Africans meet to combat spread of HIV/AIDS

Pastors of African Community churches in Massachusetts lead in prayer during the National Week of Prayer for HIV/AIDS at the Inn & Conference Center in Lowell .From left ro right, Pastor Pacific Zagabe from the DRC, Pastor Samuel Mutyaba from Uganda, pastor Samuel Kimohu, pastor Sammy Nene ( also a gospel artist) and pastor Karimi Mumbui, all from Kenya, and pastor Malcolm Ebhohon from Nigeria . Pic. H.Maina/Ajabu

By Nguyaii- Wa- Mbarii, Ajabu Africa News
Updated 3/19/2010, 6.15 pm. This version corrects the previous one.

LOWELL, Mass. , MARCH 18_Participants to the National Week of Prayer for HIV/AIDS healing have expressed worry at the rate at which members of the African community in Massachusetts are contracting the disease.

They said the trend was of great concern especially at a time when individuals, governments, churches and other organizations are doing their best to curb the spread of the disease in Africa itself.

Last weekend’s event at the University of Massachusetts Inn & Conference Center in Lowell brought together a number of African faith leaders including pastors and popular gospel artists.

The week of prayer was part of the national AIDS awareness campaign that engages black congregations to support, encourage and empower African Americans, Africans and all people in the Diaspora to take action toward stopping the spread of HIV/AIDS in black communities worldwide.

The latest data shows that the population of black immigrants living with HIV is growing in Massachusetts where 58% of Blacks diagnosed with HIV are non-US born (immigrants).

“It is unfortunate to see healthy Africans emigrating from their continent only to come and catch AIDS in America,” commented one concerned participant.   

Jubilee singers from christ Jubilee International church from Lowell entertain guests. pic: Nguyaii-Wa- Mbarii/Ajabu

 To facilitate a more in depth discussion, participants were divided into various groups after an introductory session. The groups included that of women, youth, men and church leaders. Each group was given the latest statistics on the disease and its impact on the African community in the state.

“You should treat anybody you are planning to be with intimately as HIV positive until tested and proved otherwise,” said a woman participant during a women’s panel group session.

According to the moderators of the event, "there is a lot of misinformation about HIV/AIDS in the African community; and this lack of accurate information continues to play a role in the spread of HIV." One of the goals of the event was to dispel some of this misinformation in the African community.

Recent HIV/AIDS data available in Massachusetts indicate that over 17,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS in 2007.

By December 31, 2009 there were 3,567 people known to be living with HIV/AIDS in Massachusetts who were born outside the United States, accounting for 20% of people living with HIV/AIDS in MA. According to the statistics tracked from 2005 to 2007, 34% of these people were primarily from Sub-Saharan Africa (MDPH, 2009).

Among the non US-born females recently diagnosed with HIV, 48% were from Sub-Saharan Africa while males were 24% (MDPH, 2009).

According to Mr Augustus Woyah, a Coordinator at the Africans for Improved Access (AFIA), part of MAC-Boston, based in Jamaica Plain. The event was meant to educate the African community about HIV, so as to reduce stigma and to support and embrace those in the community who may be living with HIV.

Woyah told participants that HIV/AIDs was preventable by following some of the directions presented at the event.

He also said that there is free medication as well as health care and support available for those already infected.

Cynthia Harris of MAC_Boston, gets emotional on rememberanc of her brother who passed away of HIV/AIDS pic:Nguyaii-Wa- Mbarii/Ajabu

Keynote speaker, Rev. Samuel Kimohu of Saint Stephens church in Lowell pic: H.Maina/Ajabu

He added that no one should fear seeking help because of lack of
health insurance or because of their immigration status.

"HIV counseling and testing is free in MA for everybody, and if you happen to test positive, you
get free medical care, whether you are documented or not."

Woyah said that "HIV testing in MA was confidential and your test results will
not be shared with anyone". He added that you can contact their organization
for more information: awoyah@mac-boston.org; cnnaji@mac-boston.org;
jmogire@mac-boston.org, or by phone: 617-238-2410; 617-238-2421;
617-238-2462."

Through faith, various African churches have collaborated in educating their respective congregations and community at large on HIV/AIDS, culminating in the coming together of people of faith to unite with purpose, compassion and hope.

Attendees applaud after entertainment by a youth choir

The Mistress of Ceremony was Pastor Bibiche Zagabe-Ndiku of Green Pastures Church, Worcester. The event was organized by the SSA Faith-based Collaborative Committee: Augustus Woyah, Chioma Nnaji, Josephine
Mogire (all of the AFIA program) and Victoria Nayiga (of Lowell Community Health Center) together with African faith leaders. Pastor Samuel Kimohu ofSt. Stephens Church Lowell was the main speaker".

Ms Cynthia Harris, a Program Director at the MAC, gave a brief background of  the SSA faith-based
collaborative.

“At first, I did not want anything to do with my brother. I could not even greet him with my hands,” said Harris.

However, after much education about the disease, Harris became more compassionate with her brother, who went on to live a normal life with the disease for more than 20 years, and also educated people about the disease. He however passed away last year, leaving Ms. Harris to carry on with the fight against HIV among communities of color

Event organizers, from L to R, Josephine Mogire, Augustus Woyah and Chioma Nnaji , all of Africans for Improved Access (AFIA) in Jamaica Plain. pic: H.Maina/Ajabu

According to the faith leaders, there were a lot of myths and misconception when it comes to HIV/AIDS. The health instructors explained that some of the discussions when it comes to the disease included topics which might be prohibited by African faith or culture hence the importance for provision of the correct information to the participants.

“It is the responsibility of every one of us to take the necessary preventive measures,” said Pastor Samuel Mutyaba of New Life International church in Medford.       

“We must bring education to the churches in order to fight this killer disease,” said pastor Kimohu of St. Stephens church, Lowell who was the main speaker. Reading from Exodus 22, Pastor Kimohu said like Moses, Africans are in wildness because people are dying of HIV/AIDS and there is no cure.

He continued by saying that, "Life is already in the wildness waiting for that time when all those with HIV/AIDS will be cured by God.”

Thanking everyone for the impressive turnout, one of the main organizers of the event, Chima Nnaji, said that she hopes to see more of such meetings in the future.

“It was a great event and I hope Africans can come together more often,” said a participant from the Democratic Republic of Congo.   

Watch Event Video here

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