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Volume 23 No. 3 | Spring 2013
“The objective of this was to inform, to sensitise and educate
the young in order to promote responsible behaviour – sexual
abstinence, responsible sexuality – as well as the need to take
part in the free, voluntary AIDS screening,” he says.
The project also made use of mass media, including radio,
posters and leaflets, to reach as many people as possible
with education and prevention messages and a community
mobilisation initiative ensured the message reached young
people who are not in school, as well as those from other
parishes or villages.
Br Fabien says equal effort is put into accompanying those who
are living with HIV/AIDS and providing counselling and support.
“We also talk with members of their family, to educate and
support them, thus helping to avoid the rejection and the
stigmatisation of people affected by AIDS,” he says.
“Apart from the comfort given in counselling, our home visits
also help to administer the first aid care to people living with
AIDS. This involves identifying their specific needs, such as food
insecurity, chronic disease and necessary material support.”
Br Fabien says the project has been successful in promoting
solidarity and community support for people affected by HIV/
AIDS and their families.
“We may conclude that feedback has been positive,” he says.
“We received many letters from people who listened to the
programs on the radio. In their letters they encouraged us
and went on asking questions about HIV/AIDS for a better
understanding of our campaigns.”
Looking to the future, attention is now turning to ensuring that
people receive not only prevention education, but adequate
treatment for those infected with the virus.
Br Fabien, at the request of his local bishop, has undertaken
training in Mozambique on the antiretroviral treatment of people
with AIDS.
Government figures show that only 12 per cent of people in the
DRC who are eligible for antiretroviral therapy are receiving it.
Br Fabien says adequate treatment must be given equal priority
with prevention.
“We want to reconcile prevention and treatment in order to
immortalise this motto: ‘Treatment and not only prevention!’”
Photos clockwise, from top of page 4:
1. SVD missionaries cross a river to visit a village for HIV-AIDS
pastoral care
2. HIV-AIDS education in the Congo
3. SVD missionaries in Congo use radio and other media for
HIV-AIDS education
4. Students receiving HIV-AIDS education sessions
5. SVD missionaries addressing the military on HIV-AIDS
prevention
