Prevention

From Radio Talk 105, by Fr. Jude OFM, on Catholic Radio Network, Papua New Guinea, 28th March 2006.

The Prevention Programmes run in Papua New Guinea were centered in the following areas.

i) Prevention among groups in high risk settings

ii) Prevention among young people.

iii) Prevention at the workplace

iv) Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV

v) Prevention at the community or village level”

The bottom line was the “condom approach”.

We agree with prevention taking place in all those areas. We would have liked to see mention of prevention at the Church level and the individual, personal, responsibility approach which is in keeping with the Christian tradition.

This week: “Prevention Program for PNG”

This week I want to present to you listeners a “Prevention Program” for the country. “100% condom use” is not a “Prevention Program” but a recipe for disaster by people who don’t know what to do. In other countries – the condom promotion is done as a “last resort”. Here, in PNG, it is a first response because a desperate leadership has neither the wisdom nor the moral authority to give the direction which is needed.

I think we need to clarify here before we go ahead. There are two different types of “prevention” – yet we seem to mix them up.

• Prevention by people
• Prevention by projects.

This evening I want to talk about “Prevention by people”.

Prevention by people:

The basis of a viable “Prevention Program” has to come from a society who accepts responsibility for HIV - what we say in the Archdiocese of Port Moresby (ADPOM): “Yumi na HIV” = You and Me and HIV

• HIV is OUR problem, responsibility, sin – whatever you want to call it?
• It is also OUR people who are becoming HIV positive.
• It is OUR country – PNG – which is suffering.

Therefore, WE as a nation, as people who love our brothers and sisters, have to accept the responsibility for HIV and AIDS. We can jump up and down and boast about Dika Toua and Ryan Pini. But if we can not look after our own people, who are suffering, then we are nothing!

This prevention-approach is tied up with one’s “attitude” and “behaviour” – and the two might require changing!

“Prevention” must begin with each INDIVIDUAL – with each FAMILY – within each COMMUNITY – within each CHURCH – within the GOVERNMENT.

Individual:

Individuals have to take on personal responsibility for themselves and others.

• Each person must know their own HIV status. If a person has taken risks or think they could be positive – then they should go and have a HIV test now!
• Then a personal commitment: “I am not HIV positive and I am not going to become HIV positive!”
• Or, a personal commitment: “I am HIV positive but I am not going to give the virus to anyone else!”
• Each of us – must become concerned people – with a personal commitment and responsibility:
• To educate oneself about HIV and AIDS
• To warn others about the dangers of HIV and AIDS
• To be a good example to others.
• To make a personal commitment and be responsible – which is required of each one of us!

Family:

The foundation of a happy and working society is good family life. Family life is based on love and concern for others. That applies when HIV and AIDS are around as well.

• Each person is responsible for the HIV status of their marriage partner
• Each individual is responsible for the HIV status of their sex partner
• Parents are responsible for the HIV status of their children
• Parents and family leaders are responsible for the HIV status of the extended family

Society:

If there is a lack in PNG society, it is a lack of a sense of the “common good”. At times you can find great personal responsibility and family commitment. But then there is a vacuum. The responsibility and commitment stops there! A numbers of things are obviously lacking in our society:

• Lack of a sense of respect for others – for “strangers”
• Lack of respect for the property of others.
• Lack of respect for public property and public facilities.

There is a great “attitude” change needed before we can get a “behaviour” change in this area. But, if we can turn this one around – then we will develop a pride in our communities, towns and cities.

Churches:

The churches need to get moving or they are going to spend most of their time burying the dead. Let’s face it – the dying has begun! I met a Parish priest recently who said that he had buried four people in the last week and he thought three of them had died of AIDS! We, in POM, are stunned at the numbers of people who are dying! The churches need to do the twin works of “Care” and “Prevention”. There is no compromise and no dodging the issue. Our church members are suffering and dying. We need to use our pulpits, our facilities, and all our energies to “serve” our people.

The Catholic Church in Port Moresby:

For the ADPOM I can say that we have a “Prevention Program” which has direction and commitment. We are committed to the people of Port Moresby - whom we are serving! But we are not doing enough!

Top of our “Prevention” plans is “Care”:

Care:

If we are going to be true to the Gospel we have to care for the “widow and orphan”, the sick and suffering, the rejected and homeless, those with no one to love them. Now that is easier said than done. In our planning we all set limits, and we all compromise. Our plans, and that is what they are – OUR plans - look good on paper. But the reality is in the story of the “Good Samaritan” which stretches our plans, our measured charity and our resources.

Our Christianity will be judged on the basis of whether we loved or not. What did you do to your brother or sister – dying of AIDS – what did you do?

Story:

This one pulled me up one day! I was in the middle of a meeting with the Archbishop regarding the “HIV/AIDS ministry” in the ADPOM. My mobile rang. A request! Would I take care of a lady? From the source of the phone call, I knew it had to be a sex-worker. Without hesitation I said yes! What else could I say? The people you “bump into” are never part of your plans but often there is your true apostolic work!

You might say to me – hang on – you are supposed to be talking about “Prevention”. I am! You see, Care is a great means of “Prevention”. Once you start caring then doors open up and you can get your “Prevention” messages across. When you are in a HIV/AIDS setting then the conversation is all about HIV and AIDS. You have a captive audience!

With Care go the Day Care Centres:

Day Care Centres, like we have in Hohola – Simon of Cyrene Centre – is a great place for people to come and talk and ask their questions and get counselled.

Along with these is the VCT Centres.

Voluntary Counselling and Testing centres. We have one of these at SCC, and there are more around the city. People should know their HIV status. Once people are empowered with this knowledge – then they are in control of their own destiny.

Radio and Media Statements and Publications:

The radio is an important means of communication in PNG. We are very happy to do this Radio Program – “Tok Stret long HIV/AIDS” – every week. Thanks to Fr. Mlak for his foresight in putting this program on air. It seems to go to most parts of PNG and if it is not a direct broadcast, then it is replayed on other stations.

TV is rather limited in PNG but is most effective.

We do some publications of our own. The big one, in ADPOM, for this year will be the “Yumi na HIV Handbook”.

Special Awareness and Prevention Programs:

We seem to have these popping up all the time: special groups of Women and Youth – assisting in Programs run by others – staff and management of Private Companies – and Parish groups. The big one for 2006 is the “in-service” for the Parishes to be run at SCC.

In the Parishes:

We should not forget the great work being done in the Parishes by the Sisters, Priests and Catechists. These Pastoral workers are taking this HIV epidemic in their stride and coping with the added strain it is putting on an already overloaded ministry.

Government:

I spoke a bit about this last week. So I will just summarize this week.

Laws of the Country:

Reinforce the laws of the country in areas that are out of order:

• Entertainment centres
• Sex work – male and female prostitution
• Sex and sexuality: underage sex – abuse of minors – violence – rape
• Marriage and marital relationships
• Family life

Services:

Services to the people:

• Health – basic commitment to keep clinics, aid posts, hospitals, open and serviced. Care and protection of staff.
• Practical care for the sick:
  • “transport tickets = “bus fares”. There used to be a system operating in old Port Moresby (Story)
  • Free cemetery and grant to cover funeral costs.
  • jobs to alleviate poverty
  • practical youth training programs
• Social services for those with “chronic” sicknesses – for the infected and affected
  • A pension scheme for “widows/widowers and orphans”
  • Free school for orphans
  • A legal system to protect the property and rights of orphans
  • An insurance scheme to support the surviving spouse and children.

Law and Order:

Get legal systems operating so as to get a return to law and Order in society.

Get the existing HAMP Act into action and revise it so as to include the protection of the general society - “common good”.

Personal Prayer:

Lord, I am in danger!

HIV/AIDS is in the community, it is in Papua New Guinea.

I am afraid! I don’t want to get this terrible virus!

Help me so that I behave myself and do not take any risks.

Help me also to be responsible so that I am not a risk to others.

Give me the compassion to go to those who are in need of help,

the strength to care for those who are suffering,

and the love to be understanding and forgiving.

And if I become HIV positive, bless my life with people who will care and love me. I make this prayer to Jesus, my Saviour, who was a friend to the sick, the sinner, to those who suffered, and to all who came to him. My friend!

Amen.