Education on HIV/AIDS to congregations, schools and local communities
|
Donations |
|
To make an online gift to this project click  here and select Ghana - HIV/AIDS Education from the designation list. To make a gift by check to this project click here. |
Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana is an established partner of Global Ministries, having been founded in the 1840's by German missionaries. The denomination is one of Africa's oldest self-governing churches and has strong roots in the Evangelical and Reformed tradition. The EP Church, Ghana includes approximately 600,000 members and 512 congregations. The EP Church, Ghana is very committed to its spirituality and social action ministries. Global Ministries supports the Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana in programs of church expansion, education and service.
Along with all of Africa, Ghana is severely affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic. The first HIV/AIDS cases were officially reported in Ghana in March 1986. By 1994, it was estimated by the Ghanaian National AIDS Control Program that 400,000 Ghanaians between the ages of 15-49 were living with HIV. If the current rates of infection are continued, it is predicted that by 2005 more than 1.2 million Ghanaians will be living with HIV. There are a number of factors that facilitate and increase the spread of the disease such as behaviors of casual, unprotected sex; multiple partners; intravenous drug use; and commercial sex workers. There also are superstitions, supposed "miracle cures," and the fear of the social stigma caused by HIV/AIDS. An additional factor in the spreading of HIV is that an individual can live for eight to ten years without showing any symptoms.
The African continent is home to 10 percent of the world's population, but yet 70 percent of the world's HIV/AIDS infections. Not only is Africa the worst affected but it also has the lowest access to health care.
The Evangelical Presbyterian Church, Ghana is ministering to the tremendous challenges of HIV/AIDS. Since 1997, its program, HIV/AIDS Intervention Activities, have been part of the church's programs at local and district levels without much emphasis and success. Since 2001 with support from Global Ministries, the HIV/AIDS Intervention Activities have gained momentum, especially among the youth, the most vulnerable group to the disease.
The EP Church, Ghana's HIV/AIDS Intervention Activities cover all areas of the country where the church has members, but it especially concentrates on seven specific high-risk areas that were chosen as pilot districts. These districts include Nkwanta, Jasikan, Hohoe, Kpedze, Dzelukofe, Aflao, and Ho. Most of these districts are border towns sharing frontier with the Republic of Togo. The arrival of immigrants across the borders places these communities in an especially high-risk location.
The project team is composed of five members: Reverend Richard Nimo, Coordinator; Beatrice Senoo, Radio Broadcaster; Portia Gbadago, Computer Secretary; Freeman Gobah, Peer Educator; and Mary Tekpor, Medical Personnel. Other resource people were recruited from the pilot districts.
The target groups for HIV/AIDS Intervention Activities in 2002 and 2003 were youth ages 15-49, along with church leaders, pastors, and traditional rulers. These programs provide informed knowledge about HIV/AIDS through education in churches, schools, and communities to reduce the risk of infection through behavioral change and the practice of protected sex. They also encourage the church, communities, and youth to start compassion campaigns toward people living with HIV/AIDS.
Major activities and programs carried out during 2002-2003 in the selected districts included:
 Workshops and Seminars
About 50 Christian and Muslim youth leaders were trained as peer educators to work and talk with youth to provide information on HIV/AIDS. Church and community leaders, including pastors, were selected and trained for workshops and seminars that were usually held for three days. Participants received information and education on the different ways HIV/AIDS is transmitted, symptoms of sexually transmitted disease (STDs) and HIV, and methods of practicing protected sex. Youth also learn how important their roles are in combating HIV/AIDS and developing healthy friendships and lifestyles. Issues of showing compassion to people living with HIV/AIDS are also discussed.
Drama
In churches, community centers, and villages dramas were acted out to communicate the message of healthy lifestyles and ways to avoid infection of the disease. Dramas also showed the need for compassion to persons infected with HIV/AIDS and to their families.
Film Shows
In all of the pilot districts and schools, participants watched videos about the signs and symptoms of HIV/AIDS and STDs, and the devastating consequences. There were also videos showing people with positive attitudes of love, care, and compassion to persons infected with HIV/AIDS and to their families. The films made "seeing is believing" a reality and were very popular with the youth. They provided good platforms for group discussion on issues of sexuality and related matters, and for making informed appropriate lifestyle choices.
Formation of Anti HIV/AIDS Clubs
In schools, colleges, and churches, the youth were encouraged to form and join positive lifestyle clubs such as the Abstinence Club, True Love Waits Club, My Life Club, and My Hope Club. The main aim of these clubs is to encourage youth to keep an abstinence pledge until they are mature enough for marriage. They often meet with peer educators and mentors to discuss issues on sexuality and to reaffirm their pledges to live healthy lifestyles.
Evaluation assessments of the HIV/AIDS Intervention Activities were conducted on an ongoing basis. These have shown the importance of the programs and that they are successful. Progress has been made in correcting the misconceptions about HIV/AIDS, in order for informed decisions and choices to be made. Churches and leaders are now more willing to use their pulpits to address issues on HIV/AIDS. The compassion shown now in communities has removed some of the stigma and isolation associated with the disease. This has encouraged some HIV positive patients to declare their status. More youth now have the courage to go for voluntary counseling and testing for HIV. Positive lifestyle oriented clubs and support groups have been formed to support these programs. Because of forming these programs, The Evangelical Presbyterian Church now has a HIV/AIDS policy to guide the principles around HIV/AIDS in the entire church.
Next steps in this ministry of the EP Church, Ghana center around project multiplication and expansion. Besides continuing the youth behavioral-change programs and education, home-based care for people living with HIV/AIDS is needed. There also are plans to expand existing vocational skills training programs in order to reach more youth dealing with unemployment—lack of family income leads to poverty, making these youth more vulnerable to HIV and other diseases. The EP Church, Ghana's HIV/AIDS Intervention Activities also seeks equipment for the storage of vital information and statistics for quick reference, and needs to continually facilitate travel to pilot areas.
For More Information
General Contact
Special Projects
Resource Development
,
317-713-2555
gifts@dom.disciples.org
|
