Making a difference in Africa

In 2010, around 390,000 children under 15 became infected with HIV, mainly through mother-to-child transmission. About 90% of children living with HIV reside in sub-Saharan Africa where, in the context of a high child mortality rate, AIDS accounts for 8 percent of all under-five deaths in the region.

Tassie & Mary Magdalene This is Mary Magdalene, born 13 August 2010 in Yola, eastern Nigeria (pictured with our International Coordinator, Tassie Ghata). Mary Magdalene’s mother, Muyalda Sunday, is HIV positive but Mary Magdalene was born HIV negative. In many ways Mary Magdalene was lucky because 15-30% of babies born to HIV positive mothers become infected during pregnancy if the mother is not taking antiretroviral drugs. A further 5-20% become infected through breastfeeding after birth.

Muyalda Sunday is a Grace & Light member and knew her status before she gave birth. Grace & Light helped her to access ARV drugs to minimize the risks. More importantly her fellow Grace & Light members supported her as she lived openly with HIV. It becomes very obvious that a woman is HIV positive when she is bottle feeding her baby, such is the social pressure to breastfeed. This is another example where Grace & Light is making a practical difference to the lives of Africans.

Grace & Light's approach to HIV

Grace & Light takes a unique church-centred approach to the HIV pandemic; we integrate prevention, care, support and attitude change activities in communities through local churches.

We believe that the HIV/AIDS pandemic is more than a medical emergency; it is also a spiritual and moral crisis. Indeed the spiritual and moral issues go deeper than the medical ones in both developed and developing nations.

Thus we have constructed a response that tackles all three areas. In Grace & Light medical personnel and theologians work together to transform lives through our three principles grace, openness and love.

We work through local churches of any denomination. They are rooted in their communities and retain respect, a potent combination in the fight against HIV & AIDS.

The process begins with the minister and leaders; we only go into churches with their active support. Then we address the entire congregation during a service, giving basic information about the virus, preaching the gospel and challenging people.

That challenge begins with HIV testing on the church premises for all who are interested. Two options are offered; standard confidential testing or openness – sharing your results with other people in the church who have also chosen to be open.

All who choose the second option make three commitments, to:

• Belong to Christ in the gospel
• Be open about their HIV status, whether positive or negative
• Meet together regularly in small groups to support and encourage each other.