Church’s Role in Prevention, Care and Management of HIV and AIDS in Western Kenya Case of Vihiga and Busia Districts
Main Article Content
Keywords
role of the Church, HIV and AIDS, prevention and management of HIV and AIDS, Western Kenya
Abstract
The mandate of this essay is two-fold. First, it pays attention to the role of the Church in the care of persons living with HIV and AIDS and the affected. Secondly, it examines the efforts of the Church in prevention and management of HIV and AIDS in Western Kenya. The strategies used by the Church in achieving these two facets therefore forms the basis of the discussion. The viability of these approaches has been discoursed analytically as a basis for providing suggestions that might inform the church leaders and members to rethink the strategies relevant in responding to HIV and AIDS. The discussions are framed under the concept of holistic care and development for humanity. Primary data is sourced from two purposively sampled districts: Vihiga and Busia in Western Kenya. 52 randomly sampled churches provide the sample size from which examples were drawn. As a way forward, given the numerous challenges that the churches face while responding to HIV within communities, we advocate for an integrated approach where churches can borrow strategies that work best from their counterparts.
Article Metrics Graph
References
African Jesuit AIDS network (2005). AIDS and the church in Africa. Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa.
AMECEA (1989). African ecclesial review. Eldoret: Gaba Publications.
Belshaw, D. (2001). Faith in development. California: Regnum Books International. https://doi.org/10.1596/0-8213-4848-5
Dortzbach, D. (ed.) (1996) AIDS in Africa: The church's opportunity. Nairobi: MAP International.
Byamugisha, G. (2000) Breaking the silence on HIV/AIDS in Africa: How can religious institutions talk about sexual matters in their communities? Tricolour designers & printers. Kampala.
Chitando, Ezra (2008). The Ecumenical HIC and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA) and the Mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS in the Theological Programmes. In Chitando, E. (Ed). Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in Theological Education. Experiences and Explorations. WCC, Geneva.
Howlands, S. (2001). "The social mission of the church: Its changing context" In Peter C. (ed) The gift of the church: A text book on ecclesiology in honour of Patrick Grenfield O.S.B. Collegeville: Liturgical Press.
Kamanzi, M. (2007). Solidarity, a new categorical imperative, in, Benezet Bujo and Michael Czerny (eds.) AIDS in Africa, theological reflections". Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa.
Kanyandago, P. (2005). Is God Africa?: Theological reflection on the AIDS scourge. In, Nahashon Ndung'u and Philomena Mwaura (eds): Challenges and prospects of the church in Africa: Theological reflections of the 21st century. Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publication Africa.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (2010). 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 1A. Nairobi: KNBS.
Khamalwa, W. (2006). Religion, traditional healers, and the AIDS pandemic in Uganda.
In Chepkwony, A. (ed.) Religion and health in Africa: Reflections for theology in the 21st century. Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publications Africa.
McDonald, E. (1994). Theology in a time of AIDS. Ireland: Irish Theological QuarterlynMinistry of Finance and Planning (2002). National Development Plan (2002-2008). Nairobi: G.O.K Printers.
NACC & NASCOP (2012). The Kenya AIDS epidemic update 2011. National AIDS Control Council. Nairobi: NASCOP.
NASCOP (2004). National HIV prevalence in Kenya: Report of a technical group harmonizing, 'sentinel surveillance' and 'Kenya demographic and health survey', HIV prevalence estimates. Nairobi, NASCOP, 2004.
NASCOP National HIV prevalence in Kenya. Nairobi: NASCOP, 2003.
Nicolson, R. (1996) God in AIDS? London: SCM Press Ltd.
Odundo, p. & Owino, W. (2004). HIV & AIDS scourge in Nyanza province: Culture, poverty and behavioural change. Nairobi, Kenya: Regal Press Kenya.
Orobator, A. (2005). From crisis to kairos, the mission of the church in time of HIV & AIDS refugees and poverty. Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publication Africa.
Otaala, B. (2003). HIV & AIDS: Government leaders in Namibia responding to the HIV & AIDS epidemic. Windhoek, Namibia: University of Namibia Press.
PANUS (1996). AIDS Briefing no. 4.
Pattison, S. (1990) "The judgment of AIDS" in Woodward James (ed.), Embracing the chaos: Theological responses to AIDS. London, England: SPCK.
Russell, L. (ed.) (1990). The church with AIDS; Renewal in the midst of crisis. Louisville: Westminster Press.
Shisanya, C. (2002). The impact of HIV & AIDS on women in Kenya' In Getui, M. & Theuri, M. (eds) Quests for abundant life in Africa. Nairobi, Kenya: Acton Publishers.
Shorter A. & Onyancha E. (1998). The church and AIDS in Africa: A case study-Nairobi city: Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publication Africa.
Singh C. (2004). HIV & AIDS: Social and ethical issues. Delhi, India. Lt. Col A Banerjee. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-1237(04)80096-0
Slattery, H. (2004). HIV & AIDS: A call to action; Responding as Christians. Rensend Edition Nairobi: Paulines Publication.
Tinkansiimire, T. (2005). Prospects and challenges for the Catholic Church in the 21st century. In Ndung'u N. & Mwaura P. (eds) Challenges and the prospects of the church in Africa: Theological reflections of the 21st century. Nairobi: Paulines Publications.
UCAN & PANACET (2010). Situation Analysis of Church Response to HIV/AIDS in Uganda. A collaborative study done by Uganda Christian Aids Network (UCAN) and Pan Afircan Christian AIDS Network (PANACET), http://pacanet.net/newsite/wpcontent/uploads/2012/10/Uganda_Report.pdf, accessed 18 January 2015.
UNAIDS (2002). Report on the global HIV & AIDS epidemic. Geneva: UNAIDS.
U.S agency for international development (1996). AIDSCAP/family health international, socioeconomic impact and policy implications, USA: Family International AIDSCAP.
Wamue, G. (2002).'Women and AIDS in Kenya: Some general observations" in Getui, M & Theuri, M. (eds) (2002). Quests for Abundant Life in Africa. Nairobi, Acton Publishers.
WCC (2002). Facing AIDS: The challenge; the church's response. Geneva, Switzerland: WCC Publications.
Williams, G. Ng'ang'a, L. and Ngugi, J. (2005). Youth to youth: HIV prevention and young people in Kenya: Strategies for hope. Vol. 13.
Woodward J (ed.) (1990). Embracing the chaos: Theological responses to AIDS. London: SPCK.
Wolf , L. (2001). Ethical dimensions of HIV & AIDS. San Francisco: University of San Francisco.
AMECEA (1989). African ecclesial review. Eldoret: Gaba Publications.
Belshaw, D. (2001). Faith in development. California: Regnum Books International. https://doi.org/10.1596/0-8213-4848-5
Dortzbach, D. (ed.) (1996) AIDS in Africa: The church's opportunity. Nairobi: MAP International.
Byamugisha, G. (2000) Breaking the silence on HIV/AIDS in Africa: How can religious institutions talk about sexual matters in their communities? Tricolour designers & printers. Kampala.
Chitando, Ezra (2008). The Ecumenical HIC and AIDS Initiative in Africa (EHAIA) and the Mainstreaming of HIV and AIDS in the Theological Programmes. In Chitando, E. (Ed). Mainstreaming HIV and AIDS in Theological Education. Experiences and Explorations. WCC, Geneva.
Howlands, S. (2001). "The social mission of the church: Its changing context" In Peter C. (ed) The gift of the church: A text book on ecclesiology in honour of Patrick Grenfield O.S.B. Collegeville: Liturgical Press.
Kamanzi, M. (2007). Solidarity, a new categorical imperative, in, Benezet Bujo and Michael Czerny (eds.) AIDS in Africa, theological reflections". Nairobi: Paulines Publications Africa.
Kanyandago, P. (2005). Is God Africa?: Theological reflection on the AIDS scourge. In, Nahashon Ndung'u and Philomena Mwaura (eds): Challenges and prospects of the church in Africa: Theological reflections of the 21st century. Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publication Africa.
Kenya National Bureau of Statistics (2010). 2009 Kenya Population and Housing Census: Volume 1A. Nairobi: KNBS.
Khamalwa, W. (2006). Religion, traditional healers, and the AIDS pandemic in Uganda.
In Chepkwony, A. (ed.) Religion and health in Africa: Reflections for theology in the 21st century. Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publications Africa.
McDonald, E. (1994). Theology in a time of AIDS. Ireland: Irish Theological QuarterlynMinistry of Finance and Planning (2002). National Development Plan (2002-2008). Nairobi: G.O.K Printers.
NACC & NASCOP (2012). The Kenya AIDS epidemic update 2011. National AIDS Control Council. Nairobi: NASCOP.
NASCOP (2004). National HIV prevalence in Kenya: Report of a technical group harmonizing, 'sentinel surveillance' and 'Kenya demographic and health survey', HIV prevalence estimates. Nairobi, NASCOP, 2004.
NASCOP National HIV prevalence in Kenya. Nairobi: NASCOP, 2003.
Nicolson, R. (1996) God in AIDS? London: SCM Press Ltd.
Odundo, p. & Owino, W. (2004). HIV & AIDS scourge in Nyanza province: Culture, poverty and behavioural change. Nairobi, Kenya: Regal Press Kenya.
Orobator, A. (2005). From crisis to kairos, the mission of the church in time of HIV & AIDS refugees and poverty. Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publication Africa.
Otaala, B. (2003). HIV & AIDS: Government leaders in Namibia responding to the HIV & AIDS epidemic. Windhoek, Namibia: University of Namibia Press.
PANUS (1996). AIDS Briefing no. 4.
Pattison, S. (1990) "The judgment of AIDS" in Woodward James (ed.), Embracing the chaos: Theological responses to AIDS. London, England: SPCK.
Russell, L. (ed.) (1990). The church with AIDS; Renewal in the midst of crisis. Louisville: Westminster Press.
Shisanya, C. (2002). The impact of HIV & AIDS on women in Kenya' In Getui, M. & Theuri, M. (eds) Quests for abundant life in Africa. Nairobi, Kenya: Acton Publishers.
Shorter A. & Onyancha E. (1998). The church and AIDS in Africa: A case study-Nairobi city: Nairobi, Kenya: Paulines Publication Africa.
Singh C. (2004). HIV & AIDS: Social and ethical issues. Delhi, India. Lt. Col A Banerjee. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0377-1237(04)80096-0
Slattery, H. (2004). HIV & AIDS: A call to action; Responding as Christians. Rensend Edition Nairobi: Paulines Publication.
Tinkansiimire, T. (2005). Prospects and challenges for the Catholic Church in the 21st century. In Ndung'u N. & Mwaura P. (eds) Challenges and the prospects of the church in Africa: Theological reflections of the 21st century. Nairobi: Paulines Publications.
UCAN & PANACET (2010). Situation Analysis of Church Response to HIV/AIDS in Uganda. A collaborative study done by Uganda Christian Aids Network (UCAN) and Pan Afircan Christian AIDS Network (PANACET), http://pacanet.net/newsite/wpcontent/uploads/2012/10/Uganda_Report.pdf, accessed 18 January 2015.
UNAIDS (2002). Report on the global HIV & AIDS epidemic. Geneva: UNAIDS.
U.S agency for international development (1996). AIDSCAP/family health international, socioeconomic impact and policy implications, USA: Family International AIDSCAP.
Wamue, G. (2002).'Women and AIDS in Kenya: Some general observations" in Getui, M & Theuri, M. (eds) (2002). Quests for Abundant Life in Africa. Nairobi, Acton Publishers.
WCC (2002). Facing AIDS: The challenge; the church's response. Geneva, Switzerland: WCC Publications.
Williams, G. Ng'ang'a, L. and Ngugi, J. (2005). Youth to youth: HIV prevention and young people in Kenya: Strategies for hope. Vol. 13.
Woodward J (ed.) (1990). Embracing the chaos: Theological responses to AIDS. London: SPCK.
Wolf , L. (2001). Ethical dimensions of HIV & AIDS. San Francisco: University of San Francisco.
Article Sidebar
Published
Sep 30, 2024
Article Details
How to Cite
Church’s Role in Prevention, Care and Management of HIV and AIDS in Western Kenya: Case of Vihiga and Busia Districts. (2024). Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and Its Diaspora, 1(1), 33-48. https://doi.org/10.17159/
Section
Articles
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
How to Cite
Church’s Role in Prevention, Care and Management of HIV and AIDS in Western Kenya: Case of Vihiga and Busia Districts. (2024). Utambuzi: Journal for the Study of the Religions of Africa and Its Diaspora, 1(1), 33-48. https://doi.org/10.17159/