Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #117377

Oscar A. Giordano, MD, MPH, Sub-Saharan Africa, AAIM, Adventist AIDS International Ministry, Africa Office, 30 Peter Place, Lyme Park, Randburg, South Africa, (+27) 11-463-1501, ogiordano@aidsministry.com and Eugenia Giordano, MD, MPH, Sub-Saharan Africa, AAIM - Adventist AIDS International Ministry, Africa Office, 30 Peter Place, Lyme Park, Randburg, Johannesburg, South Africa.

An innovative faith-based approach to the HIV/AIDS epidemic is being implemented by AAIM (Adventist – AIDS International Ministry) in eight countries of the Sub-Saharan Africa since 2003. The goal of this action plan is to use the churches as “support centers for the communities in the fight against HIV and AIDS”. Love and compassion is one of the main components used in the implementation and approach to the infected and affected by this epidemic. This action plan works through “Church based HIV/AIDS support groups” as the active force within the lay membership, which in turn design and carry on the grassroots initiatives to reach the communities. Since its beginning in 2003, this plan has already shown its efficiency in organizing HIV/AIDS competent churches. One of the advantages of this approach is that the participants work on a volunteer basis, assuring continuity and very low operational costs. It has been found that in most of the churches there are many people willing to participate in the outreach to PLWHA (People living with HIV and AIDS), but the reality is that they do not know how to help. This approach gives the opportunity for them to “know how” and to fulfill their mission.

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