Social Development Unit – HIV and AIDS TB and Malaria Programme*:
Contact Person: Emmanuel Olatunji - Coordinator
The initiative to address HIV/AIDS in sub Saharan Africa was the vision of the former Archbishop of Canterbury, The Most Revd. Hon George Carey, and the Primates of the Anglican Communion when they met at Kanuga Conference Center, USA, in March 2001. Devastating reports presented at that meeting on the HIV/AIDS situation in sub-Saharan Africa, moved the Primates to immediately discuss a response to the epidemic. As a result of the action plan of the Primates, the Archbishop of Cape Town, The Most Revd. Njongonkulu Ndungane was asked to organize a workshop for the Provinces of Africa to discuss AIDS. The Council of Anglican Provinces of Africa (CAPA) Archbishops supported the workshop by sending representatives from each of the 12 Provinces and the CAPA General Secretary to the All Africa Anglican Conference on HIV/AIDS, held in Boksburg, South Africa, 13 -16 August 2001.
CAPA HIV/AIDS Vision
We, the Anglican Communion across Africa, pledge ourselves to the promise that
future generations will be born and live in a world free from AIDS.
Mission
Our mission is to respect the dignity of all people by:
- Securing the human rights of those infected by HIV/AIDS, and giving unconditional support
- Improving the health and prolonging the lives of infected people
- Accompanying the dying, those who mourn and those who live on
* Malaria continues to threaten many people in sub Saharan Africa. In July 2004, the CAPA board resolved to address this area of concern. Malaria and TB were hence added to the HIV/AIDS programme.
Programme achievements:
The HIV/AIDS programme has been in operation with a full time coordinator since September 2002. To date, the programme has achieved the following:
Establishment of HIV/AIDS desks - 10 out of the 12 Provinces and the Diocese of Egypt have established HIV/AIDS desks with full time HIV/AIDS coordinators - and where there is no coordinator a CAPA AIDS board member acts as a coordinator.
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PROVINCE
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COORDINATOR
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LANGUAGE
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1
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Indian Ocean
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Mr. Rakotozafy Roger Martin
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French/English
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2
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Kenya
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Mr. Joseph N. Wangai
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English
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3
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Nigeria
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Mr. Emmanuel Olatunji
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English
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4
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Rwanda
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Rev. Francis Karemera
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English/French
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5
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Southern Africa
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Rev. Collin Vivian Jones
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English
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6
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Sudan
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Mrs.Helen Weleya
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English/ Arabic
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7
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Tanzania
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Mrs. Neema Peter Majule
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English/Swahili
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8
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Uganda
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Rev. Sam Ruteikara
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English
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9
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West Africa
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Dr. Jenny Coley (acting)
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English /French
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10
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Egypt
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Dr. Eman Kamal Sabet
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English/Arabic
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11
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Central Africa
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Dr.Pelham Hazeley (acting)
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English
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12
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Burundi
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Mr. Mathias Nkurunziza
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English/French
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13
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DR Congo
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Mr. Albert Baliesima
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Swahili/French
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The All Africa Planning Framework - The programme is guided by a framework developed and approved by representatives from all the CAPA provinces during the
PREVENTION
ABC, Empowering women
& Educating Youth
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DEATH & DYING
Spirituality, Theology,
Rituals, Costs
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COUNSELLING
VCT, PMTCT, Gender Issues
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PASTORAL CARE
Stress, Sexuality, Training
Ethics, Liturgies
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CARE
HBC, PLWHA, Orphans,
Child headed households
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LEADERSHIP
Education, Advocacy
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Boksburg AIDS workshop. The framework highlights six strategic areas of focus for the
Church.
Strategic plans – Kenya, Tanzania, Southern Africa, Nigeria, Burundi, Uganda, and the Indian Ocean have conducted strategic planning sessions with the assistance and facilitation from CAPA. The strategic plans have focused on specific responses by the various Provinces guided by the CAPA HIV/AIDS Framework. The impact of some of the plans is already being felt after the first phase particularly in Southern Africa, Kenya, Nigeria and Tanzania.
Dissemination of information – CAPA has been disseminating information on HIV/AIDS through CAPA News, CAPA e-bulletin and the CAPA website. Many of the receipts of the information forward it to their networks and list serves, resulting in a wider audience. A programme flyer - with key statements from the Primates and CAPA AIDS board has also been circulated widely in Africa and beyond.
Regional HIV/AIDS Workshop – In January 2003, CAPA held the first-ever regional HIV/AIDS skills building workshop for HIV/AIDS coordinators and provincial directors from the 12 CAPA provinces and the diocese of Egypt. A detailed report can be obtain at our web site www.capa-hq.org
Development of resource materials
To date, the programme has produced two training manuals i.e. Leaders Manual and a Stigma and Behavior change manual, which are however yet to be piloted and launched.
Provincial visits
The programme has been able to assess provincial needs and gaps and package them into responses, which - are in the process of being scaled up. The visits have increased the networking between Provinces e.g Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania where the coordinators had time to share their experiences during a strategic planning session in Tanzania. Provincial visits have been conducted in Tanzania, Kenya, Uganda, South Africa, Nigeria, and Indian Ocean.
Direct support to people living with HIV and AIDS
Though operating with minimal funds, the programme has managed to give direct emergency support to a Sudanese clergyman and his wife who are living with HIV and needed urgent medical attention and food supplies. The programme has also linked many others to anti-retroviral access and information.
Provision of funding for computers
Three Provinces namely Kenya, Nigeria and Burundi received funding from the programme to enable them purchase computers for their HIV/AIDS programmes. This was done so as to bridge the communication problem that was being experienced. Information exchange has now improved through e-mail.
Networking
The programme has been able to link with other F/CBO’s addressing HIV/AIDS and sharing experiences across the continent and internationally. Through this, the programme has linked provinces with donors and possible donors for diocesan and community projects.
Presentation at International Conferences
The programme through the HIV/AIDS programme coordinator and AIDS sub committee members has made presentations at international forums like the International Conference on AIDS and STI’s in Africa (ICASA) in September 2003 and at two side events at the 48th UN Session on the Commission on the Status of Women in Feb – March 2004. This has enabled the secretariat to share the work of the Anglican Church in the fight against AIDS as well as identify new areas of interventions like the involvement of men and boys in gender equality.
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