The HIV/AIDS Crisis in Africa
Abbie Shawa, Catholic Relief Services program department manager has been dealing with HIV/AIDS for CRS in Malawi, Africa. On October 16, he spoke at St. Paul's as the first stop in his speaking tour of the United States. A Malawian himself, Abbie has 24 years of first-hand experience working with communities, especially in rural areas of Malawi. He has experienced the devastation of HIV/AIDS economically, socially and personally for, like any Malawian, his family has not been spared from the HIV/AIDS pandemic in Africa. While the pain of the tragedy is overwhelming, Abbie has also experienced the incredible resilience and determination of those affected. Like others he has taken on the extra obligation of caring for orphans in the African extended family system, but more than many, he is working with communities as they rally to survive and overcome the pandemic.

Abbie brought to the U.S. Catholic community the professional perspective of the effects of the pandemic and the ways in which the U.S. Church and local churches are partnering to confront the disaster. More than that, he brought the personal stories of people caught in an apocalyptic disaster, the faith and the indomitable spirit that keeps them going and information about what we, as the U.S. Church, can do to support them. His presentation at St. Paul's was the only New Jersey stop on his tour and was a unique opportunity to learn about the crisis of HIV/AIDS in Africa and to show support and appreciation for the work done by Abbie and others like him.

For more than 60 years and in more than 80 countries, Catholic Relief Services has concerned itself with relief from natural as well as man-made disasters, and has supported development that includes pre-emptive work to forestall disaster and devastation, often in partnership with first-world countries who can offer resources and help. CRS is in more than 30 countries in Africa at this point. CRS concentrates on intervention to empower communities with HIV/AIDS. South Africa has some of the highest HIV/AIDS prevalences.

The pandemic in Africa is staggering in its effects. Abbie's own country, Malawi, is the tenth poorest country in the world and the poorest in Africa. Of a population of 11 million, almost 15 percent are afflicted with HIV/AIDS. Yet Malawians have an average income of less than $1 per day, and live daily with severe food shortages and, on $1 a day, no money for drugs or medical care. Most infected children die before age 5; 70% of all hospital beds are occupied by patients with HIV/AIDS-related diseases; and average life expectancy has dropped to its current figure of 36 years.

Because of the way HIV/AIDS is spread, the most potentially productive group of people in the country, those between 15 and 49 years of age, is dying. Indeed, 7,000 teachers die from it each year. The World Bank estimates that in the next few years, up to half of the professionals and health and education workers will have died from the disease. This means not only the loss of a professional, productive class of people, but the almost 250,000 orphans are expected to triple, leaving grandparents with the burden of many of these children. In addition, there has been a fourfold increase in the number of households headed by children, many as young as 12 and 14.

Cultural factors are fueling the epidemic as well. Initiation rites for young women and "cleansing" rituals for widows mandate multiple sex partners. Among the men, there are macho attitudes, denial or fear of the stigma of revealing a diseased state. Worse, women who reject some of the cultural imperatives or grandfathers who do the unmanly thing and raise their orphaned grandchildren are often shunned (and thus left to die) by their communities. CRS is working not only to change cultural attitudes but also to provide shelter and help for people like these.

CRS has conducted a massive educational campaign that is estimated to have reached 80 percent of the population in Malawi. CRS provides nearly 40 percent of all health services, and also relies on a strong grassroots structure that encourages interfaith and government help and cooperation. CRS also offers vocational training, shelter for those shunned and abandoned, food distribution and counseling services. After all, the Catholic Church is often the only organized institution in some of the countries in which it works.

If you would like to receive more information about the work of Catholic Relief Services, or receive information about how your parish can help and become involved in their efforts, you may write to them at:

Catholic Relief Services
209 West Fayette St.
Baltimore, MD 21201
Attn: Ismael Muvingi

Please include your name, mailing address, email address and daytime phone number when you write.

To learn more about what the Parish of St. Paul is doing, email Sarah Bermeo at sbermeo@Princeton.EDU.