1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Declaration | Nigeria Map

Interfaith Initiative with Christian and Muslim Leaders in Abuja

Moving forward with the momentum created in Lagos, The Balm In Gilead team left for the capital city of Abuja, which is a one-hour plane ride north of Lagos. Abuja is about 15 years old and is the center of government. This city has a completely different feel than Lagos, with open roads, plenty of space, and trees, grass, and flowers everywhere. Though the environment was different, the commitment to and intensity of the work remained the same.

About 50 religious leaders from six different states came for the Interfaith Initiative at the Shehu Musa Yar'Adua Centre. There were equal numbers of men and women, all eager to empower churches and mosques to take a leadership role in stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS and to support those infected and affected by the virus. "With the words of God and the faith He has given every one of us, we can conquer this disease," said Professor I. Akinsete, Chair of the National Action Committee on AIDS in Nigeria.

The professor continued, "The picture is bleak, but not enough people realize the gravity of this problem." She added, "HIV/AIDS should not be perceived as an 'urban disease.' In some parts of Nigeria, the numbers for urban and rural areas are the same or very close, and in other parts, the numbers are higher in rural areas. HIV/AIDS has affected every community in Nigeria. If we fold our hands and do nothing, the population of those infected will reach 4 million by 2005. In 1990, the number of AIDS deaths was practically zero when compared to other causes of death, but by 2005 AIDS will be responsible for more than 50% of all deaths in Nigeria."

Leaders agreed they could not continue to deny the existence of this disease within their country's borders. They spoke of taking a multisectoral approach - from the highest levels of government on down to grassroots community action - to remove the socio-cultural barriers in communities that perpetuate the spread of HIV/AIDS and remove the information barriers in congregations that keep people from knowing all the facts. There is no denying the situation is grim. It's an emergency. There is no cure. But prevention is the key and The Balm In Gilead was eager to share its history of experience and information.

"In Harlem, I was amazed at the numbers of people dying from HIV/AIDS with no one from the church stepping forward. This was not right. If we must mobilize black people, it has to be done through faith and with the involvement of folks of all faiths and religious backgrounds," said Pernessa Seele. She continued, "Black people all over the world are in a state of emergency. HIV/AIDS is not just in Nigeria - it's everywhere. This epidemic is 100% preventable and 100% out of control in black communities everywhere. There is nothing wrong with us. There are conditions we've been living with - poverty, denial, miseducation, no education, limited resources, and no resources - that help keep this disease spreading."

Reverend Evatt Mugarura, Project Director of The Balm's Africa HIV/AIDS Faith Initiative, said his home country, Uganda, is a model for the world to follow. "Christians and Muslims were at the forefront of this fight," said Mugarura. He continued, "We must tell the world that black people are doing something about HIV/AIDS. We need to tell what our churches are doing, we must tell our own stories, and we must show how we're all connected. We're here to support you. We're talking about human suffering and the role the religious leaders need to play in this black health emergency."

The Balm In Gilead Board Chair, Erline Belton, facilitated a rich and informative discussion about what Muslims and Christians are doing in their own communities and in partnership with one another to fight HIV/AIDS.

In the Muslim faith, Imams reach their followers by organizing seminars where combating the stigma associated with HIV/AIDS is a key issue. They also work specifically with women and young people on education campaigns. They've been using the experiences of Uganda and working with people living with HIV and AIDS to move their programs forward. They've instituted counseling programs and started their own Muslim-Christian partnerships. And they run clinics and hospices.

Catholics are building human resources to address the epidemic, holding national workshops, and also dealing with stigma, denial and discrimination. They have mounted campaigns in schools, they work with women's groups, provide care and support for those who are infected, supply basic resources, train counselors and encourage those who are HIV-positive to support testing programs by becoming counselors. They are setting up clinics in all the dioceses and sending representatives to learn from South Africa and Kenya.

"There is a real need for both faiths to meet on positive developments like this," said the Bishop of the Anglican Church of Nigeria. He continues, "This kind of meeting can promote peace and programs. So, thanks to The Balm In Gilead for coming to assist us. This is better than fighting each other and burning our churches and mosques! We are inheritors of religion by chance, but we are all Nigerians," he stated.

It was agreed that there should be increased dialogue across faiths around HIV/AIDS. Religious leaders concluded that HIV/AIDS and sexuality education should be discussed in marriage counseling and taught in schools. It was further agreed that Muslims and Catholics should share how each has organized through regular meetings, updates and by exchanging success stories. Finally, leaders decided that a resource center for use by the various faith groups as well as a platform for Christian and Muslim youths to come together should be established.

"Everybody tells us what we're not doing, but from what I've seen we're doing a lot!" Ms. Seele remarked. She added, "Most of us don't know what each other is doing in this fight. We need to tell our own stories. HIV is not a sin. It's a disease!"

1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Declaration | Nigeria Map