“With proper education and a change in our value system, we might conquer HIV,” said David Mburu. “And as Christians, we must be optimistic and hope God does something for us.”
POPULATION: 34,708,000
MEDIAN AGE: 18.2 years
LIFE EXPECTANCY AT BIRTH: 48.93 years
INFANT MORTALITY RATE: 59.26 deaths / 1,000 live births
HIV/AIDS ADULT PREVALENCE RATE: 6.7%
PEOPLE INFECTED WITH HIV/AIDS: 1.3 million
RELIGIONS: Anglican and Protestant 45%, Roman Catholic 33%, indigenous beliefs 10%, Muslim 10%, other 2%
POPULATION BELOW THE POVERTY LINE: 50%
ABLE TO ACCESS ANTI-RETROVIRAL DRUGS: Less than 100,000
ORPHANS DUE TO HIV/AIDS: 1.1 million
PERCENTAGE OF HOSPITAL BEDS OCCUPIED BY HIV/AIDS PATIENTS: 50%
CURRENCY: Kenya shilling (1 KES = <2 cents CDN)
SOURCE: CIA World Factbook and UN AIDS
Mburu works with the Presbyterian Church of East Africa (PCEA) in Kenya as the assistant projects coordinator. His department, which he said parallels the PCC's Presbyterian World Service & Development, focuses largely on HIV/AIDS prevention and education. The 33-year-old Mburu was in Canada last April to attend PWS&D committee meetings.
While here, he noticed that many of Canada's HIV programs are care-based, while in Kenya, outreach is focused on education and awareness.
“But there are many similarities,” he said. “HIV/AIDS cuts across the board, and there is stigma shared in both countries. We're trying to direct our education to fight such stigma.”
PWS&D is a founding partner of the PCEA's HIV/AIDS program. As a certified “trainer of trainers,” Mburu readies ministers and others for teaching people about HIV, and promotes education in his own congregation.
“There's lots of satisfaction if you can make a difference. There's nothing better than to change a life,” Mburu told the Record. “Not because you want recognition, but because you enjoy God's creation and the life we have.”
Mburu teaches people to “respect the facts,” telling them about transmission, prevention, the reality of available drugs and the absence of a cure, socioeconomic impacts, discrimination and nutrition, as well as theology and biblical foundations. “What can we borrow from the Bible to respond to HIV?” he asked.
He uses drama, song and poetry to convey his message, visiting churches and schools, organizing street presentations, and even going into private homes. Engaging local governments, he said, is key to getting the message out.
As is involving churches. Mburu said he is concerned that there are many people in leadership positions living with the virus, but not speaking out. “This is very negative,” he said. “Compare this to Uganda, where many church leaders have come out and said they're living with HIV. This encourages their communities to be open too.”
He said it's unfortunate more leaders can't be honest, adding that they fear they will lose their jobs or even be barred from entering a church. “People have to be respected” said Mburu. “The church should not be the judge.”
Another challenge is access to anti-retroviral drugs, which keep HIV in check and enable patients to live longer. Affordability, accessibility and compliance in taking them, are issues that must be addressed.
“There needs to be a much more concerted effort within the government and organizations that come to help,” he said. “If it costs $5 for the drugs, but someone's wage is $1 a day, how will they pay for it? The government needs to make sacrifices. This is a disaster; nothing should be spared to make things better.”
Mburu holds onto hope for the eradication of HIV/AIDS by citing the strides the international community has taken in fighting the disease. “There has been a lot of research,” he began. “We have anti-retrovirals to live longer and cope with HIV, we've seen positive steps towards a vaccine, and statistics within the last five years show the prevalence of HIV has gone down in Kenya.”
“There is a future,” continued Mburu. “The big tragedy is despair.”
