International News Africa: AIDS Fight May Be Changed by Religious Care for OrphansSeptember 25, 2003 A survey of 505 religious organizations operating in six
African nations showed that 95 percent support orphans, working
almost entirely without outside funds, a finding that UNICEF
officials said could alter the way the world fights AIDS by
encouraging more funding for small congregations. The joint
UNICEF and World Conference of Religions for Peace survey found
that more than half of the congregations and groups had started
to help orphans within the last four years.
Adapted from:The report was released during the 13th International Conference on AIDS and Sexually Transmitted Infections in Africa, being held in Nairobi. UNICEF officials said the report would probably prompt health workers to survey the work being done by small faith-based groups and to become closer partners with them. The officials also said UNICEF would likely use the report to encourage country directors worldwide to increase their faith-based group contacts. Geoff Foster, a Zimbabwean pediatrician who compiled the survey, and colleagues focused on Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, Swaziland, and Uganda. The six southern and eastern African countries are estimated to have 5.8 million orphans, representing 12-17 percent of all children. Roughly half lost one or both parents because of AIDS. Of the 505 groups, 71 percent provided food or clothing; two-thirds gave school assistance; and more than half worked on HIV prevention with the orphans. They also visited orphans in their homes, established orphanages and day-care centers, and provided medical care, counseling and psychological support. The groups asked for more resources and training on AIDS issues, said Foster. "Muslims are reaching to Christians, and Christians are helping Muslims," Nicolette Moodie, a UNICEF specialist on HIV/AIDS in South Africa, said of the groups helping children. "We also want to watch out for proselytizing, but we haven't found that," she said. Boston Globe 09.24.03; John Donnelly This article was provided by CDC National Prevention Information Network. It is a part of the publication CDC HIV/Hepatitis/STD/TB Prevention News Update.
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