Located in 26 states, the Church of Christ in Nigeria (COCIN) is one
of the major social and political forces in the middlebelt region of
the country. Due to USAID sponsored interventions, COCIN's leadership
has dramatically changed its original stance that equated HIV infection
with punishment from God and forbade condom use. The COCIN hierarchy
now accepts that HIV/AIDS is one of the major dangers to their church
and its members: they actively support people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA)
and promote condom use within the confines of marriage.
Church leaders point to changes both in church policies and in individual
behaviors as proof that the Integrated Reproductive Health Project has
already had a positive impact. They appear particularly eager to share
what they term as personal "success stories." For example,
the Reverend Lliya Gwauaguino relates that a national conference on
HIV/AIDS (one of the program activities) changed the way he defines
his pastoral duties. After the conference, he says that he prayed for
guidance on how he could best become involved and as a result decided
on visitations to PLWHA. During an educational session on HIV/AIDS he
was leading at his church, a woman told him of her sister who was dying
of AIDS. When he visited the home, he reports finding a woman who was
shunned by family members and only awaited death. Much to the surprise
of the family, he entered her room, helped her to sit, and gave her
spiritual counsel. When the spiritual needs of the woman were met, he
taught the family the sources of HIV infection and assured them that
they would not contract the virus through casual contact with her. In
his words, "you can say that a miracle happened." The woman
was readmitted into the family's daily life, she returned to the fellowship
of the church, and has resumed her market activities. According to him,
"…the woman is now free spiritually and is better physically."
A second pastor who took part in USAID's program to sensitize and educate
church leaders about HIV/AIDS is said to have become a major spokesperson
on HIV/AIDS issues both within and outside the church. In addition to
making pastoral visits to PLWHA a personal priority, he has addressed
national and local women's conferences on the role of women in the face
of the pandemic and has become an advocate on HIV/AIDS issues in his
regional and local church councils. The pastor was also recently invited
by authorities to speak and then write a policy paper on HIV/AIDS for
his local government area (LGA).
Church Helps Women with AIDS Rejoin Family and Community
