Global turmoil in recent years has largely driven HIV/AIDS from the headlines; yet its tide of misery and death sweeps on. Patricia Napier found out what Feba is doing to promote AIDS awareness and bring hope to sufferers.
Womans face close up
When Nelson Mandela went public with the news that his son had died of AIDS, he was one of a number of high-profile figures in southern Africa who have acknowledged this killer that many people still refuse to name. It was seen as a significant step towards challenging the secrecy that breeds so much ignorance about HIV/AIDS, and the stigma that intensifies the misery of its victims and their families.
"My life is not worth living."
Destitute
A colleague in Bangalore tells the sad story of a young soldier and professing Christian who got in touch with Feba. While far from home on the Kashmir front, he had contracted HIV. He was terrified to tell his wife. In Zimbabwe a lady visited the Feba office expressing the despair that many people feel. "My life is not worth living," she said. "God has rejected me." Her husband had died, leaving her infected with HIV, destitute and with a small daughter.
Africa is the continent hardest hit by AIDS, and it's causing not only human tragedy on a massive scale but social and economic disaster as the workforce depletes. However in one country there's encouraging news: Uganda has made huge strides forward in changing behaviour. It's significant that Uganda's President Museveni was one of the early champions of the message of abstinence and fidelity promoted by the faith-based organisations. Power FM in Kampala, with which Feba works in partnership, is energetically engaged in the AIDS campaign. It airs programmes featuring AIDS awareness and offering advice and encouragement for victims; and team members visit schools to promote the abstinence message through talk shows and seminars.
"Radio can lend powerful impact to a community campaign"
Most of our African colleagues are now tackling the AIDS issue on air. However, the task calls for constant creativity. "The challenge is finding something new to say," says one. It's easier for local stations such as Baraka FM in Mombasa, where presenters invite members of the community to tell their own stories. "This enables listeners to closely identify," says Station Manager Sheila Maina. Baraka works in co-operation with non-governmental organisations and local churches, demonstrating that radio can lend powerful impact to a community campaign.
Trying out the sound
If there's growing openness in Africa, in other regions secrecy and ignorance still render AIDS education an uphill struggle. However radio, with its ability to convey information privately, is uniquely placed to educate people on delicate issues.
Few seek help
Over in the Middle East, it's hard to get accurate statistics about AIDS because of the shame attached. A colleague reports that many people will not even name the condition. "They refer to it as ‘that disease', because they believe they might be punished by God if they say it." Worryingly, there's evidence that HIV/AIDS is running rampant among women and girls - many of whom have neither control over contraception nor any defence against abuse. The UN has expressed concern that few of these women are seeking help. How encouraging that the first AIDS sufferer ever to contact Feba's Arabic team was a woman, who felt she could trust the person whose voice she was hearing on her radio.
Someone to talk to ... a need of AIDS victims that can sometimes get overlooked as we focus on prevention and practical care. A colleague in Ethiopia told me: "If someone is affected by HIV/AIDS he or she hides it from the community, even from the family. But they tell us." More and more opportunities are opening up for Feba to help and befriend frightened and desperate people, on air and in person. Most importantly we can introduce them to Jesus, offering hope when human help fails.
First published in Threshold issue 21, November 2005