Christians From Six Continents to Meet in Washington, D.C., for Conference on Response to the AIDS Pandemic

Samaritan's Purse
Friday, 1 February 2002

Hundreds of Christians from around the world will gather in Washington, D.C., to encourage and equip the Church to respond biblically to the international HIV/AIDS crisis. Prescription for Hope will take place February 17­-21.

The conference is sponsored by international relief organization Samaritan's Purse, headed by Franklin Graham. Prescription for Hope will bring together church and government leaders, public and private donors, health professionals, and frontline Christian AIDS organizations. The leaders will travel from around the world, from countries such as India, Brazil, and Uganda, to challenge, educate, and mobilize the Christian community in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

"Although science has made progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, a cure for the virus remains nonexistent," says Franklin Graham. "At this juncture, only a massive societal change in behavior can stop the spread of AIDS, and only Jesus Christ can bring about this change."

The need for Christians to reach out in the midst of this modern-day plague is tragically clear. More than 22 million people have died from AIDS, and it is estimated that more than 36 million people are living with HIV/AIDS. Every minute, 11 people are infected with HIV.

On the African continent alone, HIV/AIDS has claimed 17 million lives—more than 3.7 million children. An additional 12 million African children have been orphaned by AIDS.

"Southern Africa has no other means available to break the vicious cycle, except to change everyone's sexual behavior—and that isn't happening. The essential missing ingredient is leadership. Neither the countries of the region nor those of the wealthy world have been able or willing to provide it." (reporter Johanna McGeary, TIME, February 2001)

In eastern Africa, though, the world has seen what the leadership of Christians can do to stem the tide of AIDS. Uganda, among the first countries hit hard by AIDS, has cut the rate of HIV prevalence by more than half, thanks in part to a campaign based on biblical values and sexual purity. Janet Museveni, Uganda's first lady and a Christian leader in this effort, will speak at the conference.

Other world leaders scheduled to speak at the conference include U.S. Senator Bill Frist, MD; USAID administrator Andrew Natsios; Dr. Desmond Johns, UNAIDS representative; and Paul Wangai Jr., MD, chairman of the Nairobi Women's Hospital and his wife, Mary Wangai, MD, Kenya's assistant director of medical services. The conference will be held in the Hilton Washington and will conclude with challenges from Dr. Ravi Zacharias and Franklin Graham.

For more information, or to contact Samaritan's Purse, see their website at: www.samaritanspurse.org