Educating the Church About HIV/AIDS

Educating the Church About HIV/AIDS

HIV/AIDS A Challenge To The Church… How Should The Church Respond?

What would Jesus Do? “And Jesus went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and preaching the gospel of the kingdom, and healing all manner of sickness and all manner of disease among the people.” Matthew 4:23

“Sickness, suffering, and death are work of an antagonistic power. Satan is the destroyer; God is the restorer.”Ministry of Healing, page 113 ‘The thief cometh not but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly” John 10:10

A Ministry of Compassion • “And a certain man was there, which had an infirmity thirty and eight years. When Jesus saw him lie, and knew that he had been now a long time in that case, he saith unto him, Wilt thou be made whole?” John 5: 5&6 • “But when he saw the multitudes, he was moved with compassion on them, because they fainted, and were scattered abroad as sheep having no shepherd.” Matthew 9:36

HIV and AIDS • HIV (the human immunodeficiency virus) causes infection and eventually AIDS (the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome) • The HIV infection gradually destroys the immune system, which makes it harder to ward off infections and some cancers

How Is HIV Spread? • Sexual Activity • Sharing needles used in injecting drugs • Transfusion of infected blood or blood products (low risk in US) • Mothers can transmit to babies before birth, during birth and with breast feeding

How Is HIV NOT Spread? • Shaking hands • Everyday contact at school, work or in social settings • Insects • Touching a doorknob • From pets • From food • Note: the virus does not live long outside the body

Symptoms of HIV Infection • Diarrhea, Fatigue, Fever • Frequent vaginal yeast infections • Headache • Mouth sores • Muscular stiffness or aching • Sore throat • Swollen lymph glands • NO SYMPTOMS • People with HIV may have no symptoms for up to 10 years

HIV and Sexually Transmitted Diseases(STD's) • There is a connection between HIV and other STD's • If a person has another STD (such as syphilis, gonorrhea, or herpes), that person is three to five times more likely to pass HIV to someone else • It is important to be tested for other STD's when being tested for HIV

Symptoms of AIDS • Cancer such as lymphoma, Kaposi's sarcoma • Chronic wasting with weight loss • HIV dementia with mental changes such as memory loss, personality changes • Pneumonia such as that due to Pneumocystis carinii • Tuberculosis • Numerous other types of infections • These symptoms are more severe than those due to early HIV infection

The Global Impact of AIDS/HIV • Over 36 million people now live with HIV or AIDS • 17 million children have been orphaned by AIDS • Currently, about 54% of people infected with HIV know their status • 35 million people have died of AIDS since 1981.

The Impact of AIDS/HIV on America • About 1.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS in America • Since the start of the epidemic more than 698,000 people have died • About 40,000 people are newly infected each year • 12.8% of people infected are unaware of their infection

The Impact of HIV/AIDS on the African American Community • By race African Americans face the most severe burden of HIV infection • More than half of Blacks overall with HIV/AIDS, are men who have sex with men • African Americans while being 12% of the population have accounted for 44% of new cases of HIV/AIDS

Preventing HIV Infection • Abstaining from any sexual contact • Having a mutually faithful monogamous relationship with an HIV free partner • Consistent use of condoms which may reduce risk of infection by 80%, but by no means giving complete protection • Avoid injection of drugs and shared needles • Circumcision in males-this may reduce risk by 60% • Frequent testing for HIV infection for potential exposure so treatment can be given as needed and avoid spreading HIV • Continual education of all young people on the dangers of unsafe sex practices • Taking medications prescribed for HIV infection for an infected person can inhibit new infections in contacts

Getting Tested • By looking in the phone book you can find places to get tested with state and city health departments • Testing is free, anonymous and confidential • Some have advised routine screening for all adolescents and adults-in the future universal screening may be advised

Since 1987, new drugs have been developed to combat the infection and to prevent infection. • The newer drugs do the following: • Prevent HIV infection for someone who is at high risk of getting infected, but is not currently infected due to sexual or other exposure • Prevent infection due to highly possible or known exposure within three days such as a needle stick in a health care worker or other known exposure • Prevent a pregnant women from transmitting the infection to her child prior to delivery, at the time of delivery, and after delivery with breast feeding (done for a six month period of time) • Allow everyone infected with HIV to live longer and better • Careful medical supervision is required

The Good News About HIV/AIDS: Knowledge is Power!

How The Church Can Help… • Educate • Show Compassion • Show that God is love and so is the church!

Our Theme: Live Empowered The More Abundant Life “ The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10 Live longer/better here, plus enter into eternal life Enjoy total health: Physical, Mental, Spiritual, Social The Health Ministry Department Central States Conference of Seventh-day Adventists

Educating the Church About HIV/AIDS