A Holistic Approach to HIV and AIDS in Africa, Marco Moerschbacher, Joseph Kato, Pius Rutechura (eds.), 160 p. Paulines Publications Africa, Nairobi 2008.
 
ISBN 9966-08-338-3

Leseprobe: Caring and Sharing ...

(Marco Moerschbacher)

During the 15th Plenary Assembly that took place in Uganda in June 2005, Bishops of the Association of Member Episcopal Conferences in Eastern Africa (AMECEA) came out with a common framework of responding the challenges of HIV/AIDS in the region. The call was to increase efforts of fighting the pandemic by using the values found in the Gospel and in the Church's Social Teachings.
The HIV/AIDS pandemic has affected our way of being Church. The real concern facing us is: How can we build a living Church in the face of HIV/AIDS? How can the Church preach the Gospel of Hope while confronting imminent death? Cure, care, and prevention of the HIV/AIDS pandemic are key concerns where solidarity and collaboration are essential for saving lives and bringing hope to the infected and affected people. In offering these people understanding and a loving presence, we must offer a holistic care that demands a complete and integrated response to the needs of each human person ranging from the spiritual, physical, psychological to the social and material.

These series of articles, that are the fruit of an Interdisciplinary Research Group, will surely help us in making an examination of conscience on what more can be done in fighting HIV/AIDS. This publication complements the National Conference Reports that provide details on actual activities that have been carried out at various levels to fight the HIV/AIDS pandemic.

HIV/AIDS is a scourge that is fatally wounding Africa in her flesh. The Church as a channel of fullness of life in Christ cannot but be engaged totally in fighting this evil. When we minister to our brothers and sisters who are infected and affected by HIV/AIDS, we truly manifest our love for God.   

(Cover text)