Page 35 - PC Winter 2023-24

presbyterian.ca
WINTER 2023
Connection
PRESBYTERIAN WORLD SERVICE & DEVELOPMENT
PRESBYTERIAN
35
Addressing HIV and AIDS in Malawi
Lita would sometimes default on her treatment, which affected her health adversely. In 2020, she took part in HBC training that EHAP conducted with support from PWS&D. Lita then joined a support group of people living with HIV and AIDS, where she continued to receive counselling from hospital staff and home- based care volunteers. Lita has joined other people living with HIV and AIDS in educating com- munity members to prevent HIV. “I am now healthy and able to do my work at home which I was not able to do,” she shares.
The partnership between EHAP and PWS&D has had a great im- pact in the communities where the hospital works. The home- based care program has helped slow disease progress among people living with AIDS, includ- ing chronically ill people who care for orphans and vulnerable children. Community members have been involved in stigma re- duction activities; consequently, attitudes toward individuals with HIV have improved and the spirit of love and community care has increased for all, regardless of HIV status.
By Lumbani Mahemane Chirwa, EHAP HIV/AIDS Coordinator
The Ekwendeni Hospital AIDS Program (EHAP) has been work- ing with PWS&D for nearly two decades to address HIV and AIDS in Malawi by increasing under- standing of issues of prevention, stigma and transmission of HIV. In target communities, EHAP is working to prevent further spread of HIV and provide continuous care to infected and affected peo- ple and families.
HIV and AIDS context
The HIV and AIDS epidemic poses a very serious social, health and economic problem in Malawi and continues to spread despite the efforts of the Malawi government. According to a 2019 UNAIDS report, an estimated one mil- lion people were living with HIV, while 13,000 people died from
AIDS-related illness, and 38,000 new infections were reported at a national level. HIV prevalence was higher among women (10.5%) than among men (7.1%), dem- onstrating that women, who are already vulnerable to other social and economic challenges, contin- ue to bear a higher burden of HIV than men. This requires continu- ous effort to fight and reduce the spread of the disease.
Statistics at Ekwendeni Hospi- tal show that out of 7,214 people tested for HIV in 2022, 104 tested HIV positive, which represents 1.4% of the population against the 8.9% national prevalence rate. The HIV and AIDS prevalence rate has been on a decline since 2007, when the Ekwendeni Hospital catchment area rate was 9.4%.
EHAP response
to HIV and AIDS
In response to the ongoing is-
sue of HIV and AIDS, EHAP has implemented several projects in partnership with PWS&D. These projects are aimed at HIV preven- tion awareness, stigma reduction, and links to care and treatment for HIV infected individuals.
A key strategy to mitigating the impact of the HIV and AIDS pandemic has been the home- based care approach for patients. The approach involves training community volunteers on home- based palliative care (HBC). Once their training is complete, they form support groups within their communities and meet regularly for group therapies.
The approach has been highly successful in managing disease burden at the community level. Community volunteers can care for patients by providing assis- tance that helps to keep patients clean and prevent bedsores, pre- vent malaria, and help patients
Lita Mvula has received care and support through her involvement in EHAP’s home-based care program for people living with HIV and AIDS.
overcome the effects of HIV/ AIDS-related stigma and dis- crimination. Home-based care also helps patients maintain their medication regimens.
Lita Mvula, who is 50 years old, tested positive for HIV and began antiretroviral (ARV) therapy in 2019. Although Lita started treatment, she still lived in fear of her HIV status being discov- ered, so she kept herself isolated. Due to fears of discrimination, should people learn she had HIV when she picked up her drugs,
Journey for Hope: Uniting for Food Security
By Stephanie Chunoo, PWS&D Communications
This year, 11 teams hailing from three provinces took action against food insecurity by raising awareness and funds for critical food security programs through PWS&D’s annual Journey for Hope event.
The fundraiser involved various activities, including cycling, run- ning, walking, a soup lunch and
Team Lightning Bolt has happily sup- ported PWS&D for eight years and loves making a difference.
more. Each team tackled their chosen challenge. Dedication and a sense of purpose quickly at- tracted the support of individuals, congregations and the broader community, encouraging people to open their hearts and turn their passion into a force for change. Journey for Hope raised almost $30,000—50% over our initial goal!
Victoria Banfield, team cap- tain of Team Lightning Bolt of Markham, Ont., shares, “Team Lightning Bolt was thrilled to be able to participate in J4H again this year. As a team, we have been riding and walking to raise funds for PWS&D since 2016, and we feel blessed to be able to continue to bring attention to important causes affecting those most in need. This year, our friends and family supported us so that we could bring the total we have raised [as a team], in 8 years, to over $25,000. We really appreciate having the chance to help others in a tangible way. We love supporting PWS&D, know- ing how hard they are working to bring about a just and equitable world.”
The Sunday school crew of Team Nanaimo Bars from Nanaimo, B.C., pedalled their bikes all around their church parking lot, spreading joy and raising support for PWS&D’s food se- curity projects.
Hearts for the Hungry at Trinity Presbyterian Church in Campbell River, B.C., hosted a luncheon as an opportunity for fellowship and
to raise awareness about food in- security. Team captain Anne Kerr shares, “Members of the congre- gation volunteered to make soup and a local grocery store donated buns. Display boards were set up with information on different types of help given throughout the world, depending on circum- stances.” She adds, “Our team webpage had been set up with a goal of $1,500. As this was our first year hosting this event, we had no idea how well the congre- gation would respond. Trinity has always been a mission-minded congregation, but it excelled itself this time around. Over $4,100 was raised.”
The need is urgent
Food security is an essential hu- man right, yet a significant por- tion of the global population is food insecure, without access to high-quality and sufficient nour- ishment. Food-related humani- tarian crises are exacerbated by conflict and extreme climate conditions. In addition, this issue substantially impacts women and girls, who comprise 60 percent of those grappling with hunger
worldwide. When women are de- prived of access to proper nutri- tion, the implications are severe, resulting in elevated maternal and infant mortality rates.
Your participation and sup- port for Journey for Hope ena- bles PWS&D to actively respond to hunger through food security projects in places like Haiti, Gua- temala and Malawi. Funds also help provide emergency food assistance in countries that are extremely vulnerable, including Afghanistan, Yemen, Syria, So- malia, South Sudan and Ethiopia.
Thank you for your unwavering support. We hope you’ll join us next year!
Hearts for the Hungry in Campbell River, B.C., raised awareness of the different types of food security.