Zimbabwe church launches home care project for HIV/AIDS patients

Mennonite Central Committee
Monday, 23 July 2001

BULAWAYO, Zimbabwe -- Most Zimbabweans will remember June 21, 2001 for the solar eclipse that drew thousands of tourists and worldwide publicity. Members of the Brethren in Christ (BIC) Church of Zimbabwe, however, held a day-long celebration of a different kind. They gathered at the Mtshabezi Church in southwestern Zimbabwe to launch a new church-wide project to care for HIV/AIDS patients and to celebrate the first installment of a two-year $229,000 Cdn./$150,000 U.S. grant from the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to carry out the project.

The grant money will purchase supplies for volunteer home care workers, including bicycles, gloves, antiseptic, bandages, sheets, aprons and other necessities. Training for volunteers will also be provided through the church.

"The church is admitting that we can no longer be bystanders, but should be actually involved in the fight against HIV/AIDS," reported Doris Dube, Mennonite Central Committee (MCC) country co-representative in Zimbabwe, who administers the CIDA grant. MCC, which works closely with the BIC church in Zimbabwe, is contributing $33,500 Cdn./$22,000 U.S. to the project.

"The sick among us have broken the silence and sought the shelter of the church, which can minister to both the soul and the body," she continued. "Let us treat the sick among us as we would like to be treated, should we succumb to the illness." Some 1.5 million in Zimbabwe are infected with HIV.

Many songs to commemorate the day were composed and sung by groups of various ages, said Dube. Poets shared messages of teaching and hope. Among the speakers were several from the Zimbabwe government health sector.

Bishop Danisa Ndlovu, of the BIC church, encouraged community members to get involved. "The sick among us are our loved ones," he said. "We desire for them good living."

For more information, or to contact Mennonite Central Committee, see their website at: www.mcc.org