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Testimonies From People Living With HIV/AIDS

The most powerful session during the consultation involved testimonies from PLWHAs. Religious leaders heard from a woman who contracted AIDS from her unfaithful husband, who died in 1999. She wept softly as she told her story, sharing that one of her children also has AIDS as a result. This woman, who was very active in the church, has been completely ostracized as a result of her status and has lost the support of the community who once embraced her. She urged the church not to blame the victims and to treat people with respect and humanity. "Too many people are suffering at the hands of the church because of stigma," she said, "You like us when we're fit, but when we're in trouble, you forget us."

In another testimony, a man who was working on HIV/AIDS prevention in his community shared his story. He was infected last year and found out when he got tested randomly. He asked the bishops, pastors, and other church leaders to help those infected and affected and to teach those who haven't been infected. He spoke of HIV/AIDS from his perspective: Many people are infected in the streets and in the countryside and they must get tested, but the church is the vehicle for encouraging people to do so. Many people are dying because no one is taking care of them and the church has completely turned its back on so many. There needs to be more counseling in the churches. Churches must help take care of widows and orphans. When someone dies, the churches must take care of the economic welfare of those remaining without hesitation. Finally, he begged the church to create safe spaces for testing and counseling because the intensity of the shame, stigma, and denial keeps people silent.

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