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this page Provinces - La Province De L Eglise Episcopale Au Rwanda
The Africa Anglican Initiative of 2001 inspired the Anglican Province of Rwanda. It became a member CAPA AIDS Board in December 2001. A National Religious Leaders AIDS Conference was held in January 2003 and a Provincial HIV/AIDS Coordinator was appointed and HIV/AIDS Desk was established at the Provincial office. In 2004 Strategic Planning Process was developed and fundraising and implementation processes commenced.
Vision
A world free from AIDS.
Mission
The Mission of PEER HIV and AIDS ministry is to ensure quality HIV/AIDS care and support responses across the Dioceses of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda, through planning, monitoring and capacity building of Provincial, Diocesan and Parish actors.
Program Goal
To build the Episcopal Church of Rwanda into a caring and healing Church that provides holistic and non-judgmental care and support to those infected and affected by HIV/AIDS by 2009. To contribute to HIV/AIDS prevention efforts leading to the reduction of HIV infection rate in Rwanda population within 5 years.
Programme Objectives
- To coordinate HIV/AIDS awareness raising through music, drama, and sports for the youth groups in all the Dioceses on PEER;
- To promote abstinence and fidelity through seminars on the Christian perspective of Human Sexuality and Reproductive Health for the young and those in marriage;
- Coordinate the integration of VCT/PMTCT and Family Counselling for prevention and care of HIV/AIDS infected and affected persons;
- Empower PLWHA with information and skills for positive living;
- Provide medical care and support to people living with/affected by HIV/AIDS at Church based Health Care facilities;
- Provide economic support for care giving households and support groups;
- Coordinate stigma reduction mainstreaming of HIV/AIDS in liturgical, pastoral, social and developmental services;
- Promote both internal and external networking and partnership building;
- Establish an effective coordination system for HIV/AIDS work in the Province of the Episcopal Church of Rwanda;
- Establish a Provincial Resource Centre for HIV/AIDS counselling research and documentation.
Implementation Strategy
Provincial office is involved in policy development, coordination, and capacity building. Work will be carried out in the 9 Dioceses. Staff hired includes 5 Coordinators and 3 Diocesan Health Committees. Work will be done through: 300 parishes and local Churches, heealth committee in 3 Dioceses and over 2000 local Churches. Monitoring and evaluation strategy is done through on site visits, quarterly meetings, regular activity reports and annual evaluation meetings.
Activities Implemented
- Strategic planning process and programme review feedback;
- 2005 Hope and Transformation strategies launched;
- AIDS awareness through sports, athletics, drama and dance;
- Music and drama competitions among the youth;
- Provision of VCT/PMTCT service through 9 VCT centres;
- Abstinence workshops are held;
- Treatment and HIV/AIDS counselling and testing services provided;
- There are more than 38 ASC, 164 PLWHA Associations have been started;
- IGAs business in cows, goats, tailoring, handcrafts, vegetable gardens, and charcoal saving stoves;
- Home based caregivers project activities;
- Care givers/support group empowerment.
Lessons Learnt
- HIV/AIDS programme needs money for activities;
- There is need for more information materials on Human sexuality and reproductive health;
- Integration of HIV programme into health services is more effective way;
- VCT is effective as entry point to pre-counselling and care;
- Local Church ownership is crucial.
Programme Challenges
- Stigma, shame, fear and Denial;
- Poverty and war aggravates the situation leading to despair and low self value;
- Negative cultural elements;
- Commitment of leaders (Priority setting);
- Inadequate information, knowledge and skills;
- Poor accessibility and affordability of HIV/AIDS related services;
- Inadequate human and financial resources.
Recommendation
- Integration of HIV program into Health Care;
- Top leadership conferences to be carried out for the Provinces.
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