A workshop attended by 130 members of the Anglican Church of Tanzania was held over a 3-day period in Dar es Salaam in November, 2000. G.R.A.C.E. was fortunate to collaborate with Dr. Michael Burke, who spearheaded the initial workshop and has done most of the follow-up site visits to partner organization attendees of our Integrated Training workshops.
At the initial workshop, the participants were poised to explore and begin to define the role of the Anglican Church in responding to HIV/AIDS in Tanzania. This workshop proved to be the first time that a religious group spoke up clearly in support of the posture of the Ministry of Health. In this context, it was a ground-breaking event which we hope will lead to significant behavioral change at all community levels. The Anglican Archbishop, Donald Mtetemela recognized that the church needed to increase its response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic. He stated that "counseling and general pastoral care, together with scientific knowledge and good practice will be central to the HIV response by the Anglican Church."
Organizers meet in Dar Es Salaam to plan the Anglican Church of Tanzania’s workshop "Act Now to Prevent HIV/AIDS". This Integrated Training took place in November, 2000.
Bishop Dr. Gerald Mpango affirmed that "AIDS is not a punishment from God," as he spoke of the misconceptions which led to stigmatization by the church of the HIV-infected. Among his statements was the comment that the church needed to produce materials for educating children. These materials had to be acceptable for use in secular classrooms and therefore, could not be excessively religious. While recognizing that for some who, through weakness, were not able to depend on abstinence or fidelity, condoms were necessary to prevent HIV transmission.
According to Dr. Michael Burke, our workshop in Tanzania produced a number of “ripple effects":
The invitation (accepted) to ACT Archbishop Donald Mtetemela to meet with President Clinton in the White House on December 1, 2000, World AIDS Day.
The Futures Group International Tanzanian POLICY Project follow up with the BAKWATTA (Islamic Council of Tanzania) organization toward replicating with them the work they had witnessed with the Anglicans the previous November.
Dr. Burke is also assembling a Tanzanian Interfaith Association to enable a combined religious seat on the newly formed Tanzanian AIDS Programme.
Thanks to the American Foundation for AIDS Research (AmFAR), Global Strategies for HIV Prevention, and Global AIDS Interfaith Alliance (GAIA), for their financial aid in support of this workshop.
Justina, a nurse from Sengerema, Tanzania, provides home-based care to HIV patients. She is seen here discussing her HIV/AIDS programs in her community.
Maryknoll Sister Sylvia Elaine Postles with a family during a site visit to a home-based care program run by Integrated Training participant Sister Peg Donovan iin Sengerema, Tanzania.
Tanzania
