
Dimapur, November 19 (MExN): Issues of survival, health and education, and of children infected and affected by HIV are of paramount concern in the face of many parents infected with HIV, and many children being orphaned by AIDS, stressed Maong Jamir, Asst. Director of Prodigals' Home, at a sensitisation and interactive program on ‘Issues of Orphans and Children vulnerable to HIV’ at the Sumi Baptist Church, in Niuland today.
Jamir raised the concern of orphans (other than those orphaned by AIDS) and children vulnerable, besides other things, to HIV and anti-social activities. Orphans, children of sex workers, children of drug users, domestic helps, and street children, Jamir reiterated, “are oftentimes neglected and face so much stigma, exploitation and discrimination.” He thus appealed, particularly to the church, to rise to the challenge of tackling this present day social concerns of these children. Nevertheless acknowledging the role of some churches coming forward to tackle the challenges through spiritual and monetary help, Jamir stated that the church could still do and contribute so much more, “given its enormous resource and manpower,” he noted.
In the ensuing discussion about issues of children and HIV, a visibly concerned pastor posed a trick question of his obligation to help a stranger bleeding from an accident, regardless of the danger of contracting HIV, or to simply ignore the person for fear of contracting HIV. To this, he recounted, a doctor had advised him to use a plastic bag to cover his hands and to which he had replied, “but if there are no plastic bags around?” This induced a ripple of laughter but also raised the larger question of our duty/obligation to one’s fellow being in the face of so much uncertainty in our society without actually providing a ready answer to such a situation, a release from the Prodigals’ Home’s desk added.
The participants, comprising of Pastors, GBs, women leaders, and Sunday School supervisors, raised other thought provoking questions particularly about HIV. “Is there a drug to cure HIV? How do you justify condom promotion? Should we continue to help HIV+ people and ignore the others? Why is it that HIV seems to germinate and grow in those places where HIV awareness programs are held? How do we identify OVCs and what help can one give after we identify orphans and vulnerable children?” were some of the questions raised and discussed in the interactive program held under the aegis of UNICEF and organised by Prodigals' Home with the help of Henizhe, Pastor of Sumi Baptist Church, Niuland, in mobilising the participants.
Taking a dig at the role of “our churches” by virtue of being a “Christian state” in curbing the menace of HIV, Jamir made particular reference to a study which stated that the majority of HIV positive persons in Africa were once very good Sunday school students. Thus making a reference, Jamir posed a question, “Where did they go wrong? And whose fault is it: individual, family, society, or church?” He stressed that each of us, as Christians, need to introspect and question the situation of HIV in our state and question our role in curbing the menace of HIV.