Kristos Church, an MCC partner in Ethiopia, has an HIV/AIDS Support Group as part of its AIDS programming. Some members of the group have formed a choir, composed entirely of people living with HIV/AIDS. The choir travels from church to church to share their music and their message.
The United Nations recently reported that AIDS remains on the increase worldwide. The number of people living with AIDS is over 33 million. At the same time there are hopeful reports of the spread of AIDS being brought under control, for example, in several East African countries. Still, AIDS increasingly impacts women and young girls more than any other group. Their effort to fight for their own lives and dignity against this deadly disease can not be overstated.
Mennonite Central Committee continues to support work being done through the Generations at Risk Program to combat the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Generations at Risk responds in 4 key areas: care for orphans and vulnerable children, homecare for patients not able to be in hospital, awareness and prevention education, and blood testing kits for medical clinics.
About…Generations at Risk
Seven years ago MCC, at the request of African partner organizations and churches, began an initiative called Generations at Risk. This initiative focuses on raising money and materials for supporting partners, churches and communities in addressing the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Generations at Risk funds the support of:
orphans and vulnerable children
awareness and prevention education
homecare support for patients not able to be in hospital
blood testing kits and medical supplies for clinics and hospitals
The goal for Generations at Risk is to raise 2 million dollars every year, which is used to support more than 60 Generations at Risk projects in over 30 countries around the world.
About…HIV/AIDS
Human Immunodeficiency Virus, or HIV, is the virus that leads to Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome, or AIDS. HIV cannot survive outside of the body. A person can be infected with HIV through:
-shared needles or equipment for injecting drugs
-unsterilized needles for tattooing, skin piercing, acupuncture, or drug injection
-transfusion of contaminated blood
-pregnancy, child delivery or breast feeding (HIV+ mother-to-child transmission)
-occupational exposure in health care settings
-unprotected sexual intercourse
Over a period of years, HIV weakens the body’s immune system to the point where it can no longer fight infection. On average, it takes 10 years to progress from an initial HIV infection to AIDS. People can live for a number of years with no external sign or symptom of the disease, and may unknowingly infect others. The only way to know if you have the virus is to have an HIV blood test done.
When the body can no longer fight infection, the disease is known as AIDS. The infections associated with AIDS are called “opportunistic” because they take advantage of the body’s weakened immune system. It is those opportunistic infections, and not AIDS, that causes death. Malaria and TB are two of the biggest opportunistic diseases that take advantage of the HIV Virus.
Since 1981, 65 million people have been infected with AIDS. 25 million people have died of AIDS-related illnesses. Between 8,000 and 10,000 a day. Approximately a Tsunami every 30 days. In 2006, 4.3 million new infections were reported, and 2.9 million AIDS-related deaths. Today, 33 million people are living with HIV – half of them are women and girls. 15 million children have lost one or both parents to AIDS-related illnesses. At least 60,000 Canadians are currently suffering from HIV/AIDs
Common HIV/AIDS Acronyms
PLWHA: People Living With HIV/AIDS
ARV Medication: Anti-retroviral Medication
VCT: Voluntary Counseling and Testing
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