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A message for
World AIDS Day 2013 From Rev Canon Prof Gideon Byamugisha
Convener of the Global Working Group on Faith, SSDDIM & HIV
Photo: Allen McGregor under Creative Commons license
We are beginning to see the mountain top
Every World AIDS Day we commemorate brings us closer to realizing
our global dream.
“Zero New HIV Infections, Zero Stigma and Discrimination and
Zero AIDS Related Deaths”
The dream of a world with
UNAIDS Strategy 2011-2015
This global dream used to seem like the proverbial case of a ‘glass three quarters empty’
of hope
Photo: Matt Rudge under Creative Commons License
Now with better science, greater country leadership commitment and
more faith community ownership…
…to reduce
Shame
Stigma
Inaction
Discrimination
and Mis-action
Denial
Safer practices, not just sexual, but also medical and social
S
…and to multiply
Access to treatment and nutrition
S A
…and to multiply
Voluntary, routine and stigma-sensitive counseling and testing
S A V
…and to multiply
Empowerment and education…
S A V E
…and to multiply
Photo: Allen McGregor under Creative Commons license
…the winding climb towards victory against AIDS is three quarters accomplished.
But some hurdles still remain on our way to the mountain top
which we should reflect on this World AIDS Day…
Shall we have the resilience, depth of commitment and breadth of faith necessary to win a race
that has shifted from being an emergency sprint to a long haul marathon?
Photo: Missy Schmidt, Hampton Roads Partnership under Creative Commons license
That will be won only by more comprehensive strategies, better integrated interventions
and more social justice focused responses that are human rights sensitive, sustainable and to scale?
Shall we exhibit that type of love that resists ‘power over’ in preference for ‘power with’ the most at-risk families, most vulnerable communities and the most AIDS colonized regions?
Photo: John Atherton gbaku under a Creative Commons license
Shall we at the end of the AIDS race hear the Transcendent Being saying to us…
“Thank you, Thank You…
I was hungry for education, training and skills and you gave me the education, the training and the skills needed to find something to eat, to excel in and to celebrate.
Photo: Sabita Banerji for Cecily’s Fund www.cecilysfund.org
I was thirsty for information, self-empowerment and self-actualization - you gave all that to me and quenched my soul's thirst.
Photo: Sabita Banerji for Cecily’s Fund www.cecilysfund.org
I was a stranger in a world of work, employable skills, information technology, societal advancement and fulfilled dreams - you invited me in.
Photo: Chris Hutchings www.flickr.com/photos/chrishutchins
I was educationally, socially, culturally and politically at-risk: naked, exposed and vulnerable to violence, exploitation and humiliation based on my age, gender, religious creed, political persuasion, color of my skin, economic status, sexuality and geographical location…
Photo: Steve Evans from Citizen of the World http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0 via Wikimedia Commons
…you clothed me with human dignity, political justice, social freedom, spiritual accompaniment and economic emancipation.
Photo: Sabita Banerji for Cecily’s Fund www.cecilysfund.org
I was sick and dying from preventable, treatable and controllable infections and illnesses related to and beyond HIV & AIDS…
Photo: Ansel - mediahacker www.flickr.com/photos/mediahacker
…you nursed me, supported me and brought me back to my feet, my job and to my health and wellbeing.
Photo: Movie poster from the film, The Lazarus Effect from joinred.com
I was in a strong walled prison of stigma, shame, denial, discrimination, humiliation and exclusion - bowed down with high mountains of despair, huge rivers of self and societal hate and deep valleys of hopelessness;
Photo: Sabita Banerji for Cecily’s Fund www.cecilysfund.org
…you visited me there, entered my pain and released my chains" .
Photo: Sabita Banerji for Cecily’s Fund www.cecilysfund.org
Thank you. Thank You.
Be Blessed Forever & Ever.
Amen.
Matthew 25: 31-46 Contextualized
