September 2004

ARTICLE TOOLS

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How does the state of the global anti-aids effort compare to 15 years ago, when you first began working with HIV/AIDS?

AIDS shrunk our world. As a global community we are not only informed about AIDS but involved in addressing it. Sadly, it is also shrinking our families and societies, reducing vulnerable communities to skeletal units. Today, we would have to be still-sleeping Rip van Winkles not to be affected. Fifteen years ago Christians snored soundly. Today, many thousands are sleepless, engaged in aggressive campaigns for abstinence, frankly discussing biblical sexuality in churches, and walking kilometers to care for the sick and orphaned in their homes. Ironically, AIDS, an agent of death, is bringing life to the Body.

Which countries are best at dealing with HIV/AIDS?

Uganda is often cited for early commitment of leaders and emphasis on prevention of AIDS. America also had rapid, no-nonsense responses from high profile Christian leaders such as Surgeon General C. Everett Koop and Walter Reed Army Hospital researcher Dr. Robert Redfield. Church leaders in Rwanda changed from their stigmatizing attitudes to helping and blessing people with AIDS through church-based ministries. Cambodia turned the tide from being the country with the most rapidly growing AIDS infection in southeast Asia to a country controlling the crisis.

According to a recent report by the U.N., 4.8 million people became infected last year with HIV. That's the greatest increase in any year since the global outbreak began. Why does this happen now, when the world's wealthiest countries are committing significant resources to HIV/AIDS?

We're not doing enough. We have part of the solution, and we can save lives. But we are far from effectively dealing with ...